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Meydan Racecourse hosts 2nd Dubai World Cup Carnival Meeting of 2019

Group 2 $350,000 AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE ROUND 1

Winner: NORTH AMERICA

Owner: Ramzan Kadyrov

Trainer: Satish Seemar

Jockey: Richard Mullen

Official Time: 1:35.88 (1600m, Track Record: 1:35.21)

Margin of Victory: 9 Lengths

Satish Seemar, Trainer, NORTH AMERICA (1st)—“That’s the way he is. I was telling (Mullen) to let him do his thing. We had the right draw. If he pops out, just don’t stop him. I know when he’s in form like that, he’s so good. About 10 days ago, we jumped him out of the gate, just to wake him up and he did it exactly the same way. I wasn’t worried about (Heavy Metal). After (North America) broke like he did, I had no worries. His stride is about 1½ compared to other horses. He could have set a track record today, but no one was there to challenge him. He’ll go to (Al Maktoum Challenge) Round 2.”

Richard Mullen, Jockey, NORTH AMERICA (1st)—“Unbelievable. I just said to the (Seemar) that there are not a lot of horses who give me goosebumps and he has done that. It was an incredible performance for his first run (this season). He has such huge stride. I think anything that comes near, he has that much pace that he just kills them off.

“This is step one. There are a few to go, so let us not get carried away. Like I said, they are horses, not machines, and anything can happen. There is potential for him to be better. He is only going to have four runs this year and he already has his program penciled out. I know he is a 7-year-old, but he has probably had less races than most 3- or 4-year-olds in Europe. He is very lightly raced and very well looked-after. They have the whole summer off, so seven is the new three or four in UAE terms.”

Doug Watson, Trainer, KIMBEAR (2nd) and MUNTAZAH (3rd)—“North America was just fantastic tonight. I thought he might need farther, but the way he did that, he’s going to be a tough horse this year. I’m pleased with ours. Muntazah got into a little trouble, but he’ll come on from that run, again. I think Kimbear got another good blow out of this race. I’d say we go to the Firebreak with both of them.”

Patrick Dobbs, Jockey, KIMBEAR (2nd)—“He had a nice trip around. The winner was far too good. He’s a tough horse and ran his race, but I’m afraid the winner was in a different league today.”

Jim Crowley, Jockey, MUNTAZAH (3rd)—“I didn’t get a great trip around. There was a little interference on the backside, but he ran a good race and I think he’ll improve from this.”

Mickael Barzalona, Jockey, HEAVY METAL (9th, Defending Champion)—“The horse, mainly, needed the run. We’ll see next time.”