Sharp Azteca Has the Edge
Once again, America’s speedy Sharp Azteca appears so tough that it will take a super-performance –or a super-weird set of circumstances, like last year– to beat him in the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2). This year, the son of Freud appropriately appears a more psychologically sound prospect, having learned to rate beautifully and pounce on his prey with an explosive turn-of-foot in the final 300m. The nearly black charge, trained by Jorge Navarro, enters off a disappointing off-the-board finish in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in late January.
“He’s ready for the race and he was ready for the Pegasus (World Cup Invitational),” Navarro said. “He was one of the horses that I took over (to the race last time) and absolutely everything was right, but then everything in the race just turned the other way and he never had a chance to show who he is. He’s a great horse. Whether he can go that far (1800m), I’m not sure, but that race did not tell us.
“(Jockey) Irad Ortiz (Jr.) worked him the other day and said he was ready,” Navarro said. “He galloped out (to 1200m after working 1000m in a bullet 58.80) in 1:10. We will just turn the page with him. He didn’t have any luck (in the Pegasus) and we will hope for the best at Meydan.”
The prohibitive favourite in last year’s Godolphin Mile, he was entangled in a grueling speed duel while going wide on the far turn under young rider Edgard Zayas. He gave way begrudgingly in the final 150m to Second Summer and Ross, finishing third.
“Last year was heartbreaking,” Navarro said. “We took a young jockey, and nothing against, him, but he wasn’t quite ready and made a bad decision, but we leave with that and turn the page, like I said. We can get it this year. When you go into these big races, going out of the country and across the world, you have to respect who you’re running against. Hopefully it plays out well for us.”
Other Godolphin Mile possibles: Heavy Metal, Ross, Kimbear, Boynton, Classic Emperor
Press Release // Dubai Racing Club