Mon, 02/28/2005 - 00:00

Silent Witness wins 15th in row

Silent Witness crushed 10 rivals in the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday to run his career unbeaten streak to 15.

Silent Witness (1-20) was not fully extended in taking the five-furlong $576,900 Centenary by two lengths over stablemate Country Music.

Cape of Good Hope, recent winner of the Australia Stakes, was fifth, eight lengths behind the winner. Silent Witness's time for the straight five furlongs on good to yielding ground was 56.70 seconds.

Fri, 02/25/2005 - 00:00

Silent Witness goes for 15-0 mark

Silent Witness will attempt to extend his record to 15 victories without a loss in the Group 1, $576,900 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday, when he will run into the world traveler Cape of Good Hope.

Those two last met on Dec. 12, when Silent Witness prevailed in the Hong Kong Sprint by 1 3/4 lengths over the Centenary distance of five furlongs.

Fri, 02/25/2005 - 00:00

French filly's beauty just one part of her allure

Horsephotos
The 3-year-old filly Divine Proportions (8), who has beaten males multiple times, could come to New York for this fall's Breeders' Cup.

NEW YORK - The filly who goes by the name Divine Proportions is every bit as classically endowed as her name would indicate, as well as being possessed of a race record that entitles her to flaunt her heavenly dimensions.

Tue, 02/22/2005 - 00:00

Wolf Whistle back for Group 3

Wolf Whistle will attempt to improve upon his record-setting victory four weeks ago in Thursday night's Group 3 Al Rashidiya at Nad Al Sheba.

A South African 6-year-old trained by Mike de Kock, Wolf Whistle broke Ipi Tombe's 1 1/8-mile turf track mark when he won a handicap in 1:46.48 at Nad Al Sheba on Jan. 27. The $200,000 Al Rashidiya will be run over the same course and distance as that over which Wolf Whistle set his record.

Shakis, second in his Nad Al Sheba debut on Feb. 3, has an upset chance, as does the Clive Brittain-trained Membership.

Mon, 02/21/2005 - 00:00

'Meisho' goes wire to wire in Tokyo

Meisho Bowler remained undefeated on dirt, leading throughout to win the Grade 1, $1.74 million February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday.

A 4-year-old son of Taiki Shuttle trained by Toshiaki Shirai and ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga, Meisho Bowler prevailed by a length over Seeking the Dia. He handled this step up to Grade 1 company with aplomb, setting a new track record of 1:34.70 in sloppy going.

Sent off as the even-money favorite, Meisho Bowler had won his last two starts since being switched to dirt in the Garnet Stakes and the Negishi Stakes, both Grade 3 miles.

Fri, 02/18/2005 - 00:00

King's Boy wins in desert

Aaron Gryder guided King's Boy, now known by his new Arabic name of Qaayed Alkhail, to a 5 1/2-length victory over Dynever in the 2 1/8-mile King's Cup at Al Janadriah Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday night.

King's Boy won this race last year before finishing a distant fifth in the Dubai World Cup. Dynever, whose name has been changed to Ittasak by his new owners, Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Sons, finished another 6 1/2 lengths in front of Alssarh, the Argentine-bred formerly known as Second Reality.

Thu, 02/17/2005 - 00:00

Satin Kiss runs away in UAE Oaks

It was Satin Kiss first, the rest nowhere at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday. A daughter of Seeking the Gold, the filly gave Godolphin its fifth win in five runnings of the UAE 1000 Guineas.

In her first start on dirt after winning two of four races on turf in England last year, Satin Kiss was put on the lead by Frankie Dettori at the start of the $250,000 one-mile event. They never looked back, going clear at the quarter pole for a 4 1/2-length triumph.

Tue, 02/15/2005 - 00:00

Showdown in UAE Guineas

The UAE 1000 Guineas, Thursday night's $250,000 one-mile feature at Nad Al Sheba, offers a meeting between Argentina's champion 2-year-old filly of 2004, Forty Greeta, and the well-regarded Irish invader Slip Dance.

Fri, 02/11/2005 - 00:00

Shamardal not the last word in 3-year-olds

While the unbeaten and unheaded Shamardal rules the European 3-year-old roost from his winter outpost in Dubai, there are a significant number of French and Irish 3-year-olds who should make an impact on the classic season this spring.

Thu, 02/10/2005 - 00:00

Stagelight upsets UAE Guineas

As many as three Kentucky Derby dreams ended at Nad Al Sheba Thursday night as Stagelight sprung a mild upset in the UAE 2000 Guineas.

The Group 3, $250,000 mile was to have been a springboard to the UAE Derby for Triple Crown nominees Kandidate, Tony James, and Becrux. The first two finished fourth and 16th, while Becrux was 13th.

Stagelight took the lead at the three-sixteenth pole and went on to a three-length victory over Gypsy Johnny in 1:40.42.