Vodka finishes 5th in the Jebel Hatta - Daaher (G2) in UAE

Vodka (1st from right)
(c) JRA

Japan's Horse of the Year in 2008 Vodka stepped out for the first time this year last night in Dubai, but had no luck in running, and started her year with a 5th placing.Connections had chosen the US$250,000 Group 2 Jebel Hatta - Daaher over 1777m at Dubai's Nad Al Sheba racecourse, as a lead up to the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free on March 28, and there is no doubt that Vodka will benefit from the run.

Jumping well from the barriers, Yutaka Take settled Vodka perfectly in fourth position on the rails in the early stages of the race, with South African bred Jay Peg (who finished 2nd in this race before winning the Dubai Duty Free last year) leading the field comfortably.As the field entered the straight, the challengers began making their move down the middle of the track, but Jay Peg was fighting on well and Take had nowhere to go when trying to get out from behind the leader.

In the closing stages, the Irish bred Balius came with the South African bred duo of Russian Sage and Imbongi and gradually bridged the gap, while Take tried to find room between the fence and the tiring Jay Peg.At the line though, it was Balius who hit the front and the winning margin was 1 1/4 lengths. Russian Sage and Jay Peg dead-heated for 2nd, with Imbongi a short head away 4th.

Vodka finished 5th, another 3/4 lengths back, but she found very little galloping room in the straight, and went to the line without being asked for much of an effort.However, the major positive to come out of the race for the Japanese team was the fact that Vodka traveled very well throughout the race, and she seems to be in top condition heading into the big race later this month.

The winner of the race, Balius, had not won at Group level before, but he had gone close in major International races throughout 2008, finishing 2nd in two of Hong Kong's big races, the Group 1 Audemars Piguet Q E II Cup, and the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup, as well as finishing 3rd in the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup in Singapore.The time for the 1777m race was 1:48.84, the quickest time in the last 5 years.

* Please visit the following websites for more information.
  Dubai Racing Club website: http://www.dubairacingclub.com/
  Emirates Racing Authority website: http://www.emiratesracing.com/