Boy Back With A Bang

Hot favourite Asiatic Boy did not let his fans down in the Group Three Al Shindagha Sprint, the six-furlong dirt feature at the second meeting of the Dubai International Racing Carnival.

Ridden by Johnny Murtagh for Mike De Kock, he was outpaced in the early stages but able to stamp his class on proceedings in the final furlong ? once Murtagh found a gap.

Murtagh explained: 'I was never really concerned as I knew he would pick up when the gap appeared. He is a real quality performer.'

De Kock was delighted: 'He's shown what a class colt he is. He had everything go against him but he was good enough to cope with it all.

'The Dubai World Cup is very much the plan, but we might just look at the Mahab Shimaal with him over the same distance on Super Thursday for him next.'

Coral were impressed and trimmed Asiatic Boy to 6-1 from 8s for the World Cup on March 29.

Spokesman David Stevens said: 'Asiatic Boy may not have scored in Europe last summer, but back on the Dubai dirt he's proved again what a class act he his, with the six-furlong trip proving no barrier to success.'

De Kock would appear to have another potential superstar on his hands after Honour Devil ran out the convincing winner of the Meydan Marina Stakes, a three-year-old seven-furlong conditions race on the dirt.

Successful on his sole previous start in his native Argentina, he was always in the van on this occasion and quickened nicely when asked by Murtagh.

Murtagh said: 'That was a nice performance as he was still green. He needs to improve for the UAE 2000 Guineas, but there is no reason why he will not.'

The trainer was completing the middle leg of a treble having earlier saddled Drift Ice to win the first 1300m handicap on the turf under Kevin Shea.

(C) PA Sport