MEYDAN staged four group races at the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Thursday, headlined by the Group 2 Zabeel Mile. The Irish-bred Championship won going away in a course record time, one of two track turf records set on the night.
Winner of the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort a month earlier, the Ahmad bin Harmash-trained son of Exceed And Excel was ridden by retained jockey Colm O’Donoghue, and once they took up the running a furlong and a half from home the race was effectively over. Championship was bred by Natalie Cleary and has improved throughout the season, also winning the Listed National Day Cup at Abu Dhabi over a mile, and O’Donoghue was keen to credit the trainer and his team.
“That was his best effort yet, especially under the penalty, and Ahmad has done a wonderful job with him,” he said. “He is a special horse who stays further, but has the speed for shorter. I am not sure what the next target is but we will just enjoy this win, and this horse has been great for me in my first season as stable jockey.”
Six lined up for the Group 2 Balanchine, a nine-furlong turf contest restricted to fillies and mares. The Irish-foaled Thousand Words filly Opal Tiara, trained by Mick Channon who also bred the four-year-old in partnership, dug deep to hold the late challenge of Via Firenze from France. Ridden by Oisin Murphy, Channon’s charge improved on her runner-up placing in the Group 2 Cape Verdi three weeks ago. Channon failed to sell Opal Tiara as a yearling for £1,800, and last year bought her back from Tweenhills Stud at the December Sale for 230,000gns.
“We should have at least finished closer last time,” said Murphy. “She did it well [today] and stayed the trip nicely, so perhaps the trainer will keep her at this kind of distance.”
Channon added: “We will sit down and think, but the Dubai Turf could be a target for her on the Dubai World Cup card.”
PROCESSION
The Group 3 Meydan Sprint over a straight five furlongs on turf was turned into a procession by the Irish-bred Ertijaal, trained by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi and the mount of Jim Crowley, riding in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. They set a new course record despite never being asked a serious question. Twice a course and distance winner last season, Ertijaal was second in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint.
“He is like an airplane,” said Crowley.
“He is a very good sprinter and with his remarkably long stride you just do not realise how quick you are going on him. The six furlongs of the Al Quoz Sprint should really suit him; I have ridden some good sprinters but he would be right up there among the best.”
The Aga Khan owned and bred Zarak was an easy winner of the 10-furlong Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes under Christophe Soumillon. Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, more can be expected from the four year-old son of Dubawi and the unbeaten Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava.
“To be fit for a Group 3 and to be fit for a Group 1 are not the same thing,” Royer-Dupre said. “He didn’t blow after the race. He has a turn of foot, and he has learned a lot here. It was good for him. We have many options. We will have to decide with the management, the owners and the jockey.”
The second seven-furlong handicap on the dirt was run at a furious gallop, Pat Dobbs on the Doug Watson-trained Stunned, a son of Shamardal, taking it up at halfway and staying there. “I was in front much earlier than ideal but, the way the race panned out, I had little choice,” said Dobbs. “He is a very versatile horse who has the pace for six furlongs but also stays a mile well.”
The opening seven-furlong dirt handicap saw the Irish-bred Raven’s Corner, partnered by Richard Mullen for Satish Seemar, never headed. Formerly with John Gosden, he was having just his second start for his new yard.
Exceed And Excel’s son Heavy Metal won the mile dirt handicap in good style, the Salem bin Ghadayer-trained gelding was never headed under Mickael Barzalona. “He was dropping in class today and has won pretty easily,” said Barzalona. “He enjoyed himself out in front and we were always travelling very well.”