American raider Zenden (USA) ran out a brilliant victor of the $1,5m Gr1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News but there was a sad postscript when the winner suffered a fatal injury after the finishing post.
Winning Rider Antonio Fresu was unshipped from the horse although he was able to walk away after the fall.
Zenden Wins the Dubai Sheema Classic (Pic – Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing Club)
A first Dubai winner for trainer Carlos David, the Fed Biz entire came to the race on the back of a successful prep run at Tampa in Florida. He looked to have an unfavourable draw in 14 of 14 but Fresu made a swift move early in the race to take a rail position and they were soon leading the field.
Zenden powered clear of his competition as he turned into the home straight, eventually winning by three and a quarter lengths.
Red Le Zele, trained by Japanese handler Takayuki Yasuda, finished second. The Doug Watson-trained Canvassed was two and three-quarter lengths further back in third. The winning time was 01:09:01.
