Big City Man, a Florida-bred son of Northern Afleet owned by Prince Sultan Mohd Saud al Kabeer, held off the 4-year-old filly Indian Blessing in the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) March 28 at Nad Al Sheba.
Big City Man, a 4-year-old colt bred by Four Horse Ranch and out of the Valid Appeal mare Mini Appeal, defeated North America’s champion female sprinter by a half-length in the six-furlong straight race.
Godolphin’s Diabolical, runner-up in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, was third.
The winner is trained by Jerry Barton.
Big City Man raced four times in the United States as a 2-year-old in 2007. Breaking his maiden second time out at Calder, he won the six-furlong $100,000 Criterium Stakes and the $100,000 Dr. Fager leg of the Florida Stallion Series.
Off for the entire season of 2008, Big City Man emerged Jan. 8 at Nad Al Sheba and won the six-furlong Keeneland Trophy. Following a victory Jan. 22 in the Al Shidagha Sprint (UAE-III), he ran second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Gayego in the March 5 Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-III). Gayego ran second in the Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) prior to the Golden Shaheen.
Indian Blessing broke from the inside post in the Golden Shaheen, but was last to load, as in straight races in Dubai the traditional lowest-to-highest post positions are reversed. After breaking a step slow, she ran well along the rail, found room, and traveled well in the final quarter, but was unable to catch the winner.
Big City Man paid $13.80 and the exacta (2-12) with Indian Blessing returned $17.10.
