My Indy adds Round 2 tally to his record

My Indy got the job done in Round 2 of the Group 3 Maktoum Challenge at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night. Godolphin's main hope for the Dubai World Cup, My Indy put in a gritty performance to wear down Asiatic Boy through the long stretch and prevail in the $200,000 contest, adding to his recent victory in Round 1 of the Maktoum Challenge.

Ridden forwardly by Frankie Dettori, My Indy took a narrow lead from the pacesetting Asiatic Boy inside the quarter pole and ran out a three-quarter-length winner over Happy Boy, who snatched second near the line by a head. Running for the first time since finishing 7 3/4 lengths second to Curlin in last year's Dubai World Cup, Asiatic Boy was very much in need of this race and should do better in Round 3 of the Maktoum Challenge, a 1 1/4-mile Group 2 race on March 6.

The time of 1:50.53 for the nine furlongs on a fast dirt track was nothing special, prompting owner Sheikh Mohammed to suggest that My Indy was not a certainty for the World Cup. As an alternative, My Indy an Argentine-bred son of of the A.P. Indy stallion Indygo Shiner, is also under consideration for the Group 2 Godolphin Mile.

Saudi Arabian racing may have a star in the making in Deem, a 4-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Dalakhani. She displayed determination in running down three group race winners from Europe and South Africa to take the Group 3, $200,000, Cape Verdi Stakes.

Trained by American Jerry Barton for Saudi Prince Sultan Mohammed Saud Al Kabeer, Deem had aired in three dirt races in Riyadh before her turf debut on Thursday, her first outing since Dec. 26. With Fernando Jara aboard, she beat South African Group 2 winner Front House by 1 1/2 lengths with British Group 3 winner Eva's Request third and German Group 3 winner Peace Royale fourth. The time for the mile on good ground was 1:38.97.

The Cape Verdi was won last year by Sun Classique, who would subsequently take the 1 1/8-mile Balanchine Stakes and the 1 1/2-mile Dubai Sheema Classic. Deem may well follow in her footsteps, at least in attempting to win those two races.