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London: Diabolical, one of the best young sprinters in North America last year, has clearly taken well to the straight track at Nad Al Sheba and he must hold a leading chance in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr 1) next Saturday.
Now with the powerful Godolphin stable, Diabolical preped for the $1million race with a visually impressive win over course and distance on Super Thursday, March 6.
Never far off the early pace, Diabolical went to the lead 200 metres from the winning post, and was soon on total command as he won the Mahab Al Shimaal (Gr 3).
The son of Artax, an outstanding sprint champion in the US, strode clear to win by 4 1/2 lengths from Star Crowned, who just got up to snatch second from New Freedom.
This was a contrasting performance to Diabolical's first start at Nad Al Sheba, and also his first run of the year. He missed the break and ran well below his true form when fourth, beaten nearly five lengths behind Asiatic Boy in the Al Shindagha Sprint (Gr 3) in January.
Plenty to offer
Diabolical is much better than that showing, something we all saw in the Al Shimaal and something US racing fans saw last term.
Trained by Steven Klesaris, Diabolical produced a high-class performance to land the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (Gr 2) over 6 furlongs at Saratoga last July.
He ran to Globeform 119+ in the Vanderbilt, where he beat the more-experienced sprinter Attila's Storm by half a length.
Diabolical had previously beaten Talent Search, who was placed in three G1 sprints subsequently, in the Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap (G3) at Pimlico, also over 6 furlongs.
Diabolical was stalking the pace on both occasions, before landing a decisive punch in the final furlong.
He has good tactical speed but he was not extremely fast from the gates in America - it was therefore good to see him so sharp early in the Al Shimaal.
- Geir Stabell is editor and handicaper of Globeform/ www.globeform.com
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