Thursday’s sixth meeting of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse was highlighted by the Group 2 $450,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 sponsored by Al Naboodah Allied Products Division over 1900m on the dirt and boasting a purse of $450,000. Also on tap was the classic Group 3 $250,000 UAE 2000 Guineas, as well as multiple handicaps with Dubai World Cup night implications.
$450,000 AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE ROUND 2 (GROUP 2)
The Maktoum Challenge R2 was won emphatically, while controlled from start to finish, by Ramzan Kadyrov’s Satish Seemar-trained North America. Ridden by Richard Mullen, the son of Dubawi struck the front from the outset and never looked back, winning with easy by 2¼ lengths over New Trails (Connor Beasley aboard) and Cosmo Charlie (Pat Dobbs) in a time of 1:58.65. Senior Investment (Pat Cosgrave), Etijaah (Jim Crowley) and Second Summer (Royston Ffrench) completed the order of finish.
“He is a bit like his jockey, improving with age,” Mullen said. “A lot was made out of his (dominant) first run and it is hard for a horse to replicate what he did.”
“The thing is, he did it his style and that’s what is important for this horse, the way he just jumped out and went on his way,” Seemar added.
Comments from other jockeys on North America:
Beasley said: He travelled very good and ran a very bold race. I’m very pleased with him.”
Dobbs said: “He’s a nice run around, but he’s not the same horse unless he’s making (the pace). He got a bit tired. He hasn’t run in a long time. We’re happy enough with him.”
Cosgrave said: “He ran a nice race, but he just needs to go a little bit forward with more distance. We can’t complain.”
Crowley said: I got a good run but, he ran ok. It was a good race. He isn’t getting any younger. I had a good position, but he was just not quite good enough.”
Ffrench said: “Obviously, he’s had a long time off. He bled last time, but thankfully he’s come back and had an easy race there. Everything seems to be fine so he can go on from here.”
$250,000 UAE 2000 GUINEAS (GROUP 3)
Earlier, over 1600m on the dirt surface, the UAE 2000 Guineas sponsored by Al Naboodah Ashok Leyland Partnership was turned into somewhat of a procession by Godolphin’s Estihdaaf who, having been slowly away, was rousted to lead by Christophe Soumillon to take advantage of the number one stall.
Once in front, the 3-year-old Arch colt travelled extremely well before shaking off heavy favourite Walking Thunder (Connor Beasley aboard) and handing trainer Saeed bin Suroor a seventh victory in the race. Two years ago, Soumillon and Bin Suroor landed the spoils with Thunder Snow.
A homebred, the dark bay colt is out of a full-sister to multi-surface Group 1 winner and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) runner-up Better Lucky, as well as a great-grandson of Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Desert Stormer.
“When I hit the front, I was quite confident,” Soumillon said. “I know when you have a horse like him, who is a bit lazy, if you can hit the front and relax for a while, it’s hard to catch up. It was a better race, and we are all very happy with it.”
“If he was more forward, I knew he would improve from last time,” Bin Suroor added. “I was confident he could run the mile and I knew the dirt would suit him because of his breeding. I told Christophe to be handy with him like he was in the morning and it went well.”
Remainder of Card
Godolphin swept the top two spots of the $175,000 3200m turf handicap, the Al Naboodah Honeywell Partnership, over the same course and distance as the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup and likely to see at least one or two of its runners in said $1.5 million affair. Well-bred Dubhe bested 2018 Dubai Gold Cup alumnus Red Galileo, of whom (at four) he was half the age. Buick was aboard for Appleby, while Soumillon was aboard the latter for Bin Suroor. A son of Dubawi and Irish Oaks (G1) winner Great Heavens, he won for the third time from seven starts.
The $135,000 1800m turf handicap, the Al Naboodah Travel, looked competitive on paper, but was ultimately won comfortably by Nordic Lights, completing a double for both Appleby and Buick. A 4-year-old gelded son of Intello, he was soon in front with Buick seemingly able to set steady fractions before committing for home early in the straight when the pair shot clear and never looked likely to be caught.
Last out the stalls, Mazzini ended up the smooth winner of the 1200m turf handicap, the Al Naboodah Automotive Division, following up his victory in a 1000m turf handicap a fortnight ago for Bahrain’s Fawzi Nass. A course and distance prep for the $2 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on Dubai World Cup night, the $175,000 produced a sharp runner-up effort from High on Life, who simply could not go with the widening winner, who crossed the line 2½ lengths the best.
The concluding 1400m turf handicap, the Al Naboodah Cargo worth $135,000, was won by Appleby, Buick and Godolphin with market favourite Mubtasim, who proved too good for his rivals in a race that ran solidly to form.
A non-carnival race, a 1400m dirt maiden, the Al Naboodah Commercial Group opened proceedings and was won by Tabarak, sent straight to the front by Royston Ffrench and never headed.
Comments