Tag Archive for: Meydan

Sparkling Suhail headlines Appleby’s Super Saturday double

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Al Suhail showed his rivals a clean pair of heels as he sprinted clear in the Ras Al Khor, highlighting a Super Saturday double for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.

The six-year-old had been off the track since winning the Al Fahidi Fort in January, but he showed that absence presented few problems with a smooth success.

Settled behind the pace-setters early on, Al Suhail found a perfect split in the straight and when Buick gave the signal, the 4-6 favourite shot away under hands and heels riding to win by four lengths in a new course record time for the seven furlongs.

Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “We were obviously delighted with Al Suhail, who has put up another good performance to break his own track record.

“We will most likely bring him back to the UK and look at the nice seven-furlong races in Europe over the summer.”

Global Storm (100-30) led home a one-two for Appleby in the Dubai City Of Gold.

The trainer was forced to rule out likely favourite Rebel’s Romance with a late setback, but Global Storm stepped into the breach with a cosy triumph in the hands of Buick.

Global Storm was in command turning for home in the 12-furlong heat and while stablemate and 2-1 favourite Kemari tried to challenge in the straight, the winner kept finding for pressure and eventually came home two and a half lengths to the good.

Appleby said: “Global Storm has been working with Rebel’s Romance and the one thing I took from the result was that if Rebel’s Romance had been in there, it would have been an easy race for him.

“Global Storm is a solid campaigner out here – he ran well in this race last year behind Hukum – and it was a race that we thought could set up well for him. William gave him a lovely ride on the front end and was able to dictate.

“Realistically, I do not see him being here on Dubai World Cup night. As solid as he is, we know we will be taking on a different kettle of fish on Dubai World Cup night. He will go back to England with that Group Two penalty, which will make him a bit trickier to place.”

George Boughey got on the Super Saturday scoresheet with Al Dasim (4-1 favourite), who registered his third Meydan win in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.

Winner of two three-year-old conditions events at the Carnival, Al Dasim was ridden with confidence by Mickael Barzalona in the six-furlong Group Three contest.

Content to track the early pace, he switched out to challenge with two furlongs to run and Al Dasim really asserted his authority inside the distance, winning by two and a quarter lengths.

Barzalona said: “It was a big question mark today against the older horses, we were unlucky to have a bad draw but he just put his head down and tried his best. He deserved it.

“He had to perform today, but now he can go ahead for the Al Quoz Sprint and we’ll see against the best horses in the world.”

All eyes were on Real World as he returned to action in the Group One Jebel Hatta, but Saeed bin Suroor’s charge never looked like taking a hand in the finish.

Real World failed to fire on his Meydan return
Real World failed to fire on his Meydan return (David Davies/PA)

Roger Varian’s El Drama race prominently throughout in the nine-furlong heat but he had no reply to the late thrust of Alfareeq (25-1), who sprung a surprise and grabbed the glory for a second successive year by a neck under Dane O’Neill.

The James Doyle-ridden Discovery Island (11-2) won the Burj Nahaar, while the rider was just denied aboard Bendoog in the Al Maktoum Challenge R3, as last year’s victor Salute The Soldier (11-4) swooped late to take the Group One honours.

Go Soldier Go (6-1) won the Al Bastakiya and the closing Mahab Al Shimaal marked a double for Barzalona as he steered Sound Money (5-1) to victory.

Mawj makes waves with impressive Meydan victory

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Mawj’s successful early season continued when she sauntered home in the Jumeirah Fillies Guineas Stakes Presented by Defender at Meydan.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained three-year-old showed great promise as a juvenile last season, winning the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket and placing in the Albany, the Lowther and the Cheveley Park.

This year her campaign began at Meydan in late January in the Jumeirah Fillies Classic, a seven-furlong affair she won by a short head from Charlie Appleby’s Dream Of Love.

Returning to the same track this time for a first try at a mile, she was the joint evens favourite alongside the Appleby-trained Fairy Cross and made all of the running under Danny Tudhope, hardly seeing a rival when striding to an unchallenged eight-and-a-half-length success.

“As we know, she’s plenty of speed at six furlongs and seven furlongs we’ve tried before. Tonight she led all the way, she’s a nice filly and she’s improved a lot,” said Bin Suroor.

“This was the plan for her, then the English Guineas or maybe the French Guineas, but the boss (Sheikh Mohammed) will decide.

“Also there is one race on World Cup night, the UAE Derby, but it’s more likely that we’ll take her back to England.

“We are in no rush, we have plenty of time. We will see how she comes back from the race, talk to the boss and make a decision.”

Mawj was trimmed to 16-1 from 25-1 for 1000 Guineas with Coral, and Bin Suroor is hopeful more improvement will come as she develops.

He said: “When she was a two-year-old she was tiny and skinny, we didn’t think she was a lot, but every time she worked in the mornings we could see she had some class.

“When she ran I liked her and in between races when we gave her a break, you could see in her condition that she changed and also grew.

“She grew a little bit when she arrived in Dubai and so far she’s looked like a nice filly for the future. We’ll see, but so far we are happy with her.”

The trainer is readying his horses for Super Saturday at Meydan on Saturday week, with Real World – whose only defeats on turf have been to Baaeed – headed for the Jebel Hatta en route to the Dubai Turf on World Cup night.

“Real World is doing good, and when I say good I mean improving,” Bin Suroor said.

“He’s back now and when he’ll run he’ll run at 80-85 per cent, that race will prepare him for the Dubai Turf on World Cup night.

Real World and Marco Ghiani winning in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot
Real World and Marco Ghiani winning in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“The horse is class and showed his form last year, we’ll see how we go but so far he is doing good.”

On the same card there was Group Two action in the Balanchine Presented By Land Rover Stakes.

With The Moonlight was the 2-7 favourite for Appleby and followed a prior Meydan success in the Cape Verdi with another impressive performance.

Ridden by William Buick, the Frankel filly defeated Johnny Murtagh’s Lyrical Poetry by a comfortable four and a half lengths despite a 4lb penalty.

“She came on for the Cape Verdi in every way, the nine furlongs probably suits her a little but better than the mile,” Buick said.

“She’s really getting the hang of it now, she had a good year last year and she’s started off pretty good this year.

“She has a good bit of class and she does everything the right way, she’s a real joy to deal with.”

Classy pair headline Meydan treble for Appleby and Buick

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William Buick and Charlie Appleby enjoyed a Meydan treble led by Nations Pride and Siskany claiming Group Three honours.

The pair’s first winning runner came in the Lord Glitters Handicap as New Kingdom prevailed as the 5-2 favourite, before Siskany then made a successful return to Dubai to land the Nad Al Sheba Trophy.

The Dubawi gelding won a Listed race, the Al Khail Trophy, at the track last year and in the autumn returned to Europe to take the Listed Dubai Godolphin Stakes and finish third in both the Grosser Allianz-Preis von Bayern at Munich and the Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton.

In his first run of the year he was the 4-5 favourite over a mile and six furlongs and came home two lengths ahead of Marco Botti’s Ardakan.

“He hadn’t raced for a while so he was a bit fresh, he was over-racing in stages a little bit but it was a really pleasing performance from him,” Buick said.

“He stays well and like any good stayer he’s got that gear change over this trip which sets him apart.

“He’s been a rock solid horse from day one, this fella, and hopefully he can make up in a Dubai Gold Cup horse.”

Nations Pride then sealed the hat-trick in the Dubai Millennium Stakes, striking at 11-8 to win for the 11th time in a career that has seen him campaigned in Europe, the Middle East and America.

Buick added: “He went to America and did well all season, it was great to get him back and it was the perfect prep run for him – he’s going to go on to better things than this.

“They went very slow, it looked like it was going to be, tactically, quite a messy race and it proved so.

“I was happy with where he was and he picked up very well, he’s class and class prevailed in the end.”

‘All systems go’ for Algiers and Dubai World Cup bid

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Ed Crisford has given the go-ahead to a Dubai World Cup bid for Algiers following his back-to-back victories at Meydan.

Narrowly beaten by George Boughey’s Missed The Cut in the Churchill Stakes at Lingfield in November, Simon and Ed Crisford’s charge has since made a huge impression in two starts on dirt in Dubai – winning the first two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge in dominant style.

Connections had the option of taking in the Saudi Cup on Saturday week, while round three of the Al Maktoum Challenge on Super Saturday at Meydan on March 4 is an obvious stepping-stone to World Cup night.

However, Ed Crisford confirmed the six-year-old will instead head straight for the Dubai showpiece on March 25.

“He won round two very well and the step up in trip on the dirt was no problem, so it’s all systems go for the World Cup,” he said.

“We took him out of the Saudi Cup as we just felt we’d be better off staying in Dubai and aiming at the big one on World Cup night.

“Round three of the Al Maktoum Challenge is on Super Saturday, but I’d say we’ll swerve that and go straight to the World Cup. He’s had two quite good runs in quick succession, so we can freshen him up and ready him for the big night.”

Crisford expects to have a clearer idea of what Algiers will be up against at Meydan after the Saudi Cup is run in Riyadh.

He added: “I think we’ll find a lot out next weekend in Saudi in terms of what horses are coming. The Japanese and the Americans have some seriously good dirt horses and I think it’ll all come to light after Saudi.

“The World Cup will be a big step up for our horse, but he’s the best horse in the UAE at the moment on the dirt and it’s hugely exciting.”

Crisford added that James Doyle, on board Algiers the last twice, will keep the ride.

Lazuli leads Appleby charge for Blue Point honours

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Lazuli is out to confirm form with stablemate Man Of Promise as the two clash once more in the Blue Point Sprint at Meydan on Friday.

The Charlie Appleby-trained pair were first and second in a Listed race in January and now meet in the Group Two which Lazuli won 12 months ago from Acklam Express, who is once again in opposition.

Man Of Promise has since been beaten again at Listed level and as a result, William Buick has deserted him this time in favour of the likely favourite.

“Lazuli is tried and tested over five furlongs at Meydan and this is his optimum trip,” said Appleby.

“He is in great form and, even with his draw in stall one, he has speed horses around him and looks the one to beat.

“Man Of Promise ran a good, solid race over this distance in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash and seems to be taking his racing better these days.”

The ex-Roger Varian-trained Khuzaam, now with Doug Watson, has his first outing since finishing a four-length seventh in the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night.

“Khuzaam has taken a bit of time to come around, but is really well,” said Watson. “The long layoff is a worry but he’s a really nice horse.”

Johnny Murtagh’s Ladies Church is an interesting runner but Murtagh suggests her main targets are later in the Carnival.

Ladies Church (near side) is in action for Johnny Murtagh
Ladies Church (near side) is in action for Johnny Murtagh (Brian Lawless/PA)

“She is in very good form, but like all our horses who travelled to Dubai this season, she will probably need her first run of the year,” he said.

Charlie Hill’s pair of Khaadem and Equilateral, plus the Mick Appleby-trained Raasel, offer other European interest.

The UAE 2000 Guineas is the other Group race on the card, but surprisingly there is no Godolphin runner.

Watson’s Shirl’s Bee is defending a one-race unbeaten record and the trainer said: “Shirl’s Bee would be the most interesting of our runners on Friday. He has been training well and we like him a lot. He has a good draw and we’re really looking forward to seeing him run.”

Salem bin Ghadayer’s Tiger Nation looks his biggest threat having won the trial.

Algiers continues to make an impression in Dubai

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Algiers’ stock continues to rise in the Middle East after an unchallenged success in round two of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan to form the highlight of a great night for James Doyle.

Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, the hot favourite was drawn in stall eight of a nine-runner field and found himself pushed wide by his rivals.

Despite taking the longest route throughout the race, the chestnut was easily able to accelerate away from the rest around the final bend to prevail by six and a half lengths.

Algiers won the first Al Maktoum Challenge over a mile, but was showing his versatility over an extended nine furlongs and must now enter the reckoning for the Dubai World Cup.

“It was pretty good, I knew it was going to be a tricky race to ride,” Doyle said.

“It’s the furthest he’s run on dirt to be fair, he did have one spin up the hill at Jebel Ali and he didn’t look like he saw it out but these are different conditions.

“We just wanted to learn things today, we didn’t want to ride him that aggressively but he broke so well, I could have taken up the lead and dictated but I chose to come back a little bit.

“One pushed up and forced me wide and then he just over-raced throughout, the fact that he’s achieved what he’s done off the back of that, not being in the rhythm, goes to show he’s got a serious engine.

“This kind of race, it opens up options, whether it’s here or Saudi.”

Doyle also won the Group Two Singspiel Stakes on Valiant Prince and the Vazirabad Handicap on First Ruler, both for Charlie Appleby.

With The Moonlight and William Buick led a Godolphin one-two in the Cape Verdi after 167 days off the track, another winner for Appleby.

Appleby’s Frankel filly has not been seen since finishing second in the Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga last August, prior to which she was the winner of the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes at the same track earlier the same month.

After a lengthy absence the four-year-old took no time to hit her stride on return and battled with Saeed bin Suroor’s White Moonlight up the home straight to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

“She’s a really good filly and it was a nice place to start her back,” Buick said.

“She’s done very well, she’s taken on some race-fit fillies that set a very good standard.

“She’ll come on plenty for the experience and her first run of the year, it was good.”

Moonlight spearheads powerful Godolphin team at Meydan

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With The Moonlight, who spent the second half of last season campaigned in America after disappointing in the Oaks, headlines a strong Godolphin squad in the Cape Verdi at Meydan on Friday.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the filly won the Pretty Polly on her first start at three, booking her ticket for Epsom, where she finished last of 11.

She enjoyed her time in the US, though, winning a Grade Three and finishing second at the highest level. Appleby also runs Wild Beauty.

“With The Moonlight is clear on official ratings and, while the trip will be on the sharper side, I feel that the style of racing at Meydan will suit her,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.

“Wild Beauty has definitely come on for her first start of the year and will hopefully be very competitive. I feel we have two fillies that should be bang there in the finish.”

Saeed bin Suroor also holds strong claims with his two runners, Soft Whisper and White Moonlight, first and second in a conditions race last month.

“Soft Whisper is a tough filly, who always tries in her races, and came out of her win in the Ipi Tombe Stakes in good form. She has been going well at home and I’m looking for another success from her,” said Bin Suroor.

“White Moonlight is a big, strong filly, who is improving all the time. Her latest piece of work went well and the step back up in trip will suit. We are hopeful of another good effort.”

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Algiers will aim to back up a hugely-impressive Meydan debut in the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge when he runs in Round Two, where he meets Salute The Soldier.

Ottoman Fleet needs to turn the tables on stablemate Valiant Prince
Ottoman Fleet needs to turn the tables on stablemate Valiant Prince (David Davies/PA)

Godolphin also dominate in the Group Two Singspiel Stakes through Appleby’s Ottoman Fleet and Valiant Prince, plus Bin Suroor’s Dubai Future and Desert Fire.

“Valiant Prince has come out of the Al Rashidiya well. He has to carry a penalty for that win but has a nice draw in stall two and should be very competitive based on what he achieved last time out,” said Appleby.

“I feel Ottoman Fleet has come forward since the Al Rashidiya, when he travelled well before getting a bit tired in the last 100 yards. He is better at the weights with Valiant Prince this time, which should put him bang there.”

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Dubai Future ran well to finish second in the Al Rashidiya and this course and distance suits him. This is another tough race but he heads into it in good form.

“Desert Fire won nicely over this trip in last season’s Al Rashidiya but was disappointing in the Zabeel Mile. He came out of that race in good condition and I am hoping for a better performance this time.

Naval powers into Classic picture with Meydan victory

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Naval Power led home a Charlie Appleby one-two-three in the Jumeirah Classic as he kicked off his three-year-old campaign at Meydan.

The Moulton Paddocks handler dominated the top of the market in the nine-furlong Listed event and it was the Mickael Barzalona-ridden One Nation who set the fractions and looked at one stage to have slipped the field before he was hunted down by the 1-2 favourite close home.

Highbank picked up the bronze medal to complete a clean sweep of the podium for owners Godolphin and the Newmarket trainer, who was winning the race for the fifth time in six years.

The victory was the perfect way for Naval Power to get back on track following a disappointing showing in the Dewhurst in his final start at two.

“It’s quite testing conditions out there tonight, so you’re never quite sure how it will go – especially with these three-year-olds,” said winning rider William Buick.

“But it was a competitive race and the second and third set a good standard, so I was really pleased with him there. I do think he is better on slightly better ground as well.”

The Teofilo colt will now head back home where he will take in a 2000 Guineas trial before a possible tilt at the opening classic of the season – for which he was cut to 16-1 from 25s with Coral.

Buick gave his nod of approval to both the plan and the horse’s Classic credentials post race.

Betfair Sprint Cup Day – Haydock Park – Saturday September 3rd
William Buick after winning the Betfair Daily Tips on betting.betfair Ascendant Stakes with horse Naval Power at Haydock Park racecourse. Picture date: Saturday September 3, 2022.

He added: “It’s a tested and proven route and he’s definitely of that calibre.”

Saeed bin Suroor’s Mawj (9-4) just held on in an all-Godolphin finish to the Jumeirah Fillies Classic.

The Duchess of Cambridge Stakes winner, who was last seen finishing third in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes, was always to the fore in her first attempt at seven furlongs and showed real toughness to hold off 8-11 favourite Dream Of Love – who having been anchored at the back of the field rounding the home bend, flew up the Meydan straight to be denied by just short head.

The winner will now be upped to a mile for her next start in the Jumeirah Fillies Guineas on February 24.

“She ran well,” said Bin Suroor. “It was a first start for her on softer ground and there was a question mark before she ran, but we gave her the chance.

“I said to the jockey ‘just keep her handy if you can’ and next time we will have to go up to a mile for the Jumeirah Guineas. So far she has done well and she will improve from this race.

“She’s a good filly but she’s tiny, like I said last year. Since she has come to Dubai she has grown a little bit, but she still needs time. She started over six furlongs, now she has won over seven and next we will try a mile and we will see. She is a nice filly, a tough filly and she always tries hard.”

There was a rare winner in Dubai for Gordon Elliott when Coachello (20-1) struck in the Listed Dubai Stakes over six furlongs, while in the evening’s feature race on the dirt, former Roger Varian inmate Prince Eiji scooped Group Three honours for Doug Watson and rider Sam Hitchcott in the Firebreak Stakes.

Naval Power kicks off Classic season at Meydan

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Potential Classic contender Naval Power makes his three-year-old debut in the Jumeirah Classic at Meydan on Friday.

The Teofilo colt won his first four juvenile starts for Charlie Appleby last season, including impressive Listed victories in the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot and the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock.

He finished a well-beaten sixth on his final start of 2022 in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, but will be a hot favourite to make a successful return to action in Dubai.

“Naval Power showed a progressive profile as a two-year-old before disappointing in the Dewhurst Stakes, when he produced an unsatisfactory scope afterwards,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.

“I have been pleased with his preparation but there will be improvement to come for the run. We are looking at giving him the one start in Dubai before looking at some of the Classic trials in the UK.”

Naval Power is one of three Appleby-trained runners in the Jumeriah Classic, with Highbank and One Nation also declared.

Highbank made a promising Dubai debut when beaten half a length into third in the Jumeirah Classic Trial three weeks ago, while One Nation was last seen finishing third in an October Newmarket nursery.

Appleby added: “We were very pleased with Highbank’s run in the trial, when he settled well and did everything the right way round. He has come on for that run and we are hoping that he can progress into a Jumeirah Derby contender.

“One Nation showed solid form as a juvenile and has done well from two to three. He has a bit to find with a couple of his rivals on ratings but his preparation has gone well and he won’t look out of place in the field.”

Charlie Appleby is well represented at Meydan on Friday
Charlie Appleby is well represented at Meydan on Friday (Mike Egerton/PA)

It promises to be another profitable afternoon for the Appleby team, with Man Of Promise bidding for back-to-back wins in the Dubai Sprint.

Last season the six-year-old claimed this Listed prize before following up in the Group Three Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, after which he placed third behind A Case Of You in the Al Quoz on World Cup night.

This time around Man Of Promise has had a prep run for the Dubai Sprint, having filled the runner-up spot behind stablemate Lazuli in the Dubai Dash early in the new year.

“Man Of Promise has definitely come forward for his first start of the year and has a good draw in 14,” said Appleby.

“Stepping back up to six furlongs will play to his strengths and I feel he is the one they all have to beat.”

Master Of The Seas sails to comeback victory at Meydan

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Master Of The Seas, who came within a short head of winning the 2000 Guineas two years ago, made a successful return from nine months off the track in the Zabeel Mile at Meydan.

Charlie Appleby’s charge was touched off by Poetic Verse in the Rowley Mile Classic and has only made it to the track three times since – winning last year’s Earl of Sefton Stakes on his only start in 2022.

Despite his lengthy absence, the Dubawi gelding was a hot favourite to make a winning comeback and ultimately did so in good style in the hands of William Buick.

After initially tracking a couple of fellow Godolphin runners, Master Of The Seas quickened up to grab the lead in the straight and was always doing enough to hold David O’Meara’s Shelir at bay.

Appleby said: “I’m very pleased. Well done to all the team – they’ve done a great job getting him back.

“He’s obviously not been seen since the spring. He had a setback after Newmarket and it’s taken a lot of patience and time to get him to where he is now.

“The race couldn’t have gone any better really. The pace was there, William got a nice box seat and if anything it would have been handy if the pace had lasted a little bit longer because the one thing this horse does is travel well. He put the race to bed and is entitled to come forward from the run.

“He’s a challenge to himself sometimes, but the engine is there and if everything goes right, as you saw tonight, he’s a good horse.”

Charlie Appleby was delighted with Master Of The Seas on his return to action
Charlie Appleby was delighted with Master Of The Seas on his return to action (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Moulton Paddocks handler confirmed Master Of The Seas will remain in Dubai up until World Cup night, while an appearance at Royal Ascot is already at the back of his mind.

He added: “We’ll get him back and hopefully get a clear run through to Super Saturday and the Jebel Hatta and then all being well he can book his ticket for the Dubai Turf on World Cup night.

“He’s had a bit of a stop-start career so far, but if we can get a clear run Royal Ascot is something we’ll definitely be working back from.”

Buick was similarly pleased with his mount’s performance, saying: “It was lovely. The race set up for him nicely and it’s lovely for him to come back like he did.

“He’s always been a very exciting horse – he has been since he was a two-year-old. His class and quality has never been in question and let’s hope he can build on that today.

“He’s taken on some horses there that have had recent runs, which counts for a lot, but he’s certainly that class of horses that deserves to be aimed at Super Saturday and World Cup night all being well.”

Harry Eustace saddled Brighton and Beverley winner Cite d’Or in the UAE 1000 Guineas, but she struggled on her dirt debut and finished last of six behind the impressive Mimi Kakushi.

The latter, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, won the trial for the Listed contest four weeks ago and took her game to another level as she stretched readily clear of of her rivals.

“I was happy to sit just behind the pace, the extra furlong helped and she’s an improving filly. Hopefully we see her great race from her again in the UAE Oaks,” said Barzalona.