Kinglet swoops late for UAE 2,000 Guineas win

Report: UAE, Thursday

Meydan: UAE 2,000 Guineas (Group 3) 1m, Tapeta, 3yo

KINGLET provided Mahmood Al Zarooni with back-to-back wins in the UAE 2,000 Guineas as he went one better than in the trial for this race on his last start.

The Kingmambo colt, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, had just one rival behind as they straightened for home but in a finish of changing fortunes it was the Godolphin runner who came out on top.

Mickdaam, who was attempting to give Mike de Kock a fifth win in this race, finished second with the Brian Meehan-trained Mehdi running a gallant race in defeat back in third.   

Kinglet had won over this trip two starts ago in a conditions race at Kempton and caught the eye when flying home late to get within half a length of Dark Matter last time over a furlong shorter.

He left his best work for the closing stages once again, leading half a furlong from home with Mickdaam sticking on to finish a quarter of a length back in second, three-quarters of a length in front of Mehdi who had hit the front over a furlong from home.

Al Zarooni said: "Mickael had ridden him before which was a benefit. He loved the surface and, stepping up a furlong further, he ran better, which is why I think he won the race"

Winners of this have a formidable record in the UAE Derby on World Cup night and Al Zarooni continued: "The plan is to go to the Derby. I am not 100 per cent sure he will stay or not because after the race he looked very tired. Maybe it was the pace, I don't know but we will go back home, see how he is and if he is okay we will try him."