Japanese cheer home their Heart's Cry in the Dubai Sheema Classic
By K. T. Donovan (Thoroughbred Times) - 25 March 2006
The Japanese had high hopes for their champion older horse Heart’s Cry to win the $5-million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), but no one expected him to lead at every call at Nad al Sheba on Saturday.
Jockey Christophe Lemaire gunned him from the gate to get him past the field and over to the rail by the first turn, with Alayan breathing down his neck. Relaxed Gesture under Corey Nakatani drew even as they entered the far turn, but Heart’s Cry was just getting into his stride. Never in danger, the five-year-old son of Sunday Silence increased his lead in the stretch to win by 4 1/4 lengths over Collier Hill amid loud cheering from the sizable Japanese entourage from Shadai Farm that bred and owns the horse.
“In Japan, the pace is very fast in our races, so I was concerned when I saw the pace so slow tonight in earlier races,” said Teruya Yoshida of Shadai. “But when Christophe went to the front, he took care of that himself. It wasn’t completely unexpected, but I was a little worried because he had never had the lead before.”
Heart’s Cry finished the 2,400 meters (11.93 furlongs) in 2:31.89 on firm turf.
Collier Hill gave his all as journeyman jockey Dean McKeown urged him on, and even looked like he could be a threat to take the lead in the stretch until Heart’s Cry found another gear. Collier Hill, who began his career as a jump horse, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Falstaff.
Ouija Board (GB), who raced off the rail early on, made a late run to finish fourth. Her owner Lord Derby was gracious in defeat, but his disappointment was evident.
“This wasn’t to her style, but she was very brave,” he said, then nodded in the direction of Heart’s Cry. “That’s a good horse there, and it wasn’t our day. Nothing is winning from off the pace. It’s a big thing to ask to go from winter in England to here.”
Lord Derby would not commit to sticking to the plan of bringing Ouija Board to the United States for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1), instead wanting to take some time to make up his mind.
“This means a lot for Japanese breeding and for our training,” said Yoshida.
“We have improved a lot.”
Heart’s Cry has now won five of 17 races. He was bred in Japan from the Tony Bin mare Irish Dance.