Dubai: From sailing around the world, to scaling mountains, to flying aeroplanes, it has been proven that you’re never too old to accomplish anything that you desire or have the will to accomplish.
Three weeks after stunning racegoers at Meydan when he ran circles around his younger rivals to win the Listed Dubawi Stakes, ten-year-old Reynaldothewizard bids to become the first horse to record successive victories in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint, one of the most prestigious 1,200-metre contests at the annual Dubai World Cup Carnival.
At ten, a horse is generally considered ‘old’ by racing standards, but not this super-trouper, whose regular rider Richard Mullen has ominously warned is ‘better than ever’.
The Wizard continues his incredible journey towards a hotly anticipated third outing in the $2 million Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, a race he won back in 2013, when he takes on a nine sprint rivals in today’s Gulf News-sponsored prep.
“I always say we humans get a lot of credit for what we do, but mostly it’s the horses that does the talking,” said his trainer Satish Seemar, a former champion handler in the UAE.
“He’s a horse that speaks a silent kind of language that tells us what to do, and which has guided our reasoning all these years. He may be old by normal standards, but then again he’s not a normal horse. In the case of some horses, like him, age is no limit.
“We believe he is as good as he ever was and is still enjoying his racing, as much as we are.”
Breaking from the eighth starting gates, Reynaldothewizard will be seeking an unprecedented tenth UAE victory in the capable hands of stable jockey and UAE champion Mullen.
“He seems in great form. As I have said before, he is not the easiest to gauge at home as he is far from an exuberant worker but he has been full of himself, which has to be a good sign,” said Mullen, who lives in the UAE.
“We could have been drawn better but he tends to get behind early on anyway and there looks to be plenty of pace in the race, which will suit him. It is a stronger race than the one he won last time but, hopefully, he has a good chance.”
Among Reynaldothewizard’s rivals is Godolphin’s Stateside raider Marking, who represents in-form handler Kiaran McLaughlin.
The mount of James Doyle, the four-year-old son of Bernardini, will making his Dubai debut and first start since chasing home Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Runhappy in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita, California, on Boxing Day.
“When we arrived we actually thought Marking was the most likely of our four Godolphin horses to win. He is dropping in trip, which is a slight query but he is a very nice horse we think and one who should cope with the sprint trip, but could stretch out beyond a mile.”
Doug Watson-trained My Catch, Kifaah, prepared by Ali Rashid Al Raihe, and the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Muarrab represent the home team while Dubai regular Krypton Factor, who was second in the races last year, will be contesting his fifth Al Shindagha Sprint.
Hong Kong raider, Rich Tapestry, who was third in the race last year, and Scandinavia’s Let’sgoforit, provide the international flavour to a strong-looking renewal of the races.
