3 minute read
Becoming the fourth progeny of Godolphin's star mare Eastern Joy to win at Meydan, Eastern World (by Dubawi) skipped clear to an impressive success in Saturday's Meydan feature over nine furlongs on turf.
Ridden by Royston Ffrench, the half-brother to dual Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow flanked the early pace set by Deep Intrigue before passing that rival and bursting clear turning for home. In the end, the chestnut won by 3 1/2 lengths over a late-charging Gabr. Path of Thunder ran on to be third a half-length ahead of well-regarded Fawzi Nass trainee Prompting.
Appleby: "The horse has a fantastic pedigree, as we know, being a half-brother to Thunder Snow by Dubawi, but he's been an interesting character trying to get him to concentrate on the job at hand. We gelded him at the back end of last year and he's trained well out here. He looked great and I know it was a hard choice for William (Buick) this evening and unfortunately he didn't get the right one, but Royston gave him a lovely ride. He put him into the race and when he turned into the stretch, I didn't see him getting beat, really.
"Time is running out a little bit (to try dirt), but the Dubawis, they go well on it. It's something further on down the line that might be a plan, but the problem now is he just missed the boat slightly (this year). I've got him (entered) in the Lincoln (Heritage Handicap at Doncaster, March 27) back in the UK and he'll quarantine next week. He's a young horse, so he'll be a nice horse to look forward to for next Carnival."
Panadol Delivers On Debut
$22,275 Longines Spirit Collection Mile (3yo Maiden)
Race 1 (17:30)
1600m (dirt)
Winner: PANADOL
Owner: HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Trainer: Salem bin Ghadayer
Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
Breeder: Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman (USA)
Sire: Flatter
2nd: ENDIFAA (Adrie de Vries)
3rd: ANBAR (Tadhg O'Shea)
Time: 1:37.16
Margins: 7 3/4, 1 3/4, Short Head
In Brief: Panadol proved his $180,000 OBS Sales purchase price was likely a good investment, winning gate-to-wire on debut for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and leading trainer Salem bin Ghadayer. Ridden by Mickael Barzalona, the son of Flatter never appeared flustered and ran on impressively to a facile victory.
Barzalona: "He's a nice horse and did it very well today and showed good quality. At home, I got up on him in his last gallop and I could feel he was very green, but I was very pleased with him (today). He was very professional. They asked me if I thought he could get farther and I think he can."
Fawzi Keeps Flying With Debut Winner Mayehaab
$22,275 Longines Spirit Collection Turf (3yo Maiden)
Race 2 (18:05)
1400m (turf)
Winner: MAYEHAAB
Owner: Hasan Mefareh & Fawzi Nass
Trainer: Fawzi Nass
Jockey: Adrie de Vries
Breeder: Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB)
Sire: New Approach
2nd: YURMAN (Dane O'Neill)
3rd: HAWA BILADY (Fabrice Veron)
Time: 1:24.27
Margins: 1, Nose, 2 3/4
In Brief: Showing marked promise, first-time starter Mayehaab broke well, stalked nicely and pounced en route to a smart victory under Adrie de Vries for trainer and co-owner Fawzi Nass. The son of New Approach was a $94,828 Tattersalls Breeze-Up Sale graduate. Mike de Kock-trained Yurman closed well to finish second, just besting well-backed Hawa Bilady. Nass is fresh off a big win with Salute the Soldier in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 and was second in the opener with Endifaa.
De Vries: "He showed us quality back home and he showed that today. He's good on the sand as well and he's bred to go farther. He's a horse who knows his job. I'm sure there's plenty more in the tank."
Fourth UAE Time's A Charm For Monoski
$22,950 Longines Spirit Collection Trophy Handicap (60-80)
Race 3 (18:40)
1600m (dirt)
Winner: MONOSKI
Owner: HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Trainer: Salem bin Ghadayer
Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
Breeder: Godolphin (USA)
Sire: Street Boss
2nd: CELTIC PRINCE (Fabrice Veron)
3rd: ROYAL SANDS (Sam Hitchcott)
Time: 1:36.98
Margins: 1 3/4, 1/2, 6 1/2
In Brief: Winning for the second time in his career and first from four UAE tries, Monoski gave the team of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Salem bin Ghadayer and Mickael Barzalona a double from the first three races on the card. The son of Street Boss broke well and was always within reach of leader Royal Sands before pouncing on him in mid-stretch and then galloping clear to a comfortable win. Celtic Prince closed well to pick up the place spot.
Barzalona: "We always try to break and he broke well today. He took some kickback and finished well. He's a horse with a nice profile, hopefully."
Madkhal Sharpens Up Nicely In 6f Dirt Handicap
$24,975 Longines Spirit Collection Challenge Handicap (75-89)
Race 5 (19:50)
1200m (dirt)
Winner: MADKHAL
Owner: Fawzi Nass
Trainer: Fawzi Nass
Jockey: Adrie de Vries
Breeder: Shadwell Farm (USA)
Sire: Distorted Humor
2nd: DAHAWI (Antonio Fresu)
3rd: SHARAMM (Tadhg O'Shea)
Time: 1:10.92
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 3/4, 2 1/2
In Brief: The team of Fawzi Nass and Adrie de Vries continued their good form with a second win on the evening, giving them plenty of confidence going into next week's $20 million Saudi Cup, in which they team up with Simsir. Tonight, though, the laurels belonged to the hard-trying Distorted Humor 5-year-old gelding Madkhal , who ran down a game Dahawi in a swift time of 1:10.92 for six furlongs. The final margin was 1 1/4 lengths, with another 1 3/4 lengths back to a late-running Sharamm in third.
De Vries: "He's a progressing horse. Seven furlongs for him (is better), but we had no options for him, so we put the visor on him and sharpened him up for six (furlongs) and I had a dream race behind (Dahawi), who took me there a long way. He's a nice, progressive horse."
Taneen Tears Away In Turf Dash Finale
$24,975 Longines Spirit Collection Cup Handicap (75-89)
Race 6 (20:25)
1200m (turf)
Winner: TANEEN
Owner: HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Trainer: Musabbeh Al Mheiri
Jockey: Dane O'Neill
Breeder: Haymarket Farm & Machmer Hall (USA)
Sire: Speightstown
2nd: MOSHAHER (Harry Bentley)
3rd: PINTER (Fernando Jara)
Time: 1:09.65
Margins: 4 3/4, Neck, Neck
In Brief: In the nightcap, Taneen took no prisoners in the straight six-furlong turf sprint, breaking on terms and vying for the lead with Koditime in the early going before disposing of that character nearing the 400m and never looking in doubt. The final 4 3/4 was quite impressive for the distance and layout. A son of Speightstown, the 8-year-old won for the fourth time in 18 starts and handed Saudi Cup-bound trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri a little confidence boost going into a week in which he prepares Military Law for said $20 million affair.
O'Neill: "He's been running against some good company and ran really well tonight
