CAN REMAKE CRASH SIBELIUS’ DOUBLE HOPES AND EARN HIS VERY OWN GULF BRACE?

By Duane Fonseca - 

It is often said sprinters get stronger with age. If there is indeed any truth in that statement then Jeremy O’Dwyer’s Sibelius, the defending champion of the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, better watch out for Remake. While the American import returns a year older at six, among his many raceday worries is the problem of a stronger-looking Remake, who arrives on the back of a stylish and rather straightforward romp in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. Koichi Shintani’s trainee is a finisher and is here to do business. He showed that in the Saudi capital a month ago too, when he erased a near four length deficit to cruise with minimal urgings to a length-and-a-half success under Yuga Kawada all in the final 200m of the race. That victory puts him in the driving seat here as he faces plenty with pretty strong sprinting credentials including Sibelius, who sneaked home along the rail to win last year by a nose.

HOPING FOR A LUCKY REMAKE
A five-year-old son of 2016 UAE Derby winner Lani, Remake found himself devoid of racing luck and as a result had his cross to bear during the 2023 running. He bore the burden and did well to finish fifth, just a length and three quarters behind and, after putting on a stunning show, by literally cruising down the centre of the track in Riyadh courtesy of his terrific late turn of foot, this year’s race seems quite honestly his to lose. On his return to the US, Sibelius went seventh and then fifth in the G1 Bing Crosby and the G2 Phoenix Stakes respectively before making a return to the winning path in December, when claiming the G3 Mr Prospector by a stunning four lengths at Gulfstream Park. That win prepped him for a repeat in the Listed Pelican Stakes, coincidentallythey were his last two races before heading to Dubai last year as well. Remake accounted for Bold Journey (third), Keiai Dorie (sixth) and Tuz (10th) in Saudi Arabia and the trio reoppose here, with Tuz, one of three saddled by 2022 winning trainer Bhupat Seemar, who also has G3 Mahab Al Shimaal 1-2 Leading Spirit and Freedom Fighter in the line-up. The Michael Costatrained Mouheeb, 13th in 2023, booked his spot after winning the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint and Doug Watson’s dual Listed winner from this season, Colour Up, complete the UAE contingent. Representing America, apart from Sibelius, are Wesley Ward’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint third Nakatomi, last year’s fourth Hopkins, trained by 2015 winning trainer Bob Baffert, Bill Mott’s Bold Journey and Jose Francisco D'Angelo’s Listed Gulfstream Park Sprint winner Run Classic. Remake lines up alongside fellow Japanese travellers Don Frankie, trained by Takashi Saito, and Masashi Atarashi’s Igniter.