Sheikhzayedroad Surges to Northern Dancer Win

English invader Sheikhzayedroad made a successful North American debut when he held off Dynamic Sky in a tight finish in the $282,711 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (Can-IT)  Sept. 14 at Woodbine.



The winner drifted out a couple of paths in the final yards before the wire, causing pacesetter Reporting Star to take up in tight quarters, and he appeared to brush with the onrushing Dynamic Sky as well. Following a long stewards' inquiry, however, a claim of foul was disallowed and the result stood.



Martin Lane rode Sheikhzayedroad, a British-bred 5-year-old son of Dubawi trained by David Simcock for owner/breeder Rabbah Bloodstock, to the victory. The bay gelding was coming off back-to-back stakes triumphs in England.



Sheikhzayedroad, the 3-1 second choice, scored by half a length and was timed in 2:32.37 for the 1 1/2-mile journey over a turf course rated good. Dynamic Sky, at odds of 24-1, was second, with Reporting Star third.

The Pizza Man, the 6-5 favorite in the field of nine, was unplaced, ending his five-race win streak for Midwest Thoroughbreds.

Reporting Star set a deliberate pace while on an easy lead Saturday, taking defending Northern Dancer victor Forte Dei Marmi through an opening half-mile in :52.88, a mile in 1:43.18, and 10 furlongs in 2:07.61.



Sheikhzayedroad, well back in the field for the opening mile after a slow break, was put the drive rounding the final turn by Lane, the gelding's regular rider. As The Pizza Man mounted a challenge along the hedge. Sheikhzayedroad may have made the winning move when dropped down to the rail in front of The Pizza Man past mid-stretch.



With room to operate along the inside, Sheikhzayedroad reached even terms with Reporting Star in deep stretch, inching ahead of that rival and getting to the line in the final strides over the fast-closing Dynamic Sky, ridden by Joel Rosario.



Justin Stein, aboard Reporting Star, came up in the saddle in the last yards as Sheikhzayedroad came out and bumped slightly with Dynamic Sky. Stein lodged an objection.

"The race couldn't have worked out any better," said Lane. "(Sheikhzayedroad) was able to come around the reins-side all the way and when we straightened up he picked up all the way to the line for me.

Lane said he thought Sheikhzayedroad shied from the wire.



"He's gone to win real easy. He's probably got a length up. The wire is a little more daunting than it is back home and he just had a look at it and slowed down himself. It cost him more than anything."



Sheikhzayedroad earned his fourth win in eight starts this year. Winner of the Dubai Duty Free Gulf World Cup in January going 10 furlongs at Meydan, he later returned to England to run third in a group III test at Sandown Park, losing by a nose. Sheikhzayedroad won his next two starts, including the Skybet York Stakes (Eng-II) July 26 at York in his previous race.

"Really pleased, lovely race to win," said Simcock. "He is a grand horse and tries really hard. He has his quirks. He runs about a bit, but that's normal for him. He did a lot worse when he was a younger horse, I assure you, and he never wins by far. He thinks he's done enough once he's got there. He's terrific. He's a traveler. He loves going to different places, Dubai, here and he'll go elsewhere in the future."



Sheikhzayedroad could return to Woodbine soon.



"We've got an option of the (Pattison Canadian) International on the 19th (of October). He's got an entry the same day at Ascot. I'll speak to his owner and decide where he is going. We'll either come back here or go to Ascot and then he'll go to Dubai and start his travels again."



Out of the Highest Honor mare Royal Secrets, Sheikhzayedroad's extended his career mark to 8-3-4 in 21 outings with earnings of $501,999.



Carrying co-highweight of 123 pounds, Sheikhzayedroad paid $8.30, $4.90, and $4.10 across the board, keying a $161.60 exacta. John Oxley's Dynamic Sky, signaling a return top form for trainer Mark Casse, returned $17 and $10.40 with his big late move. Always-tough Reporting Star, most recently second in Woodbine's Sky Classic Stakes (Can-IIT), paid $7.20 to show.



Villandry finished fourth, followed by The Pizza Man, Aldous Snow, Perfect Timber, Karibu Gardens, and Forte Dei Marmi.