Mendelssohn blows away opposition in UAE Derby Mendelssohn was a brilliant all-the-way winner of the UAE Derby at Meydan. Aidan O'Brien confirmed after his Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf success that this year's Kentucky Derby was under consideration and following a comeback victory at Dundalk in early March, he took the next step on the road to Churchill Downs in this nine-furlong Group Two. Ryan Moore appeared keen to get Mendelssohn to the lead from the moment the gates opened and he soon navigated his way to the front. The result was scarcely in doubt from that point, as one by one his rivals came under pressure while the Irish challenger still galloped on remorselessly. The further Mendelssohn went the better he looked on what was his dirt debut and he passed the post a long way clear of Rayya to score in a course-record time. O'Brien said: "Ryan was happy he had a good draw and if he broke well he was happy to let him travel in front, he gave him a great ride - we couldn't be happier. "He came forward lovely from his first run and that was good experience for him on that surface first time." Moore said: "He's a very fast horse. He could have led a Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf if I'd wanted to. "It's the first time he's been in front today and he's still a horse that's learning, so he was still a bit green in places. "It was his first run on dirt, so that was huge for him, and it was his first time at this trip, so that was another question mark. "He's a high-quality horse who has got better with every start." Looking ahead to his intended tilt at the Kentucky Derby, the jockey added: "Obviously the next time it's going to be a far tougher question, there's no doubt about that, but we're very happy with what he's done and I still feel he will get better. "He's got the pedigree and the looks to go with the form that he's producing, so he's a very exciting horse."
