Time/Date
12.10hrs/Saturday, November 7, 2009
Racecourse/Country
Santa Anita/USA
Surface/Distance
Pro-Ride/6f
Gayego aims for a second successive Grade One victory on the Pro-Ride of Santa Anita in the US$2-million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint over six furlongs on Saturday, November 7.
The four-year-old stormed to an impressive success over the same distance in the Ancient Title Stakes on October 11 when he came with a powerful run on the outside to lead well inside the final furlong before being eased by Garrett Gomez, scoring well by a length and a quarter from Crown Of Thorns. Garrett Gomez
takes the mount again.
The Gilded Time colt was also victorious on his return to American racing on August 17, taking a six-furlong dirt allowance optional claimer at Saratoga, having started the year with two excellent runs on the dirt of Nad Al Sheba in Dubai.
Gayego found only stable companion Two Step Salsa two and a quarter lengths too strong in the Group Two Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Etisalat on March 28 and beat subsequent Dubai Golden Shaheen victor Big City Man by three quarters of a length in the six-furlong in the Group Three Mahab Al Shimaal - Dayjur on March 5.
He contested the first two races of America’s Triple Crown on dirt last season, coming 11th in the extended nine-furlong Grade One Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in May and finishing unplaced in the Grade One Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands over 10 furlongs at Churchill Downs earlier the same month.
The Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: " I love this horse - he is doing very well.
"Gayego is in top form and I think he has a great chance in the race.
"He needs to be well positioned so he can come with his usual strong finishing burst."
Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager, commented: "We are anticipating a good run from Gayego.
"He has to step up on what he achieved over course and distance last time. Six furlongs is a good trip for him, especially a fast-run six.
"He does all his best work at the finish and we are hoping he can do the same in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint."
Gayego races against eight rivals from stall five in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint headed by multiple Grade One winner Zensational, last year’s runner-up Fatal Bullet, Europe’s Fleeting Spirit and Capt Candyman Can, who was awarded the Grade One NetJets Kings Bishop Stakes after the disqualification of Godolphin’s Vineyard Haven.