THE final meeting of the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival, Super Saturday last weekend lived up to its billing, with both Group 1 features providing memorable moments. Introduced in 2003 as a full dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup card three weeks later, all seven races mirror those to be contested on the big night when $30 million prize money will be on offer.
Three horses have won the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 over 10 furlongs on dirt before following up in the Dubai World Cup, and North America (Dubawi) will be the latest to try to emulate them after his smooth recent success. He made all under Richard Mullen who was riding for owner Ramzan Kadyrov and trainer Satish Seemar. North America was over five lengths clear of dual Group 1 winner Thunder Snow, while the multiple Grade 1-winning mare Furia Cruzada finished third, nearly four lengths back.
“Last time, when second to Thunder Snow (in Round 2), was probably a career-best and he has built on that again tonight. I was able to get to the front and he was then always happy. Obviously the Dubai World Cup is going to be a stronger race, but he deserves his chance.”
The principal turf race, the nine-furlong Group 1 Jebel Hatta, saw the lead change hands at least six times in the final two furlongs. The telling challenge came from Godolphin’s Irish-bred Blair House (Pivotal) who pounced inside the final furlong under James Doyle, riding for Charlie Appleby. Blair House had landed a handicap over this course and distance three weeks ago.
Appleby also won the 2016 Jebel Hatta and said: “I am sure we will have to come back with him in three weeks [for the Group 1 Dubai Turf] in what will be a stronger race but he owes us nothing now.”
Run over nine and a half furlong on dirt, the middle leg of the UAE Triple Crown is the Listed Al Bastakiya. It was turned into a procession by Yulong Warrior (Street Cry). He is trained by Satish Seemar and was ridden by Richard Mullen. Once the rider kicked for home, early in the straight, they had the race in safe keeping.
MATURITY
“He is a horse we have always really liked and thought would continue improving as he matures,” Mullen said. “There should still be more to come from him but the UAE Derby will be a stronger race again. Fingers crossed we can get a nice draw in that as well.”
The Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal over the same six-furlong dirt course and distance as the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, was won in 2016 by Muarrab and a year earlier by Reynaldothewizard, who both followed up three weeks later. Six years ago Krypton Factor completed the same double for Fawzi Nass, who looks to have serious claims of repeating the feat with Jordan Sport (Dubawi) who made an impressive dirt debut under Adrie de Vries.
De Vries said: “Fawzi asked me to work him on the dirt on Monday to see how he handled it and he loved, so it so we came to this race, not the turf option. That was impressive today and we can enjoy this win then worry about the race in three weeks.”
A six-furlong turf track record was established by Godolphin’s Irish-bred Jungle Cat (Iffraaj) in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint. Confidently ridden by William Buick for Charlie Appleby, it was a second 2018 Meydan victory for the horse in as many starts, having won the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort last month.
There was a stirring finish to the Group 3 Burj Nahaar over a mile on dirt, won by the Doug Watson-trained Kimbear (Temple City), who had led from early on under Pat Dobbs. The rider said: “We went very quick early on, so credit to my horse for responding again in the straight when I asked him.”
The night ended with the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold, a prep for the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic over a mile and a half on turf. The race was won by the well-fancied Group 1-winner Hawkbill (Killen’s Joy) in a course record to 2 minutes 26.85 seconds in the hands of William Buick.