South African trainer Mike de Kock prepared a winning treble at Meydan on Thursday night and the most impressive was Australian bred colt Musir who scored a half-length victory in the UAE Guineas Trial.
Musir (3c Redoute’s Choice – Dizzy De Lago by Encosta de Lago) defied a Group 1 penalty to defeat Godolphin colt Frozen Power and he will now be aimed at the UAE Guineas. De Kock has dominated the classic in recent years with Asiatic Boy and Honour Devil.
“He was a very good juvenile and we were hopeful of a big run, despite the penalty,” de Kock said. “He has a very high natural cruising speed and is a horse with a touch of class. The Guineas will be next on the agenda.”
Musir, a colt bred on the cross of Australia’s two leading stallions, was named South Africa’s Champion 2YO Colt in 2008-09. He was bred by Sheikh bin Khalifa and was offered for sale by Coolmore Stud at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was passed in at $900,000.
The decision was taken to send the colt to South Africa and he was an easy debut winner in May over 1000m at Clairwood before running second to fellow Australian-bred Redoute’s Choice colt Solid Choice at the same track in June.
Despite that defeat, he then went onto become the dominant juvenile in South Africa when he landed the Group 1 Golden Horseshoe (1400m) by three and a half lengths. He became the 15th individual G1 winner for Redoute’s Choice and the first G1 winner from an Encosta De Lago mare.
Winning jockey Christophe Soumillon reported the Aussie bred colt kept trying to run out before the corner at the new Dubai circuit. “But when I came into the straight I was running better than everyone else. When Frankie (Dettori) came at me on Frozen Power in the last 100 yards I just pushed him again and it was a good win.”
Frozen Power (Oasis Dream), who was receiving 7.5kg from Musir, stayed on well without ever looking likely to pass the winner. He was a Listed winner of the Prix de la Huderie at Deauville in August.
De Kock went to complete his treble with former Mauritius-trained Mr Brock (Fort Wood) and Irish bred gelding King Of Rome (Montjeu).
Darley shuttler Exceed And Excel was also represented by a winner at Meydan when his Irish bred gelding Global City closed late to score a nose victory in the Dubal International Innovation Trophy (1200m). The Godolphin galloper, who was a last start winner at Lingfield in November, is from an unplaced daughter of French Oaks winner Lypharita. He was a 200,000 pounds buy at the Doncaster 2yo Sale in April 2008.