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Pegasus World Cup takeaway: everything you need to know as Knicks Go runs rivals ragged

3 minute read

So you probably know that Knicks Go posted a brilliant all-the-way victory in the fifth edition of the Pegasus World Cup – for a short time, the world’s richest race, now a $3m contest – at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Knicks Go
Knicks Go Picture: Korea Racing Authority

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Knicks Go dominant from the front

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go ran his opponents off their feet for a ruthlessly dominant wire-to-wire triumph in the Pegasus World Cup.

After setting strong fractions, he belied worries about potential stamina limitations to keep on rolling home in the stretch for a 2¾-length victory over late-running Jesus' Team.

Seemingly transformed since joining Brad Cox, the five-year-old has now won his four starts for the trainer by a cumulative 24 lengths, barely seeing another horse in the process.

Joel Rosario: 'He just goes faster and faster'

Winning jockey Joel Rosario described Knicks Go as a "very special horse" who "just goes faster and faster". It wasn't quite true, but he certainly set a scorching pace in the early stages when harried by longshot Last Judgment, setting fractions of 22.90s, 46.16s and 1m09.91s en route to clocking a final time of 1m47.89s, enough for a Beyer speed figure of 108.

Saudi Cup: win and you're in

As part of the 'Road to Riyadh', the Pegasus World Cup is a 'Win and You're In' race for the Saudi Cup, offering a spot in the field for the world's richest race on February 20. Last year's Pegasus winner Mucho Gusto was fourth in Riyadh.

Colonel Liam, the Pegasus Turf winner, gets a spot in the Middle-Distance Turf on the same card in Riyadh.

G1-winning juvenile before losing his way

Owned by the Korea Racing Authority, Knicks Go is a Maryland-bred five-year-old by Paynter with a career record of 6-for-18.

A G1 winner at two in the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland for former trainer Ben Colebrook, he was second to Game Winner in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile before totally losing his way the following season.

Nothing to do with New York Knicks

Contrary to popular assumption, the Pegasus winner was not named in homage to the New York Knicks NBA team.

Rather, the Korea Racing Authority says the horse should be pronounced 'K-Nicks Go' as the name refers to the nation's programme for selecting horses according to nicking patterns and genetic testing.

'Nicks' are a bloodstock term referring to specific sire lines bred in conjunction with others. The KRA also has a three-year-old named Knicks Front with Brad Cox.

'I am sure very soon that Jesus will be on top'

Jesus' Team did his connections proud, claiming second by a neck over Independence Hall to continue a fine run of placed efforts in top-grade contests.

Although the four-year-old has only three wins in 14 career starts, the stat is misleading as he was highly tried last term and never finished out of the frame, running fourth in the Haskell, third in the Preakness and second (to Knicks Go) in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

He represents Jose D'Angelo, a former leading trainer in Venezuela now based in South Florida. He believes it is only a matter of time before the horse breaks his graded-stakes duck.

"I am sure very soon that Jesus will be on the top in big races," said D'Angelo. "I feel proud of him."

Popular grey Sleepy Eyes Todd was a gallant fourth.


Horse Racing Planet

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