Super Saturday, an evening sponsored by pillar partner Emirates, lived up to its name at Meydan Racecourse. The dress rehearsal for the world’s richest race day, the $35 million Dubai World Cup card, boasted seven races worth $2.65 million, including two Group 1 affairs, a Group 2, triad of Group 3s and a wide-open Listed event—all course and distance preps for corresponding Dubai World Cup night fixtures.
Race Results
Race 1 Mahab Al Shimaal Sponsored By Emirates Skywards
Winner: Patrick Dobbs on Drafted
Race 2 Al Bastakiya Sponsored By emirates.com
Winner: Brett Doyle on Divine Image
Race 3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By Arabian Adventures
Winner: William Buick on BluePoint
Race 4 Burj Nahaar Sponsored By Emirates Holidays
Winner: Jim Crowley on Muntazah
Race 5 Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored By Emirates SkyCargo
Winner: William Buick on Old Persian
Race 6 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 Sponsored By Emirates Airline
Winner: Mickael Barzalona on Capezzano
Race 7 Jebel Hatta Sponsored By Emirates Airline
Winner: Christophe Soumillon on Dream Castle
The evening was topped by the return of 2018 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) winner Thunder Snow, who competed in the evening’s richest race, the $600,000 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (G1) over 2000m.
OFFICIAL STAKES QUOTES
$600,000 AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE ROUND 3 (GROUP 1)
Course and Distance Prep for $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1)
Winner: CAPEZANNO
Owner: Sultan Ali
Trainer: Salem bin Ghadayer
Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
Official Time: 2:05.02 (2000m, Track Record: 2:01.39 – Thunder Snow, 2016)
Margin of Victory: 9½ Lengths
$600,000 AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R3 (G1)
The Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (G1) was turned into a procession by Capezzano, who was sent straight to the front by Mickael Barzalona and was never headed for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer. Owned by Sultan Ali, he fended off a stiff challenge from favourite Thunder Snow and sauntered in style by 9½ lengths at the wire.
Godolphin’s Thunder Snow, second in this last year to North America before landing the Dubai World Cup, seemingly loomed as a big danger entering the straight under Christophe Soumillon, but as their challenge faltered, Barzalona and Capezzano shot clear.
New Trails, Gronkowski, Nordic Lights, Logrado, Furia Cruzada, Montsarrat and Cosmo Charlie completed the order of finish.
$400,000 JEBEL HATTA (GROUP 1)
The evening’s other Group 1 was the Jebel Hatta for those aspiring to compete in the $6 million Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World (G1) in three weeks. The race turned into another example of why Godolphin’s Dream Castle is arguably the top turf horse in the UAE, vanquishing his foes for his third consecutive win over the 1800m trip of the Dubai Turf.
Under a heady ride by Christophe Soumillon, the son of Frankel tracked Wootton and jockey William Buick before running down that pair with authority and hitting the wire 1¼ lengths the best.
The Jebel Hatta order of finish was completed by Century Dream, Loxley, Majestic Mambo, Forest Ranger, Janoobi, Muzdawaj and Blair House.
$350,000 MAHAB AL SHIMAAL (GROUP 3)
The meeting commenced with the Mahab Al Shimaal sponsored by Emirates Skywards (G3), over 1200m on the dirt. Late-closing Drafted ran on strongly to take the lead close to home with Pat Dobbs in the saddle for Doug Watson and Misty Hollow Farm, with the roar of the crowd following the fan favourite.
Lavaspin, I Kirk and Switzerland set a ferocious early pace with the talented Switzerland holding on longer than his fellow front runners. Fawzi Nass-trained longshot Nine Below Zero, who led briefly with 100 yards to run finished second, put a scare into the favourite, but he eventually was unable to hold off the grey gelding.
Comicas, Switzerland, I Kirk, Thammin, Lansky, My Catch and Lavaspin completed the order of finish.
$300,000 AL BASTAKIYA (LISTED)
The middle leg of the UAE Triple Crown is the Al Bastakiya sponsored by emirates.com (Listed). Run over 1900m on the dirt and restricted to 3-year-olds, this renewal was won comprehensively by Godolphin’s UAE Oaks heroine Divine Image, who stalked and pounced on her male foes with ease in the final 400m, winning by 7¼ lengths under Brett Doyle for trainer Charlie Appleby.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was present to witness the 3-year-old daughter from Scat Daddy’s final crop prove far too good for her 13 rivals, which also included two other fillies.
Superior, under Connor Beasley, held well for second, while Manguzi was third under Fernando Jara—separated by one length. The final time was 1:59.07.
$350,000 NAD AL SHEBA TURF SPRINT (GROUP 3)
The first turf race of the night was the 1200m Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint sponsored by Arabian Adventures (G3). Blue Point impressed again and added to the tally of Appleby, Godolphin and William Buick in impressive style, sprinting clear of the only one to challenge, Ekhtiyaar, by three lengths at the wire in a spritely time of 1:10.15.
The order of finish was completed by Riflescope, Ajwad, Gifted Master, Hit the Bid, High on Life, Portamento, Faatinah and Log Out Island.
$350,000 BURJ NAHAAR (GROUP 3)
The moment of the day arguably belonged to Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Muntazah, who provided Doug Watson with a second winner on the card and second consecutive victory in the Burj Nahaar sponsored by Emirates Holidays (G3). The race is over the same 1600m on dirt as the Godolphin Mile, a race in which he was second to Heavy Metal last March.
Breaking from the rail, jockey Jim Crowley left nothing to chance and made the running—and a swift running it was. Through 400m splits of 24.40 and 46.70, he completed 1200m in 1:10.37—faster than the running of the final time of the Mahab Al Shimaal (G3) less than two hours prior.
Astern Heavy Metal in the order of finish were Rodaini, Secret Ambition, Ibn Malik, Behavioral Bias, GM Hopkins, Axelrod and Moqarrab.
$300,000 DUBAI CITY OF GOLD (GROUP 2)
William Buick was able to extricate Old Persian from traffic problems just in time to provide Charlie Appleby and Godolphin a hat trick on the card, beating Saeed bin Suroor’s Racing History (Christophe Soumillon aboard) by a short head in the Dubai City of Gold sponsored by Emirates SkyCargo (G2) over 2410m on turf.
It was another three lengths back to Grade 1 winner Desert Encounter in third, while a neck in front of Melbourne Cup (G1)-placed Prince of Arran. The final time was 2:32.68 after what was a pedestrian tempo.
Sharpalo, Marinaresco, Spotify, Team Talk, Crowned Eagle and Second Summer completed the order of finish.
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