Presious Passion Leads Sheema Classic Cast

Pat Generazio’s front-running Presious Passion figures to carry them a long way March 27 in the Dubai Sheema Classic Sponsored by Guangsha Group (UAE-I). The $5 million turf race has drawn a full slate of 16 runners ready to go 1 1/2 miles over the new Meydan turf course. The race has an Eastern Daylight post time of approximately 12:35 p.m.

Facing Presious Passion is a host of international stars including Youmzain, Spanish Moon, Dar Re Mi, and last year’s Sheema Classic winner Eastern Anthem.

Presious Passion, known for his quick starts, will be ridden by regular rider Elvis Trujillo and will break from post 9. He was last seen winning the Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Feb. 28. Last year, he led most of the way in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT), finishing second, beaten just a half-length by champion Conduit.

Dar Re Mi, a 5-year-old mare by Singspeil was third in the Turf and has not started since. Trained by John Gosden, she was the highweighted older mare at 11-14 furongs on the English Free Handicap after notching the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-I) and Audi Pretty Polly Stakes (Ire-I).

Youmzain has raced in six different countries and has earned more than $5.7 million in a 27-race career. Winless in six starts last year, he was still the highweighted 6-year-old on both the English and French Free Handicaps at 11-14 furlongs. The highlight of his campaign was finishing second to Horse of the Year Sea The Stars in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) at Longchamp last October.

Juddmonte’s Spanish Moon was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last fall and second, beaten just a nose, in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK-I) after winning a pair of group stakes in France.

Godolphin’s Eastern Anthem has not been out since finishing second to Jukebox Jury in Germany’s Rheinland-Pokal (Ger-I).

$5,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic Sponsored by Guangsha Group (UAE-I, Race 7, 8:35 p.m. – 12:35 p.m. EDT), 4-Year-Olds and up, about 1 1/2 miles (Turf)

PP.Horse, Jockey, Wgt., Trainer
1.    Jukebox Jury, R Ffrench, 124, M Johnston
2.    Eastern Anthem, A Ajtebi, 126, M al Zarooni
3.    Anmar, R Hills, 124, M al Zarooni
4.    Pan River, S Kaya, 126, A Kasar
5.    Quijano, A Starke, 126, P Schiergen
6.    Pompeyano, R Mullen, 126, S Seemar
7.    Youmzain, K Fallon, 126, M Channon
8.    Golden Sword, C Soumillon, 124, M de Kock
9.    Presious Passion, E Trujillo, 126, M Hartmann
10.    Buena Vista, O Peslier, 120, H Matsuda
11.    Deem, J Leparoux, 121, J Barton
12.    Mourilyan, K Shea, 126, H Brown
13.    Spanish Moon, R Moore, 126, M Stoute
14.    Dar Re Mi, W Buick, 121, J Gosden
15.    Campanologist, T Durcan, 126, S bin Suroor
16.    Cavalryman, L Dettori, 124, S bin Suroor