Filly Vivlos Rallies to Beat Boys in Dubai Turf
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Japan-based filly Vivlos (JPN) rallied outside through the stretch to secure a half-length victory over the boys in the $6 million Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) March 25 at Meydan on the Dubai World Cup card.
With the win, Japan-based horses have claimed three of the past four editions of the Dubai Turf.
After group I winner Ribchester struck first to take the lead in early stretch, he was passed by longshot group II winner Heshem, but Vivlos and jockey Joao Moreira were closing most powerfully outside those two as they claimed victory in the about 1 1/8-mile race. Heshem held second, a half-length better than Ribchester with favorite Zarak in fourth.
Trained by Yasuo Tomomichi for owner Kazuhiro Sasaki, lightly raced Vivlos claimed the second stakes win of her career. She closed out 2016 by winning the Shuka Sho (G1) against other females in Japan.
Bred in Japan by Northern Racing, Vivlos is a 4-year-old daughter of Deep Impact.
In other turf races on the Dubai World Cup Card:
• Pegase Bloodstock's The Right Man secured the first group I victory of his career when he edged Bill Mott-trained Long On Value by a nose in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Azizi Developments.
A previous group III winner, The Right Man came into the race with career earnings of $219,693 before securing $600,000 in purse money when guided by Francois-Xavier Bertas to victory by in the about six-furlong turf sprint in 1:09.59 on yielding turf. Bred in England by Mrs. James Wigan, The Right Man is a 5-year-old son of Lope de Vega.
Trained by Didier Guillemin, The Right Man prepped for Saturday's race with a third-place finish in an allowance-type race March 4 at Meydan.
Wachtel Stable, George Kerr, and Gary Barber's Long On Value, under Joel Rosario, just missed his first group/grade I win. A grade II-winning 6-year-old son of Value Plus, Long On Value entered the Al Quoz Sprint off a third-place finish in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes Jan. 28.
"I'm kind of speechless," said Mott's assistant, and son, Riley. "For him to come halfway across the world and compete on this stage, it's an absolute thrill. We were just a spec away from getting the win, but we really don't feel like we lost anything. It feels like a win so to speak. We're just really proud of the horse."
Southern California-based multiple stakes winner Richard's Boy finished fifth for owners Rockingham Ranch and trainer Peter Miller.
• In the $1 million Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2), The Aga Khan homebred Vazirabad edged Beautiful Romance by a neck to win the race a second straight year.
A highweight in France and Dubai, Vazirabad is trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre and he was guided to victory by jockey Christophe Soumillon. A 5-year-old Manduro gelding, Vaziribad completed the 3,200-meter (about two-mile) test in 3:22.52 on yielding turf.
This story will be updated with a recap of the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1).