TWO group races took centre-stage on Thursday at Meydan’s fifth meeting of the 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival. The meeting was highlighted by the $250,000 Group 2 Al Rashidiya over nine furlongs on turf and it was won in some style by Godolphin’s 2017 Royal Ascot victor Barney Roy.

Barney Roy (Excelebration) swung wide turning for home and followed last year’s winner and fellow Group 1 hero Dream Castle before pulling clear in the final furlong. Trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick were claiming their first victories in the race. Barney Roy had two and a quarter lengths to spare over Dream Castle, with a long way back to Mountain Hunter.

“He’s been off for a while, so he’s entitled to be a little bit fresh, but I suppose in many ways that’s a performance you want to see from a horse with his previous form and his class,” Buick said. “He’s a horse with a lot of gears who will be prepped for something Dubai World Cup night, hopefully.”

Always hopeful

“He’s a very lightly framed horse, so we don’t do much with him,” Appleby added. “I was always hopeful that his class would prevail and that is what we’ve seen at the end. All being well, it’s one step at a time. We’ll get Super Saturday out of the way and hopefully we can book ourselves a slot for Dubai World Cup night.

“Visually, from what we’ve seen there, you’d be quite happy to step up to 10 furlongs. He was just touched off in the Juddmonte [International] and is a class animal. It’s just nice to see him back to his winning ways this evening.”

The dirt highlight of the night was the six-furlong $200,000 Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint and it produced a thrilling finish with the Satish Seemar-trained Gladiator King and Mickael Barzalona overtaking the US runner Truck Salesman in the final strides. The four-year-old Curlin colt is owned by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi and was adding to his win in the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes on the opening night of the DWC Carnival.

“The horse knows what he’s doing and knows where the finish line is,” Seemar said. “He’s not one of those who wastes energy, but he is a powerhouse horse and he knew what was going on in the race. It’s good to have a horse like that.”

Meydan Cup

The $175,000 Listed Meydan Cup over a mile and six furlongs on turf provided stayers a chance to shine, but all the focus was on heavy favourite and five-time G1-placed Dee Ex Bee who finished fifth. Godolphin’s Secret Advisor, a rare mount in the colours but ridden to perfection by Tadhg O’Shea for Charlie Appleby, won well by a length. A six-year-old son of Dubawi gelding, Secret Advisor won the Melrose Handicap at York in 2017.

“He has some good back form this horse, including winning a Melrose Handicap, but had a few setbacks, missed a year and was disappointing last season,” Appleby explained. “We decided to be patient with him today. Since arriving in Dubai, he has really thrived.”

A mile handicap on turf, the $135,000 Mina Rashid, attracted the biggest field with 15 going to post. Carnival regular Fawzi Nass claimed his first win of the season with Salute The Soldier under Adrie de Vries. Well positioned throughout, the five-year-old Sepoy gelding bravely held off Land Of Legends.

Formerly trained by Clive Cox, the four-time winner was purchased at Tattersalls in October for 380,000gns.

The $135,000 Mina Hamriya, a mile dirt handicap, provide a memorable moment for Sweden when a pair of runners from that country defeated an international field. The grey Plata O Plomo, trained by Susanne Berneklint, was gritty in victory, holding off Stricker in impressive style. Carlos Lopez was aboard for the win and said: “He stays further, so the fast gallop has really suited him and he ran on very strongly for me when I asked him.”

In the concluding 10-furlong Jebel Ali Port, a turf handicap, Godolphin’s American Graffiti was brought with a well-timed run by Brett Doyle, providing trainer Charlie Appleby with a third win on the evening. The son of Pivotal won by three-quarters of a length. “He jumped quick and dropped in nicely then picked up well,” Doyle said. “He ran all the way to the line and is probably a horse who stays farther. It was a perfect race. He’s a consistent horse.”