3 minute read
Thursday's Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 was billed as a brilliant renewal--topping a seven-race card with three G2s, one G3 and two Listed affairs--and the headliner did not disappoint. ‘
Won in inspired fashion by Nasir Askar's Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained Military Law in a perfectly executed stalk-and-pounce trip, the 1600m test set the stage for what could be an exciting season for middle-distance dirt racing in the region.
Piloted by Antonio Fresu, the son of Dubawi broke alertly and settled well on the rail behind favourite Capezzano, who set strong fractions under Mickael Barzalona. Waiting patiently for that rival to show any signs of resignation, the bay 6-year-old pounced on the opportunity when it presented itself at the top of the lane, asserted and then held off late-closing Dubai Creek Mile (Listed) winner Thegreatcollection, as well as Burj Nahaar (G3) winner Salute the Soldier to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:36.42. The same margin separated second and third, with Capezzano capsizing into seventh of 11 starters.
An invitee to the subsequently cancelled 2020 Dubai World Cup (G1), Military Law won for the fifth time in 11 starts and landed his second stakes after The Entisar (Listed) 13 months ago. Bred in England, he is a half-brother to the dam of G1 winner French King and was in the care of John Gosden until mid-2019, winning half his first six starts for breeder Qatar Racing. He was sold to Askar at Tattersalls July 2019 for $144,641.
"He has been training really well in the morning and I got a very good feeling in the last couple of gallops," Fresu said. "Today he travelled really well, probably because he is fresh, so he travelled very well into the race and when I asked him to go, he really picked up well. Now we need to see after this. He has an entry into Saudi and otherwise the option is going to be (the Al) Maktoum Challenge Round 2 and (Round) 3 and then Dubai World Cup."
Al Mheiri added: "Everyone was worried about this distance because he likes to come from behind, but I told (Antonio) that if he jumps good and he stays behind the leader, no need to worry, because he will finish good and he will not give other horses a chance to go ahead because he has a good turn of foot. This year he is a better horse. I have worked him every week and I have seen how he has improved. I asked the jockey 'how do you feel,' and the jockey said he is better than last year. I think he is a World Cup horse."
Lord Glitters Sparkles In G2 Singspiel
RACE 4 (20:15) - Singspiel (1800mT Group 2)
One race prior, the first of three Group 2 races took place in the nine-furlong Singspiel (G2) on turf, named for the only horse to win both the Japan Cup (G1) and Dubai World Cup (G1) and won the past three years by owner Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor. This year, the team started favourite Military March, who had the services of Frankie Dettori, but said charge never appeared to get involved (finishing eighth) as late-running Lord Glitters trounced foes with a rush under Adrie de Vries.
Breaking slowly and sitting near the tail of the field, the veteran Group 1 winner closed resolutely between horses in the lane for trainer David O'Meara, winning going away by three lengths at the end and leaving a sea of Godolphin blue in his wake. Charlie Appleby's 2020 Zabeel Mile (G2) winner Zakouski closed well to be second 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Bin Suroor-trained Dream Castle, winner of this in 2019. The final time was a spritely 1:46.82 for the same nine furlongs over which the Lord Glitters was third to the great Almond Eye in the 2019 Dubai Turf (G1).
The globetrotting 8-year-old winner was victorious for the eighth time in 33 starts and in his third country. A Royal Ascot winner of the Queen Anne (G1) in 2019, the big grey son of Whipper has competed in top company in France, England, America, Canada, Dubai and Bahrain.
"He missed the kick a bit, but I didn't want to push any buttons early, he can be very keen," De Vries said. "The pace was good enough just to leave him there. He did things so quickly, I thought I had a long way to make up, but half way through the straight I was sure to win. They ran at a good pace, which helped me a lot. After this, I can't see any reason not to go back (to the Dubai Turf) and he is a bit older now and with a little sun on his back, he should return to his old form."
Land Of Legends, Dettori Take G2 Al Fahidi Fort
RACE 6 (21:25) - Al Fahidi Fort (1400mT Group 2)
The final of three Group 2 contests was the evening's penultimate race, the seven-furlong Al Fahidi Fort on the turf course, a race that has been won by Charlie Appleby and either William Buick or James Doyle in five of the previous six editions. This year, though, Appleby and team could only settle for second and third with previous winners D'bai (2019) and Glorious Journey (2020) as Saeed bin Suroor-trained Land Of Legends provided jockey Frankie Dettori with his first of two stakes wins on the night.
Stalking beautifully in the pocket behind a strong pace, the Godolphin-owned son of Iffraaj accelerated beautifully into the lane, getting the jump on his aforementioned foes and running out a determined three-quarter-length victor in a time of 1:22.55. The win was Land of Legends' fourth from 10 starts and first in stakes company. Three-quarters of a length separated second and third.
"I had a perfect trip," Dettori said. "I sat behind the leader and it was a good effort. Everything felt right. It was a good draw, he gave me everything he had, I managed to get him in a nice rhythm and he won. I am delighted. We had high hopes and I managed to get one win. I am pleased for Saeed and the team and it is nice to be back."
Switzerland Anything But Neutral In Dubawi Victory
RACE 3 (19:40) - Dubawi (1200m Group 3)
Those with Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) or Saudi Sprint aspirations got a proper prep in earlier in the card in the Group 3 Dubawi over six furlongs of Meydan's dirt course. What was expected to be a torrid affair, especially with many of the quickest local dirt sprinters in attendance, did not disappoint when multiple Group stakes winners Waady and Gladiator King battled it out on the front end before HH Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi's Switzerland ultimately proved stronger than said pair in the final furlong after a four-wide stalking rally.
Winning his third G3 race and first in the UAE, the son of Speightstown turned back the clock in his seventh local start and 22nd lifetime. It as 1 1/4 lengths to Waady in second, with the same margin back to market favourite Gladiator King in third. The final time was a swift 1:10.86. Tadhg O'Shea was aboard the winner for trainer Satish Seemar, who saddled five in the race and won it for the seventh time.
"I think it's a combination of a couple of things," O'Shea said. "He was a former Grade 1 horse in the States and he has been gelded, had a summer off and he has really matured. The yard thought they had stronger chances with Gladiator King and Bochart. He was a lovely spare ride to get, but I must say Satish and Bhupat (Seemar) were very bullish on this horse in the morning and I said credit goes to them. I have only ridden him twice and they were telling me all along he could be the forgotten horse."
Seemar added: "Seven (wins) out of eight (editions of the race) for us. Reynaldothewizard had four, then Raven's Corner, Gladiator King and then Switzerland tonight. I was actually thinking that this would be the exact outcome. I thought Gladiator King would be second, because back at home Switzerland has been a lot livelier and Gladiator King is a lot more relaxed."
RACE 2 (19:05) - Dubai Racing Club Classic (2410mT Listed Hcp 90+
Blacktype affairs got off to an exciting start in the evening's second race, the Listed Dubai Racing Club Classic over 12 furlongs, approximately a complete circuit of the Meydan turf course. True to the market, Godolphin's Walton Street was just too much for the opposition, taking an early lead under William Buick and never relenting en route to a course record-setting 2:26.83 time and five-length victory. Trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of Cape Cross won for the fifth time in 15 starts and second time in Listed company.
Closing for second was Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor-trained Dubai Future, a Carnival winner in 2020, with UK invader Away He Goes closing from last to be third. A half-length separated the pair.
"(It was a) really good performance," Buick said. "Obviously, he has had a bit of a break. He was really dominant when he won at Newmarket towards the backend in a competitive Listed race. He is lightly raced for his age and he really felt like had a lot of zest there. Tonight he really seemed to enjoy himself in front. I was just a bit worried at a couple of stages that we might be doing too much, but he was in his comfort zone and he finished up really good."
RACE 7 (22:00) - Dubai Dash (1000mT Listed Hcp 90+)
The final blacktype race of the evening was fast and furious, as 15 sprinters sped down the straight chute over five furlongs in the Listed Dubai Dash, resulting in a successful defence of the race by Charlie Hills-trained Equilateral , carrying the silks of Mrs. Fitriani Hay and legendary jockey Frankie Dettori. Purchased privately last year from Juddmonte Farms, the son of Equiano won for the sixth time in 23 starts, running down longshot Mutaraffa by a half-length and holding off fellow high-weights Lazuli and Ekhtiyaar, who finished in tandem 1 1/4 lengths astern that foe. The final time was 57.62 seconds.
"I've been watching this horse for the last 3 years and what he likes is a very fast, slick, five furlong track," Dettori said. "Sometimes the English tracks are too demanding for him, but this is tailor-made for him.I'm really enjoying my time here, maybe because I'm running out of years, but I'm trying to take it all in. Most people are locked in their houses doing nothing and at least I get to do what I love. I am going to stay here in the United Arab Emirates until Super Saturday."
RACE 1 (18:30) - Al Furjan (1400m Hcp 90-100)
The night kicked off with one of the most competitive events on paper, but the only race not a blacktype affair. Over seven furlongs on dirt, the handicap appeared to be a clash of two strong representatives of the Doug Watson yard--filly Rio Angie and well-regarded Golden Goal--against the first two finishers in last month's Garhoud Sprint (Listed), Important Mission and Behavioral Bias. In the end, though, only one horse mattered and that was Golden Goal, who closed like a menace from mid-pack to devastate the opposition by a widening 3 1/2 lengths under Pat Dobbs.
The Dale Brennan-owned son of Dark Angel won for the fifth time from 11 starts and second time since joining Watson's yard in 2019. The final time for the 1400m was a course record of 1:22.69, with English invader Desert Doctor running on well for second, four lengths ahead of pace-setting Important Mission. The $750,000 Godolphin Mile (G2) will no doubt now be the goal for the lightly campaigned 7-year-old who has finished top three in eight of his tries.
"There's a mile handicap with him at the end of February for him that's the next logical spot," Watson said. "One thing I do know is that he won't go to the (Group 3) Firebreak (on Feb. 4). He will need a few weeks after that kind of performance."
Dobbs added: "We went very quick. He travels strong anyway. It's good to get him back. He disappointed a little last time. I know he was second, but we thought he should have won. We have always loved him from day one and we thought he could be a Godolphin Mile horse. We had a setback last year, but he seems better than ever this year."
The previous track record was held by Group 3 winner Raven's Corner (1:23.07)
