Admire Daytona bound for Kentucky after tight UAE Derby win
$1,000,000 Group 2 UAE Derby Sponsored By Jumeirah
Mdmar – Dubai – Maddy Playle
Japan’s recent dominance in the UAE Derby continued as Admire Daytona scraped home from Heart Of Honor in a thrilling photo-finish, earning himself a berth in the Kentucky Derby.
The son of triple Grade 1 winner Drefong made all of the running but was pushed to the limit in the closing stages and only just held on by a short-head.
The victory marked Japan’s third consecutive win in the race following the strikes of Crown Pride, Derma Sotogake and the exceptional Forever Young last year.
Admire Daytona was sent to the front by Christophe Lemaire from the gates but was pursued by Rafid, with Galactic Star a close third. There was a break to the remainder of the field.
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Both Heart Of Honor and Don In The Mood made up that group and the pair improved into the home turn as Admire Daytona came under pressure.
The trio were locked in battle in the final furlong, with Don In The Mood on the outside the first to weaken under last year’s winning rider Ryusei Sakai.
For a brief moment it looked as if his countryman Admire Daytona would have to yield too as the blinkered Heart Of Honor produced a right-handed rally in the final strides.
However, the Japanese colt responded willingly to Lemaire’s urgings to score, prompting joyous celebrations for the Japanese contingent and agony for the British runner.
Heart Of Honor’s trainer Jamie Osborne won the race in 2014 with Toast Of New York, who was denied in his own photo-finish to the Breeders’ Cup Classic that November.
This time his daughter Saffie, who in February became the first woman to win a race at Meydan, was in the saddle.
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Lemaire said: “Honestly, I thought I’d won but it was very tight so you never get too happy, too early. The Japanese horses come here with quite a bit of experience at home. For us, they arrive near their best this early in the season – not too much racing but also with plenty of experience. I think they like the Meydan dirt track too. For sure he can go to Kentucky, but it is such a difficult race to win. It is one of the most iconic races in the world and we have to go if we can.”
Trainer Yukihiro Kato confirmed that Admire Daytona would go to the Kentucky Derby, with last year’s UAE Derby winner Forever Young finishing third at Churchill Downs.
Heart Of Honor (2nd), trainer Jamie Osborne said: “He’s put up a lifetime best and you always have to be pleased when that happens. But this is a tough one to swallow.”
Don In The Mood (3rd), jockey Ryusei Sakai said: “He ran well. The pace was fast, he travelled nicely on the bridle, he just found it tough the last 400m.”
Trainer Teiichi Konno said: “He was traveling very well and I thought he might win it. It was tough for him at the end. He is always relaxed but was a little bit nervous in the stalls this time. His physique will definitely improve more.”
Shin Forever (4th), jockey Akira Sugawara said: “Missing the jump ruined his race. All good other than that, he ran well.”
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Queen Azteca (5th), jockey Carlos Lopez said: “She went well, I’m so proud of her. She felt strong all the way, I thought she was going to kick a little bit more in the finish. She showed she is a good filly.”
Dragon (6th), jockey Yutaka Take said: “He handled dirt well. He was hanging a bit and didn’t respond.”
Flood Zone (7th), jockey Florent Geroux said: “Disappointed to be honest. He broke well, I thought I was going to be in a good spot. I let the speed go, I tucked behind the two leaders and got down to the rail. From there, as soon as we hit the first turn, he never travelled, never grabbed the bit and just kept going backwards. It was too bad to be true. If he’d been able to grab the bit, I think I would have been able to travel into it but I was trapped where I was and I couldn’t follow those in front. For some reason, our American horses don’t seem to have the same early speed here.”
Rafid (8th), jockey John Velazquez said: “Good break and that was it.”
Galactic Star (9th), jockey Tadhg O’Shea said: “Traveled well in the run, but just never finished off. Ran a little bit flat.”
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