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Posted 2010-02-11 21:26:26  
War Artist wins Shindagha war

 War Artist was winner of the featured Group Three Al Shindagha Sprint on the fourth night of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival, generously sponsored by Gulf News. The 1200m feature looked competitive but once Olivier Peslier kicked his mount, trained by James Eustace clear just inside the straight, he was never going to be caught.

Eustace said: "We thought he would need the run but is a very talented and versatile sprinter. We will probably revert to the turf with him now."

Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin won three of the first four races, highlighted by the victory of Siyaadh in the UAE 1000 Guineas. Ahmed Ajtebi was in the saddle on the filly who was virtually last turning for home in the 1600m classic but flew home to snatch the spoils.

Ajtebi, for whom it was a first classic winner, said: "She really picked up when I asked her and has passed a lot of rivals in the straight. I thought I was going to get there from about 200m out."

The opening 1400m conditions race, the 4Men, was won by the Bin Suroor-trained Mendip who was given a confident ride by Frankie Dettori who said: "He travelled well and quickened nicely. Hopefully he can improve."

The Godolphin team then doubled up with the easy victory of Highland Glen in the InsideOut, a 2200m handicap. Settled in rear by Dettori, he ran on strongly to win going away and the jockey said: "He was always going nicely and really picked up well in the straight."

A rapid treble was denied when their Soy Libriano was denied by Lizard's Desire, representing the Mike De Kock/Christophe Soumillon combination. A winner over 1800m on the opening night, they followed up here over Wheels, the 2000m handicap and de Kock said: "We hoped he would be competitive at the Carnival and is proving himself the ideal type."

Richard Mullen was in the saddle on Satish Seemar's Escape Route who battled on bravely to land the Aquarius, a 1400m handicap, to the delight of the jockey who said: "He is a tough and versatile performer who rarely runs a bad race."

The night's first turf race, the penultimate event, was the 2485m GNAds4U handicap in which Alan Munro made all on the Mick Channon-trained Halicarnassus who was a previous Carnival winner at Nad Al Sheba. Channon said: "We knew there would not be much pace so had to try something and Alan has judged it perfectly."

Pan River chased home Halicarnassus in Turkey in September and the Turkish-trained horse then won the concluding 1800m Gulf News Broadcasting handicap, also on turf, in a driving finish.

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