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Dubai: The UAE trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe is confident that Tropical Star, runner-up in last year's Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, can go one better in this year's renewal. Tropical Star ran a cracking race to finish a length behind American sprint sensation Saratoga County in the $2million race. He reappeared this year with a fifth place finish to Heart Alone in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint before returning to form with a decisive 3 1/4 length victory in a handicap en route to securing his ticket to the Shaheen with a stunning 2 1/4 success in the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal, a race that he won in 2004.
Al Raihe believes that Tropical Star can go on to emulate State City and become only the second non-American winner of the race in seven runnings. "He's a much better horse than he was last year," said Al Raihe, who has enjoyed one of his most successful seasons in the UAE posting 15 wins. "The Golden Shaheen is a very tough race and the Americans and South American horses will be tough to beat. But my horse has the form and experience on this track. "He was very impressive in the Mahab Al Shimaal and I think he can improve for the race."
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