Talento Puma delivered a first win of 2020 for the Phoenix Ladies Syndicate thanks to a superb front running ride from Xavier Ziani at Jebel Ali.
It was the Argentine bred’s fourth start in the UAE since being purchased by the all-female group and the change of tactics to make the running seemed to make all the difference as he dominated from start to finish.
From the moment the gates opened for the 1600m contest Ziani was keen to get his mount to the front. Only requiring minimal urgings, the Salem bin Ghadayer trained five-year-old moved smoothly into the early lead. There he would stay under a well-judged ride and it wasn’t until two and a half furlongs out that Talento Puma was asked to go and win his race. Gradually building up to full steam he started to move away from the field and in the end, Ziani had time to easy down to give his partner some well-earned pats down the neck.
“He has plenty of abilty,” explained the rider post-race. “He even has the ability to win in a stronger field but he’s a very very tricky horse. He’s very naughty in the morning, he doesn’t want to train. He works in a hood a blinkers to make sure he’s going on the track; otherwise he stops. I’m very happy to pass the post with him today because it’s been a hard job with him.”