Special Fighter Upsets, Keen Ice Fades in UAE

Racing comfortably throughout, Special Fighter (IRE) led at every call and overwhelmed rivals in the stretch to score a 4 1/2-length victory in the $400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Sponsored by Emirates (UAE-I) March 5 at Meydan, spoiling the Dubai debut of last year's Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner Keen Ice.

Special Fighter, a 5-year-old son of Teofilo (IRE), secured the first group stakes victory of his career and bounced back from a sixth-place effort in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 sponsored by EGA (UAE-II) where he finished 12 lengths behind winner Frosted. 

While Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed al Maktoum's Special Fighter thrived on the front end under Fernando Jara in Round 3, Keen Ice faded turning for home after stalking from fourth in the far turn. The Travers winner ended up seventh in the prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 26 at Meydan.

Like the Dubai World Cup, the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 is contested at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles). Trainer Musabah Al Muhairi, who picked up his third win on the Super Saturday card with Special Fighter, said his horse was compromised in the Al Maktoum Challenge R2 when he lost shoes. Bred by Darley, Special Fighter completed Saturday's race in 2:03.11.

Jara said Special Fighter relaxed well on the lead early, allowing him to deliver a strong finish.

Special Fighter was followed home by Gun Pit (AUS) second, Faulkner (GB) third, and last year's U.A.E. Derby sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (UAE-II) winner Mubtaahij fourth. Mubtaahij also finished fourth in last year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Longshot Special Fighter returned $68 to win in U.S. pools and $14.20 to place/show.

Golden Soul, runner-up in the 2013 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), finished last in Saturday's field of 12.

The Super Saturday card, which features preps for the Dubai World Cup card, opened with Kentucky-bred Market Rally easily winning the $250,000 Al Bastakiya sponsored by Emirates Skwards, a prep for the U.A.E. Derby. 

The son of Unbridled's Song registered a 4 3/4-length win over Lazzam in the field of four going 1,900 meters. Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Market Rally entered Saturday's race off a six-length score in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Sponsored by Gulf News (UAE-III) Feb. 11 at Meydan.

Godolphin Racing's Tryster will enter the Dubai Turf (UAE-I) on a roll after registering a third straight win overall and second straight group score on the Meydan turf after scoring a 1 1/2-length victory in Saturday's $300,000 Jebel Hatta Sponsored by Emirates.

Tryster, a 5-year-old son of Shamardal, secured the first group I victory of his career Saturday. After the race, winning rider William Buick said of any horse he has ridden, Tryster has the best turn of foot.