Barzalona show continues in International Handicap

IN-FORM FRENCH JOCKEY STEERS GRAN DESCANS HOME FOR THE PRIZE

Image: : Mickael Barzalona caps a brilliant evening on Gran Descans (GB) in the Saudi International Handicap Presented by Lucid.

Credit: JCSA

This year’s USD$500,000 Saudi International Handicap Presented by Lucid saw a beautifully delivered ride by Mickael Barzalona, winning his third consecutive race on the card, aboard King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz & Sons’ Gran Descans (GB). Saad Aljenade trains the winning son of Frankel, who was bred by Juddmonte Farms.

Sitting behind the pace and in the clear on the outside of the third flank, waiting patiently to make a sweeping move, Barzalona brought the long-striding bay into the clear around the second turn, attacking front-runners Hans Anderson (GB) and Salamanca Lad (IRE) and proceeding to slowly grind them down. Reaching the front with just over 200m remaining, the winner flexed his stamina by widening to the wire.

The final margin of victory was three and a quarter lengths back to Wathnan Racing's Native American (IRE) in second, a head to the good of another from the same ownership, Supercooled (IRE), in third. The final time was 2:09.756.

Just before to the win, Barzalona won the final two legs of the International Jockeys’ Challenge to clinch the lucrative first-place prize.

Quotes

Mickael Barzalona, jockey, Gran Descans, 1st: “Last time [finishing third in the Prince Khalid Abdullah Cup], I gave him a chance to [gather himself] because he was slow from the gate, but today I knew he had the stamina, so I got him going as quick as I can.

“He travelled very well for me. We didn’t go that fast, but it was a reasonable gallop. When I asked him to lengthen, he actually picked up gradually and stayed strong to the line.”

Cristian Demuro, Supercooled, 3rd: "Not so bad, he ran a good third. Sat behind the leader. A good run.”