Soumillon Scores Group II Double at Meydan

Jockey Christophe Soumillon landed a group II double at the Dubai World Cup Carnival Jan. 29 on the turf at Meydan, winning both the Cape Verdi aboard Cladocera and the Al Rashidiya with Vercingetorix.



Vercingetorix, who won the Emirates Airline Jebel Hetta (UAE-I) on "Super Saturday" at last year's Meydan meet, proved far too good for five rivals in the $200,000 Al Rashidiya at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles). The 6-year-old son of Silvano provided trainer Mike de Kock with a fourth consecutive winner and seventh overall.



Soumillon eased his mount to the front about a furlong out and went on to prevail by two lengths over True Story, with Mr Pommeroy 2 1/2 lengths farther back in third. The turf was rated good.



"He is in great shape this year," said Soumillon. "He was a really good horse last year but he felt better tonight. He is exciting."



De Kock, who trains Vercingetorix for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, added, "As well as he did last year we were always trying to catch up with him as he did not travel well from South Africa. It is hard to know just how good he might be as he does the minimum in work at home and saves it for the track. He is undoubtedly a serious horse though."



After beginning his career with four wins in his native South Africa in 2013, Vercingetorix extended his winning string to six last season at Meydan before finishing second to Just a Way in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) on World Cup night. His race Thursday was the first since he finished third in the Audemar Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-I) April 27 at Sha Tin racecourse in Hong Kong.



Vercingetorix's earlier wins included the Greyville 2,000 (SAf-I), earning him honors as South Africa's champion 3-year-old male. He kept his momentum going in his Dubai debut last February, winning after more than eight months off a troubled journey from South Africa, then captured the 1,800-meter Jebel Hatta.

 

Bred by Klawervlei Stud out of the Desert Prince mare Great Artist, Vercingetorix sold as a yearling for R1.4 million ($205,660 in U.S. funds) at the 2011 Emperors Palace National yearling sale.

The other group II event, the $200,000 Cape Verdi over 1,600 meters (about one mile) for fillies and mares, was won by lightly-raced Cladocera by two lengths, representing trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre and owner/breeder Haras de La Perelle.



Belgian Soumillon held the German-bred 4-year-old daughter of Oasis Dream up well off the pace through the early stages, and a quick squeeze from the saddle and a shake of the reins halfway down the straight settled the matter in a few strides.



"She is a nice filly," said Royer-Dupre, who was successful with only one of 13 previous starters in the UAE. "We will bring her back in a few weeks but the targets have to be the real big races. Super Saturday and Dubai World Cup night are hopefully her main targets."



Cladocera, out of the Pivotal mare Caesarine, did not race at 2 and won two of five starts last year. She was making her first appearance since finishing second in the EBF Stallions Hyde Stakes Nov. 19 at Kempton Park. Her prior four races came in France.



"She will improve as she matures and (she) did not enjoy a lot of luck in Europe so to get this win is perfect and we hope she can progress," the trainer added. "Soumillon said he was always happy so hopefully she can build on this."



Zurigha finished second, two lengths in front of third place Anahita in the eight-horse field.