Barzalona claims top race despite losing whip
Report: Saudi Arabia, Friday
Janadriah: Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques Cup (King's Cup) (Group 1) 1m4f, dirt
GODOLPHIN jockey Mickael Barzalona added Saudia Arabia's biggest race to his burgeoning big-race tally after driving Sairoor to a narrow victory despite losing his whip two furlongs out.
Mickael Barzalona: Group 1 strike
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Not to be deterred, the young Frenchman appeared to resort to the palm of his hand, stretching his arm back as though using his whip, to add this race to a haul that includes last year's Dubai World Cup, St Leger and the 2011 Epsom Derby.
Sairoor, trained by Bader Rizaiq led home a 1-2-3 for owner King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons, just holding off the late challenges of 2011 winner Fly Down, who was also second last year and E H Indy (under Sairoor's normal jockey Mohammed Aldaham).
It briefly appeared that Christophe Soumillon had stolen the race on eventual fourth Singalat, previously trained by James Given.
Fourth in the race last year, Sairoor could now be heading to the Dubai World Cup Carnival along with Fly Down.
Earlier on the card, Olivier Peslier won the local-bred version of the King's Cup on Alwasam, a son of the late Dynever and Silvestre De Sousa was aboard Step In Time, twice a winner for Mark Johnston, when winning the 1m1f conditions race.
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