Dubai: Sajjhaa wins Cape Verdi Stakes to end losing streak

Sajjhaa ended a four-race losing streak, and won for the first time outside of Europe, in Thursday’s $200,000 Cape Verdi Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Ridden by Silvestre de Sousa for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, Sajjhaa raced near the front throughout the Group 2 Cape Verdi Stakes over a mile. She took the lead with a quarter-mile remaining and won by 3 3/4 lengths over an unlucky Amanee, who raced in traffic in early stretch.

First City, who won the 2012 Cape Verdi, finished third in the field of eight.

Sajjhaa, by King’s Best, was the 4-6 favorite with British bookmakers in the Cape Verdi Stakes.

Sajjhaa, 6, won three stakes in Europe earlier in her career. Owned by Godolphin Racing, she won two stakes in England – at Bath and York – and one in Italy, at San Siro.