A Superstar is born in the Dubai Desert
Superman didn’t disappoint.
On a day of extraordinary performances in the Dubai desert, one stuck out like a sore thumb.
It wasn’t Horseshoe Bay, even though he solidifed his legendary status by becoming the first of the turf’s “Big Three”- Allied Assault, Sunnybank Memorial and Bay Bay himself- to win the Golden Turf Classic.
It wasn’t Kepler Bezerk’s stunning upset of Seeking Sal.
It wasn’t Casterly Rock and his sublime performance in the Sand Castle Golden Sprint.
And it wasn’t Festive Fifty (although his stirring stretch duel with Depravity was probably the race of the day).
All of the above put up outstanding performances to win the prestigious races on Sand Castle Festival Day.
And then, as the shadows of night lenghtened across the track, a stirring contrast to the bright lights of Dubai in the distance, Superman came blasting by and stole the show.
There are big performances- Festive Fifty hit the magic 1:34 mark in the Mile; Horseshoe Bay inched closer to Sunnybank Memorial’s record for Grade 1 wins; Casterly Rock established himself as the top dirt sprinter perhaps in Sim history, adding the Golden Sprint to the two Breeder’s Bowl Sprints he’s already won- but there are big performances, and then there are jaw droppers. The kind of race where you just sit back speechless and form a silent “O” with your mouth, stunned into submission, wondering if what you just saw really happened. To borrow a phrase from Vin Scully, as Kirk Gibson’s improbably homer sailed into the right field bleachers to send the Dodgers on their way to the World Series cahmpionship, “I DON’T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!”
Today, Superman delivered a jaw dropper for the ages.
Facing a field full of stars- including the reigning Horse of the Year, a dual Classic winner, the Middle Jewel winner, the Travellers winner, the Jockey Guild Cup winner and the winners of the previous two runnings of the Sand Castle Classic- Ermington Pegasus left them all toiling in his wake like cheap claimers.
Brilliance has just moved to another level. And now, we’ve got one for the ages, perhaps all time.
Cantering home in a virtual hand ride, the big son of Sky Mesa romped in the world’s richest race by five lengths. And it left the masses wondering how much more there is to come. With only 17 starts in an already illustrious career, Ermington Pegasus now is poised to join the all time greats of the Sim.
Consider for a moment that we haven’t seen him pushed to his limit yet. Then consider that with so relatively few starts that there’s probably a lot- a whole lot- left in the tank, and it makes you shudder thinking about how good this horse just might be. After his demolition of the best dirt field assembled this year, it’s entirely possible that he could still get better. A very frightening thought, indeed.
Settling early into tenth position in the full field of 14, Ermington Pegasus bided his time while Otto Causes, as expected, bounded out to an early lead. With little pressure, Otto Causes set moderate fractions of 23 3/5 and an even 48 for the first half. In the back of the pack, jockey Hal Harzheim waited to unleash the weapon he was sitting upon.
Nearly 13 lengths off Otto Causes with five furlongs to run, Harzheim gave Ermington Pegasus a nudge, and the big chestnut took off like a scalded dog. Circling the field some six wide on the far turn, he was building to an explosion as the field turned for home. Still some seven lengths in arrears of Otto Causes, who was now beginning to feel some pressure from Sensatious, Harzheim knew he was sitting on the winner. “I wasn’t concerned at all,” he said after the race. “He was moving so fast, but so easily. I knew I had another two or three gears, and that I had all of the others at my mercy.”
Meanwhile, Sensatious took a run at Otto Causes up front. Coming off the turn, jockey George Ayso thought he was the winner. “I saw Otto Causes starting to weaken, and I knew I had him. I stole a look behind me, and the others were nearly five lengths behind me. I thought we were a cinch to win it. But then, around the three sixteenths pole, I heard a roar from the crowd, and suddenly that big SOB was on top of me. We never had a chance.”
Switching on the afterburners, Harzheim tossed a cross at Ermington Pegasus, and he jumped into the bridle. Switching leads smoothly coming out of the turn, he pulled Harzheim back in the saddle with a sudden thrust of acceleration. He blew by Macho Niner and New Found Cyclone like they were standing still. Call of the Wild II, a former winner of this race, was the next to get caught in the sandstorm stirred up in Ermington Pegasus’ wake. Then, Intergalactic went down for the count.
Meanwhile, Sensatious had wrested the lead from Otto Causes, and Ayso set sail for the wire. He went to a strong right hand whip to keep the horse’s mind on his business. Nearing the eighth pole, however, he met more than his match. Much more. Ermington Pegasus whizzed past him like he was tied to a post, and the race was essentially over. Never seeing the whip, Ermington Pegasus widened his margins over his vanquished foes with each stride under only mild hand urging. The only horse in the field who didn’t lose ground to him in the lane was the filly, Armed With Money, who was under an all out drive to just miss the show spot.
An absolutely dominating performance. And he bounced off his last race. How’s that for the final comeuppance?
In 11 Grade 1 starts, Ermington Pegasus has registered five wins now. He’s been off the board in Grade 1 company only one- count ’em- one time. This is his fourth win in a row, three of which were Grade 1 stakes races. In each of those efforts, he’s run a figure of 111 or higher. His only loss in his last five was when Solar Song ran out of his skin in the BB Classic in 2006, and in that race Ermington Pegasus still fired off a 113 figure. This was his eighth consecutive race with a 105 or better number. He’s averaged a 111 figure over those eight races. AVERAGED. He made the term “drawing off” a common description in his last three wins. You could add “no contest” to today’s effort.
Superman doesn’t wear a red cape anymore. He’s a four legged monster who runs around with a little person on his back.
Say hello to the Sim’s newest superstar. Trainer pigeon3 calls him Ermington Pegasus.
Superman will do for the rest of us mere mortals.