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| Staff Writer |
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Sibelius bravely secured another win in Tampa Bay's Pelican Stakes on 10th February, earning his ticket back to Dubai.
"It's all systems go to Dubai," trainer Jeremiah O'Dwyer said after the thrilling Pelican score.
Sibelius, a son of Not This Time with a blaze face, rode the widest path throughout the six-furlong journey. Despite the sizzling early fractions, he kept stalking until the final stretch. And that's where he exhibited his true mettle by surging past three rivals and eventually winning by a neck over Mish. His regular pilot, Junior Alvarado, rode him to victory as he clocked 1:08.90, with splits of :21.54, :43.83, and :56.06.
"It was nice to see (Sibelius) do it the way he did," O'Dwyer said. "We left it up to Junior (Alvarado). Junior had full control of what he wanted to do. We knew he had the outside draw we knew there was speed on the inside. So we trusted Junior and Junior trusted the horse. And he got the job done."
Over the past six years, the US$75,000 Pelican Stakes has produced three Golden Shaheen winners from the United States. Nakatomi, who finished third in this year's running, was unfortunate to be caught in traffic in deep stretch. Meanwhile, Super Ocho, who finished sixth, was also nominated to the US$2 million affair on 30th March.
Sibelius, owned by Delia Nash and Jun Park and trained by Jeremiah O'Dwyer, followed the same path he took last year on his road to Meydan. He won the Gr.3 Mr. Prospector Stakes on 23rd December at Gulfstream Park before his Pelican bid. Despite his last-out victory, he was sent to post as the second choice at 2-1 behind Nakatomi, trained by Wesley Ward, who finished third in the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on 4th November. Sibelius paid US$6.80 to win on a US$2 ticket.
With six stakes wins in his 24-start career, the 6YO gelding has increased his earnings to US$1,789,751.