Messi, the horse, takes the
Crown in Abu Dhabi for Belgium

WATCH THE RACE

European class scored the winning goal on Friday evening, December 4, when Timo Keersmaekers-trained Messi (Dahess x Jeanne D'Arc by Dormane) flashed home an easy winner in the Group 1 AED 5 million ($1.35 million) Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, December 4, the most valuable race to be staged in the capital all season.

Previously contested over 1600m, but increased 600m in distance this year, the new trip certainly suited the winner under a very polished and confident ride from Pat Dobbs.

Under a confident ride by Pat Dobbs, sitting comfortably in third, then fourth on the backside, the grey Belgium-bred/owned/trained son of Dahess relaxed noticeably amid foes. Dribbling up three-wide with 600m remaining on the final turn to strategically keep his position, Messi then was asked by Dobbs as they straightened out with just under 400m to go and quickly had the goal line in sight. Opening up a comfortable lead that ultimately became 3 1/2 lengths at the finish, the nearly white Purebred Arabian landed his first G1 race--a feat made that much sweeter after a pair of unlucky seconds in top-level company at Paris-Longchamp this fall.

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Meydan-based Al Zahir ((Madjani x Petite Class by Barour De Cardonne) closed well to finish second, a nose to the good of Yas Horse Racing Management's France-based Hayyan (Munjiz x Dahwa by Tidjani) in third. Well-fancied Hajres and Somoud managed sixth and 12th in the 16-horse field.

The remarkable Messi, who is hitting his peak at age eight, has finished first or second in eight of his past 10 starts and won for the seventh time in 24 tries. Two starts back, he was second in the Arabian World Cup (G1) on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe undercard. Dobbs, based locally with Doug Watson's Red Stables, was riding him for the first time.

The final time was 2:30.65 for 2200m, an increase in trip (from 1600m) for the affair, commencing this year.

“I was always travelling strongly, though he was a bit on and off the bit until he saw real daylight. Then when he quickened, I knew it would take a really good one to get past us and nobody was able to challenge us.“He is clearly a very good Purebred Arabian and it is amazing to win such a prize in one of the world’s biggest Arabian races”. Pat Dobbs said.

This was his seventh career win, fifth on turf, but his first at Group 1 level and a delighted Timo Keersmaekers said: “That was brilliant! The horse has been in such good form all year and had been working well, so we were hopeful."

Keersmakers added: "It's a dream come true. I've been coming to Abu Dhabi and seen what's happening and you think one day maybe you could have something like that. I'm really happy with what (Messi) achieved. I want to thank all the people involved with him. It has been a great year and I hoped he could close the year like he started the year and he did. I'm extremely happy."

“Pat Dobbs has given him the perfect ride and I must thank Adrie de Vries for recommending Pat when it was clear he could not take the ride. My wife is here with our young daughter which makes it extra special.”

Source: Emirates Racing Authority – Image Credit: Shamela Hanley Photos