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Heavy Metal was worth his weight in gold with a powerful effort to win the Group 2 $1 million Godolphin Mile sponsored by Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum City – District One.

It was the first victory for trainer Sandeep Jadhav, who stepped in for Salem bin Ghadayer and saddled the 8-year-old son of Exceed And Excel for owner Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum.

Leaving from post nine under Ryan Moore, Heavy Metal burst to the lead as defending champion Second Summer, one of four entrants for leading trainer Doug Watson, missed the break. Heavy Metal was pushed hard to keep the lead under pressure throughout from a second Watson trainee Kimbear and the Japanese raider Adirato.

Moore kept to task with Heavy Metal as the field turned for home and put away a stubborn Kimbear with plenty in the tank to hold off a late rush from yet another Watson runner, Muntazah, to notch the two-length win. Adirato stayed on for third. Heavy Metal stopped the clock in 1:36.21

Jadhav was all smiles following the popular victory.

“He had a really nice trip. Heavy Metal is a dream horse for the yard. He fought to the winning line and then we all went crazy” Jadhav said. “It’s out of this world, a dream come true.”

Moore felt confident throughout despite the pressured trip.

“We worked hard to get the lead through the first quarter but then he settled and travelled well for me in front. I was able to fill him up before the turn and into the straight I knew it would take a very big effort to get past me,” Moore said. “It appears a big advantage to be in front on this track and it played to his strengths. He is a terrifically consistent horse.”

The order of finish was completed by Musawaat, Rosa Imperial, Kimbear, Economic Model, Raven’s Corner, Special Fighter, Secret Ambition, Second Summer, Shamaal Nibras, Capezzano and Akito Crescent.

Race Quotes:

Trainer Sandeep Jadhav (Heavy Metal, 1st) – “It’s been my dream to win the Godolphin Mile for the years since I’ve been an assistant trainer. It’s definitely a storybook finish. I’m not surprised he won. I know this horse is a very good horse. I am not surprised, but just a little bit nervous since this is my first time as a trainer. So that’s the reason. This means so much to me. I can’t put it into words, but it means a lot. It’s definitely very special. I was very confident in the horse.
This is just out of this world. It’s very amazing to me. I cannot explain it.”

Jockey Ryan Moore (Heavy Metal, 1st) – “We worked hard to get the lead through the first quarter but then he settled and travelled well for me in front. I was able to fill him up before the turn and into the straight I knew it would take a very big effort to get past me. It appears a big advantage to be in front on this track and it played to his strengths. He is a terrifically consistent horse.”

Jockey Jim Crowley (Muntazah, 2nd) – “He ran very well. It was his first time on the dirt and he ran very well. The winner got first run and I had to wait for a gap. But it was still a big run. Like I said, for it being his first time on dirt it was a big run.”

Trainer Naosuke Sugai (Adirato, 3rd) – “To run this well against horses of this level from all the world, I’m thrilled with his efforts.”

Jockey Christophe Lemaire (Adirato, 3rd) – “He broke well. I tried to go in front but Ryan was forcing the pace. We settled well behind the winner and had no kickback so we he fought on well in the stretch. The leader was too strong for us but he ran very well.”

Jockey Adrie de Vries (Musawaat, 4th) – “It was a good run. They took the pace out of the race in the middle and my horse takes a long time to get going. It was a clever ride in front.”

Jockey Mickael Barzalona (Rosa Imperial, 5th) – “For her first run on the dirt, she ran well.”

Jockey Pat Dobbs (Kimbear, 6th) – “He caught himself coming out of the gate, but apart from that it was a good run.”

Jockey Pat Cosgrave (Secret Ambition, 10th) – “ That was a bit disappointing, he ran a little flat, but it’s been a long season.”

Jockey Dane O’Neill (Shamaal Nibras, 12th) – “ He boiled over, simple as that – he lost all chance at that point.”

Jockey Mike Smith (Capezzano,13th) – “He wasn’t great out of the gate and it was always going to be difficult from there.”

Trainer Hisashi Shimizu (Akito Crescent,14th) –”He did not break quickly, and that set the tone for the rest of the race. I do not know why.”

Jockey Yutaka Take (Akito Crescent,14th ) – “He stumbled sometimes in the parade ring, so I was watching him carefully, but he stumbled at the start again and did not run his race.”