Musir jets past Frozen Power in UAE Guineas

Musir proved to be an easy winner of the $250,000 UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan on Thursday as he cruised past Godolphin runner Frozen Power for a handy 3 1/4-length victory in the Group 3 mile, which serves as a prep for the $2 million UAE Derby.

Trained by Mike de Kock, the South African-raced, Australian-bred son of the Danehill stallion Redoute's Choice was repeating his win over Frozen Power in the seven-furlong UAE 2000 Guineas Trial on Feb. 5 when he scored by a half-length while giving the runner-up 16 pounds as a Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old. Spotting Frozen Power, a listed race winner at Deauville last August, just nine pounds on Thursday, Musir had an even easier time of it despite breaking widest of all from post 14, as he came from wide in midpack under Christophe Soumillon to win going away. Argentine Derby winner Storm Chispazo was eighth with Argentine 2000 Guineas winner Quartier Latin 10th. The time for the Tapeta mile was 1:37.46.

Musir had won the seven-furlong, Group 1 Golden Horseshoe Stakes at Greyville in his last start in South Africa on July 4. He will give Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vale of York something to think about in the 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby on March 27.