By Duane Fonseca
Emirati handler Musabbeh Al Mheiri and jockey Dane O’Neill celebrated first ever wins in the 1200m Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, Danyah supplying the pair success after a gritty performance under the Irishman. O’Neill timed his ride aboard the Shadwell homebred 6yo Invincible Spirit gelding perfectly, getting him to power home just in time as he headed Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby trained race favourite Al Suhail a mere 50m from the finish.
Breaking from the chute, Rashed Bouresly’s Miqyaas, winner of the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint over 1000m in February, forced the pace but ran out of steam to eventually finish last of the 15 that went to post. Al Suhail took over proceedings in the course proper and stuck his head in front prominently, but as Troy Corstens’ The Astrologist picked up under Damian Lane, so did Danyah for Al Mheiri and O’Neill.
As Danyah and The Astrologist saw eye to eye it soon became clear Al Suhail was out of it, with William Buick his rider ensuring he did not drop to beyond third as Danyah powered home with great heart to deny The Astrologist by a head. Al Suhail was a further neck back in third. Al Mheiri said: “He had been running over seven furlongs and a mile and we had an invite for the Godolphin Mile, but we thought we would try him over six (furlongs) in the Al Quoz.
"We felt he had enough speed to run well and maybe finish in the placings but to win is a very nice surprise. Great credit to Shadwell for how they planned it and it is a special day for us all.” O'Neill added: “I’d be lying if I said we were confident beforehand. We thought possibly prize money and that would be great as he has a good cruising speed.
"It was worth a chance but the low draw in gate five was a concern. It was funny they stayed away from the stand side and I enjoyed a great draft into the race behind the second horse and he finished very strongly like a horse that gets further. "It was certaily a nice surprise for all concened and a great result."
