C Z Rocket arrives in Dubai for Golden Shaheen
The veteran sprinter C Z Rocket arrived in Dubai on Monday for a scheduled start in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen Sprint at Meydan Racecourse on March 25, the 9-year-old gelding’s first trip abroad.
A winner of 12 of 36 starts, C Z Rocket was second in an allowance race at six furlongs at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 17 in his lone start this year and first since a second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland in November. C Z Rocket was second in 2020 BC Sprint at Keeneland and seventh in the 2021 BC Sprint at Del Mar.
Owned by Gary Barber, Madaket Stable, Tom Kagele, and Miller, C Z Rocket was considered for the Group 2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan on March 25, but Miller said the $2 million Golden Shaheen is preferred because of its six-furlong distance and a purse twice as valuable as the $1 million Godolphin Mile.
“He might be better at” six furlongs, Miller said.
Miller said that Ginobili, the winner of the Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 14, has been turned out with an “undisclosed” injury and will not race again until autumn.
Ginobili was last of eight in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 18. Ginobili had a half-mile workout at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in California earlier this month before he was taken out of training.
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