Golden Vekoma extends winning streak in $1.5M Saudi Derby (G3)

With a determined stretch run, Golden Vekoma surged past Shin Forever inside the final furlong of Saturday’s $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) at King Abdulaziz racetrack to give the 3-year-old Vekoma colt his third straight victory.

A month removed from his win in the UAE 200 Guineas (G3) in Dubai, Golden Vekoma drew the inside post in the field of 11. He was in mid-pack down the backstretch before moving between horses to be a joint second going into the turn. Asked for his run before straightening away, Golden Vekoma steadily cut into Shin Forever’s margin, eventually overtaking him with a sixteenth to run and winning by 2 ¼-lengths.

“He was a horse we thought a hell of lot of from the beginning of the season,” said winning jockey Connor Beasley. “He has been progressing all the way. It’s good for myself and good for the horse. We are up against the best here and for us to do it in the Derby, you know this is what dreams are made of.

“All my horse does is gallop and once I was half a length down on the leader, I always thought he was going to get there. What this horse has done for us this season is pretty special and he is only going to go on to bigger and better things. I’m just delighted that we got this box ticked.”

Trained by Ahmad bin Harmash for Mohammed Ahmad Ali Alsubousi, Golden Vekoma’s next likely target is the UAE Derby (G2), April 5 at Meydan. That race offers 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying point on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Golden Vekoma was bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm LLC and is a half-brother to stakes winner Midshipman’s Dance.

Golden Vekoma is one of his sire’s four stakes winners this year. Another, Five G, is entered in Sunday’s $500,000 Honeybee S. at Oaklawn Park.