Owner Ken Ramsey gave Roses in May his name in the forlorn hope that the colt would win the Kentucky Derby. The first leg of the US Triple Crown, raced on the first Saturday of every May, is known as The Run for Roses as the winner is traditionally garlanded with a blanket of roses. Unhappily, injury meant the colt could not run but since then Roses in May, now a five-year-old, has made up for lost time in the grand manner,
Saturday's three-length victory in the $6-million Dubai World Cup was his eighth in 13 career starts and there have been four second-place finishes, including to Ghostzapper in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic.
It was that piece of form which prompted the betting fraternity to send Roses in May off as 11-8 favourite and the colt duly obliged to give the US their fifth victory in 10 runnings of the World Cup, horse racing's richest prize.
Jockey John Velazquez struck boldly for home 800 metres out and readily held off the gallant effort of Saudi Arabian raider Dynever (16-1) with another US challenger, Choctaw Nation (14-1), back in third of the 12 runners. Winning trainer Dale Romans is now eyeing this year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Belmont Park.
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