Animal Kingdom romps to richest prize in racing

The 2011 Kentucky Derby hero was given a no-nonsense ride by Joel Rosario, who always had crack mare Royal Delta just in front of him as she set the early pace.

Making his move two-and-a-half furlongs out, Animal Kingdom showed a very smart turn of foot to effectively put the race to bed. From the back of the pack, however, Ed Dunlop’s Red Cadeaux rattled home along the far rail under Gerald Mosse, but while he was closing all the way to the line the prize was never going to be lost for the Graham Motion-trained winner.

As last year, Planteur was third for Marco Botti, with the Andrew Balding-trained Side Glance a career-best fourth.

Animal Kingdom is now expected to take his chance at Royal Ascot, with the Prince of Wales’s Stakes the likely target.

US-based, Cambridge-born Motion said: “He’s just an extraordinary animal. Joel seemed to have so much and when this horse went clear he did it with supreme confidence.”

Aidan O’Brien’s St Nicholas Abbey broke the track record in going one place better than 12 months ago in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.

On a great night for the O’Brien team, Lines Of Battle won the UAE Derby to book a crack at the Kentucky Derby and give Ballydoyle back-to-back successes in the race after Daddy Long Legs last year.

Saeed bin Suroor’s mare Sajjhaa ran out an impressive winner of the Dubai Duty Free to give Silvestre de Sousa a double after he struck aboard Cavalryman in the Dubai Gold Cup.

Eddie Lynam’s Balmont Mast nearly pulled off a 33-1 surprise in the Golden Shaheen, but just failed to catch Reynaldothewizard, while Mike de Kock bagged a brace as Soft Falling Rain and Paul Hanagan claimed glory in the Godolphin Mile and Shea Shea in the Al Quoz Sprint.

Levitate got home in a blanket finish to the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster.

The Spring Mile provided Liam Jones with his first winner since returning from a spell in India when he drove Educate (8-1 joint-favourite) home.

Willie Mullins admits that Annie Power “could be anything” after she stretched her unbeaten record to seven with a scintillating performance in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse.

Today, the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse will take centre stage, and following rapid progress recently by Panther Claw, the Paul Nolan-trained gelding has booked a spot in the race.

The seven-year-old relishes heavy ground and a real test of stamina, and Nolan has booked Katie Walsh with Davy Russell unable to be considered for the ride due to his light weight.

Russell instead partners Panther Claw’s stablemate, Sweeney Tunes, while Nolan also runs the outsider Carloswayback..