Reynaldothewizard still has the magic in Dubai

Speightstown’s seemingly ageless star Reynaldothewizard kicked off his 10-year-old season in high fashion with a 2 ¾-length win Thursday in the $150,000 Dubawi S. at Meydan as he prepares for another run in the $1 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) in late March on World Cup Day.

Off for nearly a year following a setback that caused him to miss last year’s Shaheen, Reynaldothewizard was in top form in Thursday’s comeback, winning the listed event for the third time in his illustrious career. Precocious enough to place in the Saratoga Special (G2) at two, Reynaldothewizard won the Shaheen at age 7 and the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint last year. He has earned $1,948, 290, making him Speightstown’s leading lifetime earner and one of seven millionaires by the WinStar stallion.

“He just loves it around here at Meydan and goes well fresh,” said winning rider Richard Mullen. “We thought he was in great form as he has been bucking and kicking in the mornings. It is a great team effort and he is a special horse to me having provided my first Group 1 winner.

“I assume we will go for the Al Shindagha Sprint, perhaps Super Saturday with the intention of another crack at the Golden Shaheen.”

Reynaldothewizard is Speightstown’s second stakes winner of 2016, a strong follow-up to 2015, when he finished ranked eighth on the General Sire list with $9.8 million in progeny earnings.