Lani Stamps Kentucky Derby Ticket With UAE Derby Victory
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Lani winning the UAE Derby in his first start on the Kentucky Derby trail. (Video courtesy of Meydan Racing)
By Blood-Horse Staff
Kentucky-bred Lani is headed back to his roots while representing Japan after earning his way into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands with a March 26 UAE Derby score.
The gray Tapit colt edged Polar River in the 1,900-meter (about 1 3/16 miles) event at Meydan, earning 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for owner Yoko Maeda.
The owner's son, Koki Maeda, confirmed Lani will become just the second runner to target the Run for the Roses for Japan. The only one so far, Ski Captain, finished 14th in 1995.
"Of course, we will go to the Kentucky Derby, and I'd like to get the first prize," Maeda said.
Trainer Mikio Matsunaga said Lani will go straight from Dubai to Kentucky, departing the United Arab Emirates around March 30.
$1-million Godolphin Mile
Video courtesy of Meydan Racing
Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's One Man Band captured the $1-million Godolphin Mile and led a sweep of the top three positions for trainer Doug Watson March 26 at Meydan Racecourse. It was the first Dubai World Cup program victory for Watson, a top trainer in the United Arab Emirates.
One Man Band, a 5-year-old horse by Pivotal out of the Cape Cross mare Musicanna, grabbed the early lead from his rail post position and never looked back en route to an easy victory in 1:35.21 for about one mile. Cool Cowboy, who chased the leader throughout, couldn't gain in the stretch and was nailed late for second by stablemate Faulkner. One Man Band won by 4 3/4 lengths. Faulkner had a nose on Cool Cowboy.
Watson called the one-two-three finish "unbelievable" and said he was confident One Man Band would win when Cool Cowboy failed to make up ground off the far turn.
"Cool Cowboy wasn't getting to him," Watson said. "(One Man Band) has won this way before when he has gotten an easy lead. It's a great feeling. We have a great team at home and great owners who give us great horses."
$1-million Dubai Gold Cup
Video courtesy of Meydan Racing
The Aga Khan's Vazirabad flew past rivals in the stretch and caught front-runner Big Orange to win the $1-million Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors March 26 at Meydan.
A 4-year-old homebred son of Manduro ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Vazirabad lost several steps after a poor start. Relaxed at the back of he field, he was full of run when asked and collared Big Orange 100 meters out to win by a neck for a sixth consecutive triumph.
"He hasn't had a prep race so I asked Christophe to respect the horse," Royer-Dupre said. "He isn't very quick at the start but he has a turn of foot."
Certerach set the early tempo to the head of the stretch as Big Orange stalked from second. Big Orange soon took charge but could not withstand the rally of Vazirabad. Haafaguinea was third.
Bred in France from the Linamix mare Visorama, Vazirabad has six wins and a second from eight career starts for Alain de Royer-Dupre.