South Korea’s Dolkong Takes the Curlin

[Wandering Eyes]

South Korea’s Dolkong needed a few starts to get going this season in Dubai, but there were absolutely no signs of rust on Thursday when the chestnut powered to a easy score in the 2000 metre Listed Curlin H.

The 5-year-old had finished 17 1/2 lengths adrift of North America (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 on Jan. 10, but he was much more of a factor upped to this trip and dropped to handicap class two weeks later at the carnival, checking in third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

Hustled by Olivier Doleuze first time past the stands to stay in touch with the leaders on Thursday, Dolkong watched from a couple lengths off the pace as Earnshaw (Medaglia d’Oro) set the tempo on the rail. Doleuze had put his mount to a drive in behind runners a long way out and wouldn’t have looked a likely winner approaching the quarter pole. When he straightened for home, however, the chestnut kicked into high gear, easily running down Galvanize (Medaglia d’Oro)–who had inherited the lead from Earnshaw–to win wrapped up by 9 1/2 lengths.

“We thought they would go quick, but perhaps not as fast as they did,” said trainer Simon Foster. “Olivier is a class jockey and has given him a great ride. The horse is starting to mature and improving with age because he has not had that many races. We will have to look at Round 3 on Super Saturday for him, now.”

Doleuze added: “I am very happy for the connections. I was lucky to ride this horse last time, when he ran a very good race. Since then I have been working him and he looked like he really improved from the first time that I rode him. Today he showed what I was expecting him to show. He has already had a fantastic Carnival, he won a very good race today and everyone is happy. Now everything from here is a bonus.”

Dolkong had been a consistent performer in his adopted country of South Korea, winning six of 11 starts there over the prior two years before heading to Dubai, and never finishing worse than fourth. He was second in Septembeer in the Keeneland Korea Cup against an international field.

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