Rey de Oro on the Rise
Japanese champion 3-year-old colt of 2017 Rey de Oro has been confirmed for the $6 million, 2400m Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) and appears to be one of the horses to beat, to say the least. A valiant second in the Japan Cup (G1), beating Kitasan Black (3rd) and an impressive winner of the Japanese Derby (G1) earlier in 2017, the son of King Kamehameha was a disappointing third in his season bow on February 11th in the Kyoto Kinen (G2), but was not without excuse that day. The Kazuo Fujisawa trainee was sans his regular rider, Christophe Lemaire, who was suspended at the time.
Very lightly raced, the improving bay 4-year-old colt appears to have taken aim on this race a long way out for a trainer who has had his fair share of top runners. He will likely take a lot of beating in the race and gets the return services of his favourite pilot against a field that looks to include formidable Group 1 winner Cloth of Stars, from the partnership of Godolphin and Andre Fabre.
For those looking to compare the form of the two expected market toppers, Rey de Oro was rated a 121 in 2017, while Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) runner-up Cloth of Stars was a 125 – the 7th-highest rating in the world.
Press Release // Dubai Racing Club