Tag Archive for: Naval Power

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.”