Godolphin-owned Skysurfers takes Godolphin Mile
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Skysurfers, capturing the first group or graded stakes in the 10th start of his career, burst to the lead in midstretch and turned back an inside challenge from Mufarrh to win the $1 million Godolphin Mile by a half-length.
A 5-year-old horse owned by Godolphin and trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Skysurfers was ridden to his third victory in five Meydan starts by Frankie Dettori.
“I knew we had the best horse,” Dettori said. “He loves it here.”
Skysurfers had started only once here in Dubai this winter, winning the Feb. 10 Firebreak Stakes, run over the same one-mile Tapeta trip as the Godolphin Mile.
“We gave him a one and one-half month break,” said bin Suroor, who won the Goldophin Mile for the seventh time. “He always runs well fresh.”
Conveyance, a former U.S. racer, set the early pace, pursued on the outside by I Want Revenge. The two went a steady clip down the backstretch as longshot As de Trebol tried unsuccessfully to bull his way between horses. But when the real running began turning for home, the pacesetters quickly folded up: Conveyance finished seventh, I Want Revenge 10th.
“He was in an ideal spot, but he was just empty when I asked him,” said I Want Revenge’s jockey, Ramon Dominguez.
Skysurfers, drawn in post 13, raced three-wide around the turn and bid for the lead outside horses, while rail-drawn Mufarrh hugged the fence and came through on the inside. The two ran head to head for about a half-furlong, but Skysurfers edged clear in deep stretch. Red Jazz finished third, more than three lengths behind Mufarrh, and Premio Loco was fourth. The winner ran a mile in 1:37.65.
In United States betting pools, Skysurfers paid $8.20 to win.