Presvis showed no signs of rust as he powered away from his rivals through the stretch to win the Al Rashidiya-Sponsored by Gulf News (UAE-IIT) by a commanding 4 3/4 lengths at Meydan Race Course Jan. 27. The nine-furlong turf contest was the featured race on the third night of the 2011 Dubai Carnival.
The 7-year-old Sakhee gelding, who was making his first start since Royal Ascot last June, now has won at least one race at the Carnival for three years running.
Ridden by an ultra-confident Ryan Moore, Presvis was settled into last after the break, as outsiders Tam Lin and Tequilla Heights went to the front and set the pace. Frankie Dettori had Caymans just behind that pair in third, as the favorite Irish Flame raced in sixth.
Both outsiders continued to duel on the front end through the early stages of the race, with Caymans tracking them closely. Presvis continued to bring up the rear, trailing the field by as much as four lengths.
As the field entered the turn, Caymans assumed command, but Presvis was slicing his way through the pack, making up several lengths with each stride. As the horses hit the top of the straight, Presvis shot to the front and the race was over within a few strides. Presvis streaked to the wire under just mild urging from Moore, and crossed the finish line an easy winner.
Steele Tango overtook Caymans in the final yards to claim second by 1 3/4 lengths. Irish Flame made a brief move at the top of the stretch but was no match for the winner and had to settle for fourth.
Final time for the nine furlongs over a good turf course was 1:49.56.
Winning trainer Luca Cumani told reporters after the race, “He did it very, very well. I was very pleased as I thought he would need the race. I’ve not been able to do everything I wanted with him, but he probably knows best now.”
“Ryan gets on with him like a house on fire,” Cumani continued. “I didn’t give him any orders, I just said go out there and do what you normally do. The next stop will be the next group race here at this trip and then the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-IT) on World Cup night.”
Presvis, whose biggest victory to date has been the 2009 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup (HK-I), improved his record to seven wins from 21 starts. The $120,000 winner’s share of the purse increased his earnings to $3,806,150.
Presvis was bred in England by Mrs. M. Campbell-Andenaes, and is owned by Leonidas Marinopoulos. He is out of the winning Never So Bold mare, Forest Fire.
Presvis leaves the rest behind in the Al Rashidiya.
Andrew Watkins