Terrific Challenge wins the Jebel Ali Sprint

March 13, 2010

Eight year old Terrific Challenge (G-3) earned his second win in two weeks, beating 16 ace sprinters to win the Jebel Ali Sprint (L) by a length yesterday for trainer Satish Seemar and jockey Ted Durcan in Dubai.
 “He was really smooth,” said Durcan. “There was a lot of speed around us which was a help. (Former jockey) Richie [Mullen] told me to just leave him alone because he knows what to do and he did it well.”
The field for the 2010 Jebel Ali Sprint, regarded as one of the most competitive in years, included last year’s winner Hammadi and Dubai Racing Carnival winner Frosty Secret.

"He didn't just win, he won well, beating a top class field," said Seemar, a former United Arab Emirates champion trainer.
The victory may have earned the son of Royal Academy an invitation to compete in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night March 27.
The old trouper is held together with his trainer’s skill and his own back class.
"He's a veteran and like most veterans there's a bit of wear and tear, but he's a very nice horse to have in the stable,” Seemar commented.
From a Lantern Hill foundation family, the chestnut horse is the first foal from the Crafty Prospector mare Clever Empress.  Sold for us by Eisaman Equine at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale to trainer Stan Hough and partners, Terrific Challenge had seven US wins on dirt and turf, including three consecutive sprint stakes victories at Monmouth.

In 2007, in his first year racing in the UAE Terrific Challenge beat Eclipse Champion Thor’s Echo in the  Marju Mahab Al Shimaal (G3); and with his two 2010 wins  his career line now stands at 34-11-7-3, $550,684.

Click Here to Watch the Race

Photo Credit: Oliver Clarke/Gulf News