WAM
27 Mar 2022, 00:37 GMT+10
DUBAI, 26th March, 2022 (WAM) -- A Case Of You struck a memorable victory for Ireland in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Azizi Developments, to spark emotional celebrations for his exultant connections.
Predictions the race would unfold when it mattered down the grandstand rail proved accurate as A Case Of You, drawn closest to the near side in gate 16, raced handily under his regular rider Ronan Whelan.
The Hot Streak colt hit the front between the final two furlongs and never looked vulnerable thereafter, scoring by a length and a quarter from British raider Happy Romance to the glee of County Dublin trainer Ado McGuinness and his owners, led by longstanding client Gary Devlin, who whooped joyously in the Meydan parade ring.
The favoured Man Of Promise did not appear to have any particular excuse, but still ran with credit to be third, a neck further back.
A Case Of You, bred by Derek Iceton at Tara Stud, could not attract the reserve price of 3,000 at the Goffs Sportsman's Sale as a yearling. He began his career with trainer John McConnell before selling privately to the McGuiness stable after winning the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes as a juvenile. This was the second Group 1 win of his career having also landed the Prix de l'Abbaye at ParisLongchamp last October.
Winning trainer Ado McGuinness said: "I knew he had improved plenty from the last day. Ronan Whelan gave him a great ride, he was super cool."
He continued: "Ian Brennan has looked after him out here and has done a great job with him. He's a very, very good horse. We might get some credit now! People said it was a weak Abbaye he won but one thing is for sure it wasn't a weak race today. He's only four and he'll only get better. I think he'll win another Group 1 this year and the long-term target at the end of the year will be back at the Breeders' Cup."
A Case Of You's jockey Ronan Whelan said: "I was worried I might be getting there a bit early but he was going so well. His last furlong is always his strongest and he's such a tough and genuine horse. Five furlongs, six furlongs, soft ground, fast ground, it doesn't matter to him. I love him. He came on so much from the prep run on Super Saturday. Having that experience stood to him and he improved so much from it. It means the world to all the team. To win such a big race at Meydan, it's the stuff you dream of but don't think will happen."
Richard Hannon, trainer of runner-up Happy Romance, said: "I'm delighted with that, she's run a really good race. You can't be disappointed with that, she seems to be getting better and better and she's earned us some really nice money."
Happy Romance's jockey Sean Levey added: "She ran a blinder. I thought the draw maybe cost me a length and I think she would have been bang there with a better draw. She's run a blinder and the year is young."
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationMADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Paramount has agreed to pay US$16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Tánaiste Simon Harris has called on the United States to use every hour to reach a zero-for-zero tariff agreement...
DUBLIN, Ireland: A blind woman from Dublin says she was hurt while getting off a bus because the driver refused to pull in close to...
DUBLIN, Ireland: The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has warned that there could be a serious trolley crisis this summer...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The U.S. dollar continues to lose ground, weighed down by growing concerns over Washington's fiscal outlook...