THREE weeks out from the world’s richest race day, the $35 million Dubai World Cup, Super Saturday proved a night of memorable performances for horses hoping to earn their place on the big stage. Chief among those were one-sided victories by Godolphin’s Barney Roy in the $400,000 Group 1 Jebel Hatta, and a course record romp from the Doug O’Neill-trained Wildman Jack in the $350,000 Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.

The first Group 1 of the season was the Jebel Hatta. The nine-furlong turf contest was a showcase for the skills of trainer Charlie Appleby, as his Godolphin blue-clad team finished first, second and third, with the Excelebration six-year-old Barney Roy beating Magic Lily and Spotify. The final margin was one and three-quarter lengths, but the multiple Group 1 winner was easily the best and goes into the $6 million Group 1 Dubai Turf as one of the horses to beat. William Buick was aboard and the pair won in a new stakes record.

Buick said: “We had a very tricky draw in 12 and we had to ride him the way we did. There were a lot of horses in the race with very little chance, but we still had to pass them all. He travels very strongly into the race. I brought him out into the straight and he picked them up easily. It’s a testament to the horse and the team at home, who have done a great job with him ever since he stepped into the yard.”

Appleby added: “The horse has not made that easy for William, but that was a great ride in the circumstances. The horse is just so enthusiastic and keen to get on with things, but once William had him on an even keel in the straight, he was always going to win. He will go to the Dubai Turf and Magic Lily may do so, as well.”

Tour de force

Group 1 action continued in the $600,000 Al Maktoum Challenge R3, which was a tour de force for Matterhorn, sporting the light blue of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and ridden by Mickael Barzalona for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer. In just his second dirt try, the Barronstown Stud-bred son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Raven’s Pass held the runner-up Military Law by five and a half lengths.

“We have been expecting a lot from him,” Barzalona said. “It took him a little time to understand how to run on the dirt, but last time he ran really well over a mile. We expect him to improve again.”

Bin Ghadayer added: “We always thought he would handle the dirt well and he has always trained well on it. We were very pleased with his first start when third to our Capezzano in the Firebreak. We knew this longer trip would suit him and the plan was always to be positive on him, so Mickael has given him a great ride.”