Secret Circle holds off Hong Kong raider Super Jockey to win Dubai Golden Shaheen

The 1,200-metre race was staged at Nad Al Sheba 14 times before it transferred to Meydan’s Tapeta, and America had won nine of those times, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

Secret Circle of the U.S., ridden by Victor Spinoza, second from right, crosses the finish line to win the Dubai Golden Shaheen with the US$2,000,000 prize during the Dubai World Cup horse racing at tShow more

It was as if they had never been away. Secret Circle proved again that American sprinters are the best in the world on dirt when he held off the late thrust of Hong Kong raider Super Jockey in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on Saturday.

The 1,200-metre race was staged at Nad Al Sheba 14 times before it transferred to Meydan’s Tapeta, and America had won nine of those times. To further illustrate their dominance, they also sent over nine horses that finished second.

Lucky Nine and Rich Tapestry from Hong Kong set the pace, and jockey Victor Espinoza anchored Secret Circle behind the front-runners.

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As Lucky Nine swung into the stretch, Espinoza began to make his move. As the three horses straightened up, Secret Circle was ominously alongside the two international runners.

In behind Ryan Moore had galvanised Super Jockey, who was sat in behind on the rail, and 300 metres out Moore angled his seven-year-old gelding to give chase as the two early leaders faded. Moore kept on at his partner, but Secret Circle had won twice at the Breeders’ Cup meeting previously and was battle-hardened enough to hold on.

Secret Circle won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint in 2011 at Churchill Downs, before he graduated to the Sprint itself in 2013.

“We had a nice, clean trip on the outside,” Espinoza said. “He handled the surface particularly well, and it reminds me of the Churchill Downs track. It’s the same kind of surface.

“I got a really good tow into the race, and when we went to the front it was just a case of whether we could hang on.”

Trainer Bob Baffert had twice saddled the runner-up in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. He was not at Meydan to taste his first success in the US$2 million event (Dh7.34m), having suffered a heart attack when Game On Dude ran in the World Cup in 2012.

Espinoza revealed, however, how confident the silver-haired Baffert was prior to the race.

“He texted me in the morning,” Espinoza said. “He just said, ‘don’t screw it up’.”

Secret Circle had not won in six races since he had landed the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

He had been edged out by Work All Week in defence of his title at Santa Anita in November, was second at Aqueduct against 2013 Golden Shaheen ninth-place finisher Private Zone three weeks later, and was the bridesmaid again in the Palos Verdes Stakes once again at Santa Anita in January.

Those defeats made the win taste all the sweeter.

“That makes up for two or three near-misses for the horse over the turn of the year,” Espinoza said.

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