Two weeks out from a showdown with fellow undefeated colt Nyquist in the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I), Mohaymen continues to flash the form that has him considered the leading 3-year-old Triple Crown prospect on the East Coast.

Shadwell Stable’s multiple grade II-winning son of Tapit   soared through a five-furlong breeze in 1:01 March 18 over the main track at Palm Meadows,Gulfstream Park‘s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

Cruising alone down the stretch shortly after 8:20 a.m., Mohaymen was never asked by regular exercise rider Miguel Jaime after going through splits of :13 2/5, :25 1/5 and :36 3/5 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:15 for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

“He went great; just what the boss asked for. It was perfect,” Jaime said. “We’re just getting ready. He feels great, like a Ferrari, you know? We’re doing good so far, looking forward to the Florida Derby.”

A 28-year-old native of Mexico, Jaime has been up for every jog, gallop and work since Mohaymen, the favorite in the most recent Kentucky Derby Future Wager, relocated to South Florida in early December. Friday’s breeze, fastest of 10 at the distance, was the second since Mohaymen’s dominating victory over late-developing Zulu and previously unbeaten Awesome Banner and Awesome Speed in the Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth (gr. II) Feb. 27.

“It’s a pleasure to be on a horse like that,” Jaime said. “He’s getting better every day, every race. He’s getting stronger, bigger. We haven’t seen him really run yet. We expect him to run a big race. He hasn’t shown everything. We’re in a good spot right now. Today, everything went good.”

McLaughlin continues to be impressed with Mohaymen, winner of the Nashua (gr. II) and Remsen (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack to close his 2-year-old season before opening 2016 with a decisive victory over grade I winner Greenpointcrusader in the Holy Bull (gr. II) Jan. 30 at Gulfstream.

“He worked very well. He’s doing great and he’s fit, and we’re happy. We just have to keep working and keep him happy,” McLaughlin said. “He’s got a great mind, and that’s all part of it. He’s doing everything right and continues to. We’re not looking for any changes.”

McLaughlin won’t be in town for Mohaymen’s final scheduled work prior to the Florida Derby, a half-mile breeze on March 25. The trainer leaves March 20 for Dubai where he has several horses competing on the World Cup program at Meydan March 26, including Frosted in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) and Lady Shipman in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-I). He will return to Florida the following day.

“He’s happy these days. He was ready to work. He’s been real happy lately and wanting to do a little more out there. He trains great and does everything right and he seems to be push-button for the riders,” McLaughlin said.

Nyquist, the champion 2-year-old male of 2015 who delivered a season-opening victory in the seven-furlong San Vicente (gr. II) Feb. 15 at Santa Anita Park, is scheduled to arrive March 28 at Gulfstream.

“Each person has their own opinion on (speed) figures but he’s doing great, doing everything right, and doing everything that’s been asked of him,” McLaughlin said. “He’s won easy every time, and we’re very happy with him. We’re not looking for any changes. Obviously, Nyquist will be tough and it’s a big race, grade I. If we get pushed, we get pushed. We hope it’s not gut-wrenching for both horses but we do have five weeks to recover.”

Tags

• Mohaymen,   Nyquist,   Florida Derby 2008,   Florida Derby 2009,   Florida Derby 2010,   Florida Derby 2011
• Florida Derby 2012,   Besilu Stables Florida Derby 2013,   Besilu Stables Florida Derby 2014,   Besilu Stables Florida Derby 2015
• Besilu Stables Florida Derby 2016,   Breeze,   Workout,   Kiaran Mclaughlin,   Palm Meadows,   Miguel Jaime,   Xpressbet.Com Florida Derby
• Kyderby16

fonte : Bloodhorse.com

 

Bryan Cooper celebrates winning the Gold Cup on Don Cossack

Cheltenham Festival: Don Cossack rules in thrilling Gold Cup

Report: Cheltenham, Friday

Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) 3m2½f, 5yo+

DON COSSACK came into the Cheltenham Gold Cup with questions to answer, but he did so in magnificent style to win comfortably from Djakadam and Don Poli.

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It could have been an entirely different finish as the £1 million bonus chasing Cue Card was travelling powerfully when coming down at the third last fence.

Don Cossack fell when Cue Card landed the King George VI Chase at Christmas, and the Gordon Elliott-trained 9-4 favourite made sure the result was mirrored by producing two fantastic leaps before powering up the famous hill.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned nine-year-old started the season as the highest-rated horse in Britain or Ireland and produced the greatest performance of his exceptional career, to come home four and a half lengths clear of Djakadam - who filled the runners-up spot for the second successive year.

Bryan Cooper: “I can’t thank the O’Leary’s enough”

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Winning rider Bryan Cooper had a difficult choice to make and the young jockey got it right, with Don Poli a further ten lengths adrift as the class horses came to the fore.

“Thank God. It’s unbelievable,” said Cooper. “Fair play to Gordon, he stuck by this horse and it was a hard decision [to pick between them] but Gordon had him right for the day and he never missed a beat. I’m only in this position because of that man in the sky Dessie Hughes. He always stood by me.

“I can’t thank them enough [the O'Leary's]. From when I broke my leg here they’ve always supported me and told me the job was here and kept my head up. We’ve had a tough week but we got up and won when it mattered. He’s the best I have sat on anyway. “

Elliott added: “I can’t believe it. I want to thank the whole team at Gigginstown and they’ve supported me from the start. I can’t believe it. I’ve never been so nervous in my life but I’m delighted for the whole team.

“It’s something you dream of. I won the Grand National when I was younger and I probably didn’t appreciate it as much as I should. I will appreciate this. I want to thank all my staff, Michael and Anita [O'Leary], my mother and father.

“I did think about cheekpieces until I worked him a few days ago on good ground. He’s so much better on the good ground. He’s the best horse I’ve ever trained.”

Gordon Elliott: “He’s the best horse I’ve ever trained”

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Cue Card ‘absolutely fine’

On faller Cue Card, Colin Tizzard added: “He’s absolutely fine. Thank God he got up. He walked back with a bit of grass between his ears but apart from that he doesn’t have a care in the world.

“He was upsides but he just put down, hit the top of the fence and went over. When he got upsides, I thought ‘here we go’ but that’s racing. It’s the first time he’s fallen in four years of chasing but that’s championship racing.”

Mullins second and third

On the second and third, Mullins said: “We have no excuses – he [Djakadam] had every chance from the fifth-last and jumped as cleanly as he could. He was beaten by a better horse on the day so congratulations to all the connections of the winner.

“I would imagine the ground was just too fast for Don Poli – he wasn’t able to go the pace. He just stayed on and on and is possibly a Grand National horse.

“It’s tough to finish second twice with Djakadam, and it is going to be tough now for him to win one. We’ll see, but I would imagine he would stay on this road in a bid to come back here next year.”