Australians this morning awoke to the news of international triumph following the successful Dubai debut of former Peter Snowden-trained sprinter Mental.The son of Lonhro won the AU$193,000 Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint on the Meydan all-weather surface at his first start in the Godolphin blue for Sheikh Mohammed's No 1 trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.It was his first start since winning the $1 million Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the final day of last year's Melbourne Cup Car
Australians this morning awoke to the news of international triumph following the successful Dubai debut of former Peter Snowden-trained sprinter Mental.
The son of Lonhro won the AU$193,000 Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint on the Meydan all-weather surface at his first start in the Godolphin blue for Sheikh Mohammed's No 1 trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.
It was his first start since winning the $1 million Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the final day of last year's Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The gelding produced a customary performance to win the 1200m event. After a tardy beginning he settled in the second half of the field before jockey Mickael Barzalona edged him into the clear soon after straightening to launch a strong finish.
Mental, who carried 2.5kg more than any other runner in the race, wore down the Mike de Kock-trained Kavanagh to score by a length with the well-performed international sprinter Krypton Factor close up third.
The victory was Mental's eighth success from just 13 starts.
While Mental's former Darley stablemates Adroitly and Induna finished among the tailenders in their race later in the night, there was another positive for the ex-Aussies with Zahee filling a minor placing in his event.
The former Mick Price-trained colt, now in the care of de Kock, finished third in the $241,000 Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas (1600m) won by stablemate Soft Falling Rain.