Mendelssohn Bay Romps in G3 UAE 2000 Guineas

Mendelssohn Bay (3g Mendelssohn x Reiki Baby, by Curlin) became the second Northern Hemisphere stakes winner of the year for his sire on Friday with a win in the Grade III UAE 2000 Guineas.

Racing over a mile on the dirt, the sophomore raced alongside the leader down the backstretch before giving that one half a length around the turn. Confronting that horse at the top of the stretch, he had the lead just outside the final furlong marker and pulled away from there.

By the time he crossed the line, he was 3 ¾ lengths in front for a second career win in three starts for Suited and Booted Racing Syndicate and Bhupat Seemar.

Bred by Cuyathy, he is one of two wins from two to race out of the winning Curlin mare Reiki Baby. That mare’s other runner was fourth in the Grade II Twilight Derby last term. Reiki Bay is one of four winners from six to race out of Renowned Cat, whose runners also include stakes winner Oh Carole.

Oh Carole is the dam of Practical Joke’s stakes-placed Vai Bella while another of Reiki Baby’s half-sisters is the stakes winning Showgirl Lynne B. This is also the family of champion Escena and multiple group winner Humbel.

Reiki Baby has a 2-year-old Practical Joke filly named Paprika Princess to come.

This is the third worldwide stakes winner in three different countries this year for Mendelssohn, who is also the sire of Australian stakes winner Wings of Song and U.S. stakes winner Opus Forty Two.