THURSDAY’S Gulf News-sponsored seventh evening of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival included a pair of Group 2 $250,000 events, but it was the Group 3 $200,000 Firebreak Stakes over a mile on dirt and a stunning display by Muntazah (Dubawi) that shone brightest.

Having finished third behind North America in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 last month, Muntazah got back to winning ways with an easy victory which hinted that an attempt at longer distances could be in the offing. The six-year-old provided a first win in the race for both Doug Watson and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s retained jockey Jim Crowley.

Muntazah won a listed race at Abu Dhabi last year and was runner-up in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile. Crowley said: “I thought he was a bit unlucky in the Godolphin Mile and that was his first time on dirt. He feels a better horse than 12 months ago. I still don’t think he is there yet and there is still a lot to work on. I am sure he will keep progressing.”

The Group 2 Meydan Sprint over five furlongs on turf was a one-horse show, courtesy of Group 1 Irish-bred sprinter Blue Point (Shamardal). The five-year-old made amends under William Buick for his second place last year behind Ertijaal and in the process provided Charlie Appleby and Godolphin with a first win in the feature after finishing second in the last five renewals. Australia’s Faatinah stayed on to finish five lengths behind the winner.

The Group 1 Al Quoz over six-furlongs is on the radar for the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes winner. “He’s a nice horse, this fellow,” Appleby added. “Not having been fully tuned up, he ran well. This horse is going to come forward and come into his own this year. He’s not overly exposed, really. Last year, he wasn’t over-raced. It’s going to be a fun season for him.”

The nine-furlong Balanchine on turf for fillies and mares was won by Godolphin’s Poetic Charm (Dubawi) who followed up her recent Group 2 Cape Verdi success with a dominant 2¾-length win. The half-sister to Teofilo provided trainer Charlie Appleby and William Buick with a second group win on the card.

The inaugural running of the nine and a half furlong, $100,000 Meydan Trophy for three-year-old turf runners was won by Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby-trained Art Du Val. The son of sprinter No Nay Never defied his pedigree and won by four lengths. In the process, Buick rode his 100th UAE winner.

“That was only his third career start and in the biggest field he has encountered, so it was a good performance,” Buick said. “I was always happy and he stayed the trip nicely but he has enough pace to drop in trip if we wanted.” Appleby added: “We liked him last year and he did well to win his debut before going to France, when a good second in a listed race. Hopefully there is more to come from him, because he is still learning and hopefully progressing.”

The $135,000 handicap over six-furlongs on dirt supplied Satish Seemar with his sole victory of the evening. Lavaspin (Hard Spun) and Richard Mullen took the initiative from the start and the five-year-old drew clear of the American raider Switzerland to win by 2¼ lengths.

Saeed bin Suroor struck in the concluding race with Godolphin’s Mountain Hunter (Lonhro), who was given a beautiful ride by Christophe Soumillon to win by a length and a half from stablemate Red Galileo. It was another nose back to Appleby trainee Walton Street, completing a top-three finish for the royal blue.

Abu Dhabi Stakes win for Dragon Pulse

ABU DHABI February

10th

THE only thoroughbred race on the card was the seven-furlong Listed HH The President Cup. Harry Bentley made relentless progress aboard the Johnston King-bred Legendary Lunch (Dragon Pulse) since the 14 runners left the back straight and, challenging widest of all, struck the front half a furlong from home to snatch the spoils.

Riding for trainer Fawzi Nass, Bentley said: “He arrived here in top form and was perhaps a bit unlucky when second at Meydan the last day, when racing away from the winner, but this is a nice prize and good result for everyone involved.”

JEBEL ALI February 8th

RACING at Jebel Ali was highlighted by a seven-furlong conditions race and Mystique Moon (Shamardal) produced a compelling performance to win comfortably and record his second victory of the season.

A dual winner for Godolphin on the all-weather when landing his first two career starts for Charlie Appleby in early 2017, he is now trained by Doug Watson for Mohd Khalifa Al Basti and was ridden by Pat Dobbs.

Watson said: “He has been working like a nice horse all season and won a nice race at Sharjah at the end of December. Hopefully we can find something for him at the carnival because it would be great to win with him there for Mr Al Basti.”

The ‘home team’ of racecourse patron Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Nicholas Bachalard who trains the owner’s horses on the track and stable jockey Chris Hayes enjoyed a smooth success with Salayel (Bated Breath) in the six-furlong conditions race for three-year-olds. One of two fillies in the field of nine, all of whom were maidens, she fulfilled the promise of her run four weeks ago in a similar race over a furlong less won by subsequent Meydan Classic Trial winner Golden Jaguar.

Salayel was purchased for €200,000 as a juvenile at Goresbridge. “We have always liked this filly, but it took her a while to acclimatise,” Hayes said. “She is only going to improve with time and experience because she is still strengthening up and hopefully is a nice filly for the future.”

The opening 10-furlong maiden was won in determined fashion by the Irish-bred River Of Gold (New Approach) in the hands of Tadhg O’Shea, and the four-year-old is trained by Satish Seemar for Nasir Askar. Cape Of Eagles (Cape Blanco) registered his third Jebel Ali victory of the season and of his career in a 10-furlong handicap for trainer Helal Al Alawi with Billy Lee, sporting the silks of Saleh Omar Ali Bin Haidar, in the saddle for all three victories.

The nine-furlong handicap attracted just a field of four and Galles (Bernardini) swept a furlong out to put the race to bed in a few strides under Royston Ffrench.

The five-year-old entire has only ever won at Jebel Ali where he was registering his third victory for trainer Sandeep Jadhav. Arroway (Kittens’s Joy) completed a double for the trainer, scoring decisively in a mile handicap under Xavier Ziani.

The concluding five-furlong handicap provided 10-year-old Alraased (Exchange Rate) with his sixth career success, ridden by Jim Crowley for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trainer Ali Rashid Al Rayhi.