Chad Summers reports
In 2022, Switzerland was a popular winner for local connections in the Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Nakheel, marking the first World Cup winner for Champion trainer Bhupat Seemar and the first Group 1 victory for 10 time UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea.
Fast forward one year later and RRR Racing’s nine-year-old son of Speightstown may just be the one to beat again, despite having competed just once since that joyous March night.
His 2023 season was launched when winning the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes where he powered home through the stretch and improved his record to four wins from five starts when O’Shea sits in the saddle on him.
“He’s moving like a gazelle out there,” said O’Shea. “He is coming into this race equally as good as he went into last year.”
Switzerland will be attempting to become the third horse to win back-to-back Golden Shaheens and the first since Mind Your Biscuits in 2017-2018. To do so though he must defeat 13 others including the formidable team from the United States.
Previous to last year, the Americans had won five of the last six and 14 overall. This year five are scheduled to go to post, led by Winchell Thoroughbreds multiple Group 1 winner, Gunite.
The four-year-old entire is coming off a solid second place finish in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint and seems to be relishing the track in the morning.
Assistant trainer Amanda Olds quipped: “He’s doing really well since arriving from Saudi Arabia He’s quieted down and the track plays a little faster than Saudi Arabia which he seems to really enjoy.”
Breaking from post 13, regular jockey Tyler Gaffalione will be able to keep an eye on all of the speed to his inside. Hall of Fame Trainer Steve Asmussen – who recently celebrated saddling his 10,000th career winner – will be seeking his first Meydan victory having won two races previously at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in 2008 with Curlin.
The hottest speed very well could come from the lower drawn barriers, with Sibelius, Super Ocho, Tuz and Hopkins all drawn 5 or below.
Sibelius in particular has been a fan favorite since arriving from the States. Jun Park and Delia Nash’s five-year-old gelded son of Not This Time enters off two consecutive stakes victories in Florida, including the Pelican Stakes in Tampa Bay Downs, which has previously led to Shaheen success.
Trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer will finally make his long awaited Meydan debut after COVID-19 cancellation forced a scratch of his initial intended runner in 2020.
“The Pelican made my decision easier as it was perfect timing and gives me six weeks until the Shaheen,” O’Dwyer said. “He’s probably a bit better fresh as he’s not hard to keep fit. I’m confident the track will suit him.
“He’s travelled all over the country so he’s been over different tracks, deeper tracks. He’ll be forwardly placed in the race, but he doesn’t have to lead.”
Red Le Zele, the runner-up in the last two Golden Shaheens, will attempt to do one better as he leads a cast of four Japanese-based entries. The other Japanese horses number Justin, Remake and the highest rated horse in the race, Lemon Pop, who is coming off a Group 1 victory in the February Stakes in Tokyo for trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka. The five-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid will attempt to give Godolphin its first ever victory in the Golden Shaheen, the one remaining Thoroughbred race it has not yet won.