Manduro’s stunning son Vazirabad won his 12th career Group race when landing the G2 Dubai Gold Cup for the third successive season, becoming the only thoroughbred to have won on three separate occasions on Dubai World Cup night. Held up in his customary fashion he made smooth headway at the top of the straight before asserting to beat the fast finishing Sheikhzayedroad (Dubawi) and Rare Rhythm (Dubawi), stopping the clock at 3:17.92, a new track record.
Making his 21st career start, he has now won a staggering 14 races including a brace of victories in the G1 Prix Royal Oak and another top-flight victory in Prix du Cadran. Since he first raced as as three-year-old in 2015, no other European-trained performer can match his 12 Group victories, and he is only beaten in the world by two other Darley-sired fillies in Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro) and Winx (Street Cry).
Owned and bred by H.H The Aga Khan, Vazirabad is a son of the G3-winning mare Visorama (Linamix) and a half-brother to the Stakes winner Visoriyna.
Manduro, the brilliant Horse of the Year and Timeform world Champion, has sired six G1 winners including French top-flight juvenile scorers Ultra and Mandaean and top fillies Ribbons and Charity Line. Last season he also has G2-winner Time To Choose, Chester Listed winner Duretto and Classic winner High As A Kite.
