Artie Schiller’s Dorsett wins second straight Sandy Lane Gold Cup

Dorsett took his second consecutive running of the $107,000 Sandy Lane Gold Cup (BAR-G1), the biggest race of the year and something of a national holiday in Barbados. 

The 7-year-old son of Artie Schiller won last year’s edition by a comfortable three lengths, but the margin was much closer this year after Dorsett broke very tardy and was last in the field of 12 going 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8-miles) on the turf.

Accompanied in the rear by High Noon Rider, Dorsett was more than a dozen lengths off the lead after a half-mile. High Noon Rider started to circle the field with about three furlongs left, with Dorsett not far behind. 

High Noon Rider took the lead coming into the stretch, but Dorsett was in close pursuit. The two bumped several times before Dorsett forged to the front, winning by a half-length. A stewards’ inquiry resulted in no changes in the order of finish.

Dorsett is owned by Steve and Allan Madoo and has now earned $471,253. The Kentucky-bred is out of Dontgetinmyway and is a full brother to stakes winner Miss Machiavelli and a half-brother to another stakes winner in Justanoldsong.

Internationally recognized sire Artie Schiller now has 2017 stakes horses in Australia and the U. S. in addition to Dorsett, with his lifetime progeny earnings surpassing the $36 million mark worldwide.