Wildman Jack sets track record in Nad al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3)

Goldencents’ Wildman Jack turned in a superlative performance in Saturday’s $350,000 Nad al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3) at Meydan Racecourse, lowering the track record by more than a half-second in the 1,400 meter (about six furlong) contest.

A homebred colt owned by Glenn Sorgenstein’s W C Racing Inc., the 4-year-old was making his first graded stakes start after being beaten less than a length in the Yahsat Trophy S. a month ago, also at Meydan.

Breaking from post three in the field of 16, Wildman Jack out-sprinted the opposition to gain a narrow lead in the first quarter-mile. He maintained a slight lead until the final furlong, when he rocketed away from the pack and won going away by 4 ¾-lengths.

The final time of 1:07.61 easily bested Jungle Cat’s previous mark of 1:08.24. Wildman Jack will shorten up slightly to 1,200 meters for his next start in the $2,000,000 Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on the Dubai World Cup undercard March 28th over the same course.

“Tons of credit to the owner, Glenn Sorgenstein, who is just awesome,” said trainer Doug O’Neill from California. “I watched it with him while on the phone and he’s already packing for the World Cup (on March 27). He loves Goldencents and sent me two pictures of two more babies today.”

“That was very pleasing and he has won in great style,” added O’Neill assistant Leandro Mora, who is on-site. “The plan was to try and lead because he is a very fast horse and is a son of Goldencents, who we won two Breeders’ Cup races with.”

Wildman Jack is out of Orientatious and his fourth dam De La Rose was the champion turf female of 1981 and defeated males in the Hollywood Derby (G1).

Goldencents was the champion Second-Crop sire of 2019 and is off to a fast start this year. He has already accounted for 23 individual winners and is one of only two Third-Crop sires with more than $1 million in progeny earnings to date.