Tamarkuz struck at the Breeders’ Cup on Friday night when the former Godolphin Mile winner powered to victory in the Dirt Mile at Santa Anita for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s Shadwell Racing operation.
The six-year-old, who won four races at Meydan in 2014, handed trainer Kiaran McLaughlin his first winner at the Breeders’ Cup in California and jockey Mike Smith his 23rd success at the self-styled World Championships.
It was a first win for the son of American sire Speightstown in his newly-adopted country from six attempts and paid a handsome compliment to AP Indian, the favourite for Saturday night’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, having chased him home at Saratoga in August.
McLaughlin had not saddled a Breeders’ Cup winner since Lahudood’s victory in the Filly & Mare at Monmouth Park in 2007, a year after he sent out Invasor to win the Classic. Both of those horses were also owned by Shadwell, and the relief at finally getting another on the board was palpable.
“This feels great,” McLaughlin said. “This finally gets the monkey off my back with my first Breeders’ Cup winner since 2007. I’m not really surprised, though. I really thought he had a chance. Mike really rode a great race. When they were turning for home is when I thought we had a real good chance to win. What a feeling.
“We’ve won three Breeders’ Cups in my career, and they’ve all been with these colours on, and it’s a very special owner and a great man to win for, and the whole team of Shadwell and everybody, it’s fabulous to be part of that team.”
Tamarkuz’s future is now in the hands of Sheikh Hamdan himself and Rick Nichols, general manager of the US arm of Shadwell Racing. McLaughlin suggested that Tamarkuz would make a great stallion a few times in his post-race assessment and did not shy away from the ‘s’ word when asked directly about what might happen next.
“Sheikh Hamdan and Rick Nichols will decide if he’ll run again or go to stud,” he said.
Last season’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Runhappy set the pace under Gary Stevens but it was clear midway through the race that the four-year-old was never going to last home and was supplanted at the head of the field by favourite Dortmund and main rival Gun Runner.
Smith had other ideas, however, and as Tamarkuz came out like a slingshot from the bend in to the stretch, he set about working his mount in to contention. Tamarkuz showed in Dubai that he had the requisite mental toughness and he pulled three and a half lengths clear at the line.
“I had really a good trip and it was set up,” Smith said. “There was a lot of pace. Tamarkuz has speed himself and right away they opened up a two, three, four lengths lead, so I knew they were going fast.
“After that it was just a matter of getting him into a comfortable rhythm and a happy place. When I called on him, he finished like he’s been finishing for me. I really thought he had a good shot today.”
Dortmund, who has been chasing California Chrome’s shadow this season, faded in to fourth.
“We were hoping to go to the front and didn’t, but got into a good position,” trainer Bob Baffert said of Dortmund. “It was a pretty hot pace. He looked great down the backside. When I saw the fractions, I got a little worried. The track is demanding today. He just didn’t bring it like he has before.”
Later in the night Beholder sailed off in to a well-earned retirement when she just got the better of the previously undefeated Songbird in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
The feature race will surely go down as one of the most soul-enriching battles to have been staged down any home straight anywhere in the world.
The two champions were locked in an embrace from the top of the stretch with Stevens aboard Beholder and Smith seeking a double aboard the young pretender.
Neither human nor thoroughbred flinched for the 20 seconds they were nose to nose, but it was the more street-wise mare who pulled out the most at the wire.
“That was a hell of a way to go out – that’s it,” Stevens said, with tears in his eyes.
“She put Songbird away three different times. She laid her heart out on the racetrack.”
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