Thursday’s Gulf News-sponsored seventh evening of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival included a pair of stylishly won Group 2 $250,000 events, but it was the Group 3 $200,000 Firebreak Stakes and a blowout performance by Muntazah that arguably burned the brightest on the night that set alight Dubai World Cup hopes for the Doug Watson trainee. A pair of handicaps that could have Super Saturday implications, a Group 2 Purebred Arabian affair and an eye-catching run in the inaugural Meydan Trophy completed the septet of thrilling Thursday fixtures.
$200,000 FIREBREAK STAKES (GROUP 3)
Having finished third behind North America in the Al Maktoum Challenge R1 (G2) on Jan. 10, Muntazah got back to winning ways with an easy victory that hinted that a try at longer distances could be in the future. A first win in the race for both Doug Watson and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s retained jockey Jim Crowley, the 6-year-old son of Dubawi broke well from his outside draw and settled into a handy position for the first half of the race. The early pace was fast enough, with Heavy Metal pushed to the lead by Mickael Barzalona. He was tracked by Satish Seemar’s Behavioral Bias and Secret Ambition with opening sectionals of 24.23 (400m) and 46.58 (800m).
Muntazah has now won twice in the UAE including a Listed win at Abu Dhabi last year and a runner-up finish in the Godolphin Mile (G2) of 2018 behind Heavy Metal, finishing ahead of Secret Ambition and Kimbear.
“He showed last year that he has a lot,” Crowley said. “I thought he was a bit unlucky in the Godolphin Mile and that was his first time on dirt. Obviously, the Dubawis love (the dirt).”
Watson added: “We thought he was in great shape last week and we really wanted to try him over the 1900m (of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2), but he couldn’t. He has come back and done that well. It was a tough race.”
$250,000 MEYDAN SPRINT (GROUP 2)
The 1000m Meydan Sprint sponsored by Gulf News (G2) was turned into a one-horse show, courtesy of Group 1 sprinter Blue Point, who locked horns with the David Hayes-trained Faatinah (Jim Crowley aboard) at the top of the straight to power clear with 300m left to run. The 5-year-old son of Shamardal made amends under William Buick for his second placing behind the late Ertijaal in last year’s edition in the process and provided handler Charlie Appleby and owner Godolphin with a first win in the feature after finishing second in the last five renewals.
$250,000 BALANCHINE (GROUP 2)
The 1800m turf Balanchine sponsored by gulfnews.com (G2) for the fairer sex confirmed a talented filly in Godolphin’s Poetic Charm. Completing the Cape Verdi (G2)—Balanchine (G2) double with a dominant 2¾-length win, the half-sister to Teofilo granted trainer Charlie Appleby another inaugural stakes victory on the night with William Buick aboard, after having taken the Meydan Sprint (G2) with Blue Point earlier on the card.
Remainder of Card
The inaugural running of the $100,000 Meydan Trophy provided the first chance for 3-year-old turf runners to flash their promise and Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby-trained Art du Val did not disappoint. The son of sprinter No Nay Never defied his pedigree and won for fun in the end by four lengths after stalking nicely throughout the 1900m affair. Fawzi Nass’ Bila Shak finished a promising second, while the consistent Trolius completed the top three for trainer Simon Crisford. In the process, Buick rode his 100th UAE winner.
The penultimate race, the $135,000 Inside Out Handicap over 1200m on dirt, was an intriguing contest and supplied Satish Seemar with his sole victory of the evening. A competitive encounter on paper Lavaspin, drawn in stall two, took the initiative from the get-go holding a prominent position on the rail before being joined by Steve Asmussen’s Switzerland on his outside. A challenge at the 400m mark from Doug Watson’s Pop the Hood was fended off without consequence and Lavaspin drew clear of the one-paced American raider to win by 2¼ lengths with Nine Below Zero running on well for third.
In the finale, Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor struck with Mountain Hunter, who was given a beautiful ride by Christophe Soumillon to win by a measured 1½ lengths over stablemate Red Galileo. It was another nose back to Appleby trainee Walton Street, completing a top-three finish for the royal blue. Over the 2410m of the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), the Gulf News-sponsored handicap provided a possible preview for the Dubai City of Gold (G2) on Super Saturday.
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