By Alan Carasso
Classic Emperor (Medaglia d'Oro), a two-time winner from three starts since being switched onto the main track at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, has been given entries for the Feb. 17 G3 Firebreak S. (1600m) and the Mar. 10 G3 Burj Nahaar S. (1600m) during the Dubai World Cup Carnival. He has also been supplemented at the second stage to the $1-million G2 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night Mar. 31, according to information published on the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.
Trained by Chris So, the 6-year-old made the first 25 starts of his career on the turf for four wins and six minor placings at Class 2 and Class 3 levels at Sha Tin and Happy Valley Racecourses. The son of 2009 GII Matron S. runner-up Worship the Moon (Malibu Moon) made his first start on the dirt as an 11-1 gamble over 1650 meters Nov. 1 and the results were spectacular, as the dark bay sat handy to the pace and rocketed home to score by 6 3/4 lengths (video). Third over an insufficient six-furlong trip Dec. 3, he stretched back out to the extended mile for his latest Jan. 13 and overcame top weight of 131 pounds for a half-length success as the 9-5 favorite (video).
Following that latest victory, So, who was represented at last year's Carnival by Fabulous One (NZ) (Elusive City), articulated the reasons for trying the dirt with Classic Emperor.
“I never needed to do it, he was earning plenty of money on turf,” the conditioner told the HKJC's Andrew Hawkins. “I knew the pedigree showed that he would be good on dirt, but he was doing the job on turf. Obviously, we know now he's a very good horse on dirt. The first win surprised me, but now nothing surprises me with him.”
Bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, Classic Emperor was purchased by Brown Island Stables for $110,000 from the Taylor Made consignment at the 2013 Keeneland September sale. Brown Island resold Classic Emperor at the 2014 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, where he realized a final bid of 130,000gns (about $228,351) from Dwayne Woods.
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