Shamardal flop gives Godolphin blues
Plans for Shamardal were in disarray today after he proved a spectacular failure on his introduction to dirt racing in the UAE Derby at Nad Al Sheba.
The race was won in brilliant fashion by his Godolphin-owned stablemate Blues And Royals, who now looks certain to go for the Kentucky Derby and was quoted at 12-1 by William Hill.
Shamardal was vying for the lead for most of the way under Frankie Dettori, but when the taps were turned on in the straight he faded tamely away.
It was left to second string Blues And Royals (33-1) to burst clear and land the spoils easily under Kerrin McEvoy.
Last season’s highest-rated juvenile had been touted as a possible for Kentucky, but those dreams look shattered following this disappointing performance.
Dettori had Shamardal, the 11-8 favourite, smartly out of the stalls and he battled for the lead with Gypsy Johnny and Durban Thunder in the early stages, with his main market rival Parole Board hot on their heels.
The Dewhurst Stakes winner, also second favourite for the UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas, appeared to be going well as the field turned for home, but he was quickly overpowered and was soon backpedalling.
McEvoy seized the initiative on Blues And Royals and the outsider did not let him down, going well clear in the final furlong to give trainer Saeed Bin Suroor his fourth victory in the race.
American raider Marenostrum was second, with Parole Board third.
“He’s just been going quietly about his business at home and he was really switched on tonight with the blinkers. They were a good addition for him,” McEvoy told Sky Sports Extra.
“He travelled quite well for me all the way. I was really pleased. I was tracking the leader on the fence and there was only half a gap, but he was going that well that he just went straight through it.”
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said of Shamardal: “We cannot really judge him from what we have seen tonight.
“We will need to let the dust settle before we decide whether he will have an American programme or go to Europe for the Guineas, but that obviously wasn’t his real form.”
Blues And Royals is heading to the United States for the Kentucky Derby.
Crisford went on: “I made the entries for Kentucky myself and I can’t remember if I put this horse in, but if he isn’t in the race now, he will be tonight.
“We came here today hoping he might get a place, but he has been training well and he looked very good tonight.”
