Krypton Factor Impressive in Mahab Al Shimaal

Krypton Factor turned the tables on Hitchens when he charged to a 2 1/2-length victory over his rival in the $200,000 Mahab Al Shimaal Sponsored by Skywards (UAE-III) at Meydan Racecourse March 10.

The six-furlong contest was the second of six stakes races on the “Super Saturday” card at Meydan, which serves as a dress rehearsal for the $27 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) day card March 31.

Krypton Factor and Hitchens last met in the Al Shindagha Sprint Sponsored by Gulf News (UAE-III) Feb. 3, with Hitchens edging the 4-year-old Kyllachy gelding by a short head after a prolonged stretch duel. Most felt that the Mahab Al Shimaal would boil down once again to those two rivals, with Hitchens going off as the slight favorite at 3-1.

Dark Matter was withdrawn the morning of the race, leaving a field of 13 to go to the post. At the start, it was Addictive Dream that shot to the front to take the lead. Alazeyab was hot on his heels in second, with August Rush just off him in third. Kieren Fallon kept Krypton Factor outside of those runners in fourth, with Hitchens placed in mid-pack by Silvestre de Sousa.

Addictive Dream continued to hold onto a slight lead over August Rush as the field rounded the turn and headed for home. Fallon had Krypton Factor in the clear on the far outside, and the pair began gobbling up ground as they closed in on the longtime leaders.

With less than a furlong left to run, Krypton Factor surged past Addictive Dream to take command, pulling away in the final yards to win convincingly. Hitchens made a late bid but was no match for the winner and had to settle for second, edging August Rush by a half-length.

Final time for the six furlongs was 1:11.56 over the Tapeta main track.

With the victory, Krypton Factor improved his record to seven wins from 19 starts for owner/trainer Fawzi Abdulla Nass. The brown gelding was bred in England by Lady Fairhaven, and is out of the stakes-winning Polar Falcon mare, Cool Question.