‘Here Comes Biscuits:’ Mind Your Biscuits Dominates Dubai Golden Shaheen

Meydan Racecourse, Dubai – Not a bad way for a trainer to get his first winner.  Chad Summers was winless in four starts since taking out his license last month, yet the 32-year-old brought his best horse to Meydan, and the four-year-old Mind Your Biscuits came through by storming down the center of the track to dominate the Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News.

An outside post was supposed to hinder the chances of the American-based Biscuits, and jockey Joel Rosario was, in fact, forced to race wide around the turn, but that never factored, as a clear trip and the rider’s confident handling proved appropriate for a far superior winner.

“I think I got some ground in the turn, not much, and then for a second, I thought we might not get there,” Rosario said.  “I was so wide on the outside.  I was thinking, ‘Is this going to work?’ But he showed that he was the best horse in the race.”

My Catch led into the first turn through an opening 400m in 23.9, with St. Joe Bay pressing the pace.  Meanwhile, Mind Your Biscuits was content to run about eight lengths behind the leaders and seven-wide the entire way.  As they straightened out, Rosario and his charge began to pick up steam, flooring it at the 400m mark and taking the lead with about 200m left, completing the 1200m in 1:10.91.

“It’s a storybook ending,” Summers said.  “It’s a remarkable horse and it was a remarkable ride.  I think he is the best sprinter in the country, in the world.  He proved it today.”

Mind Your Biscuits entered the Dubai Golden Shaheen highly rated based on his recent form, which includes a win in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita Park in December and a second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Owned by a partnership including J Stables LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC, and M. Scott Summers, the chestnut colt by Posse will get a break in either New York or Kentucky before plotting an autumn campaign.

Three lengths back separated Comicas, and it was a short head back to Morawij, who stayed on gamely for third.  St. Joe Bay, Cool Cowboy, Stallwalkin’ Dude, Not Listenin’tome, Reynaldothewizard, Dundonnell, My Catch, Dios Corrida, High On Life, Wild Dude, and Muarrab completed the order of finish.

Mind Your Biscuits returned $5.60 and $2.10 to win.  Comicas brought back $30.60, while Master Plan paid $11.20.

Quotes for Group 1 US $2m Dubai Golden Shaheen

Jockey Joel Rosario, Mind Your Biscuits – “I was so wide on the outside.  “I was thinking, ‘Is this is going to work?’ But as I said, he was the best horse in the race, and I’m proud of him.  He’d showed us the last couple of times, he ran very well in the Breeders’ Cup and he won the Malibu, it was a very good race in America.  And every time he runs, he improves a little bit more.”

Trainer Chad Summers, Mind Your Biscuits – “It’s unbelievable. Everything here is first class, it means a lot.”

Jockey William Buick, Comicas – “He’s run very well and it was a lifetime best from him.  We were posted out quite deep, which helped him in a way, as we got a good run through, no kickback and no pressure early.  You’d have to be very pleased with him and be very hopeful for next year in Dubai.”

Jockey Chris Hayes, Morawij – “I’m delighted with him.  The telling factor was that he didn’t face the kickback.  It was his first time with that sort of kickback.  We didn’t go too fast in front, it was a sensible pace.  He stayed on well, we nearly got second.  The winner must be some horse.”

Jockey Norberto Arroyo, St. Joe Bay – “I had a great trip.  Our initial plan was to go to the lead, but I would have had to use too much of him to get the lead, and I don’t think he would have finished as well.  He just got run down by good horses.  I think he ran a big race.”

Jockey Pat Dobbs, Cool Cowboy – “He stumbled jumping out and was outpaced for the first 300m.  He was too far back.  The winners were gone when I turned in.”

Jockey Florent Geroux, Stallwalkin’ Dude – “We got bumped a little in the turn as I was about to get a position, and my horse couldn’t quicken in the end.”

Jockey Tommy Berry, Not Listenin’tome – “He travelled really well, but he got behind horses, and by the time we got out, the race was over.”

Jockey Richard Mullen, Reynaldothewizard – “Probably age is catching up with him.  Going into the turn, I was second best and happy.  The one thing he does is finish, but then he was gone.  That’s the worst race he has ever run for us.  We keep asking him to deliver, perhaps we forget about his age.”

Jockey Christophe Soumillon, Dundonnell – “He ran a very good race, it just wasn’t enough.”

Jockey Sam Hitchcott, My Catch – “He’s a very quick horse and an ideal draw for him is between one and four.  We set very fast fractions out there and it was hard to keep going.”

Jockey Shane Foley, Dios Corrida – “For basically a 2-year-old, he ran a really good race.  He was outpaced.  Probably 1400m would suit him better; he’ll get better with age.”

Jockey Joao Moreira, Wild Dude – “He found the company too tough on this day.  The best horses in the world in sprint races are out here today.”

Jockey Jim Crowley, Muarrab – “Things haven’t really happened for him this year, with the change of stables and the way the races panned out.  He’s been a bit disappointing, but hopefully, he’ll be back.”

Credit: Dubai Racing Club