Hello & welcome along to my review of last night's Carnival action from Meydan, a night dominated by a young man from Brazil the ever improving Silvestre De Sousa & by the Emerald Isle once more who gained another 2 winners. As predicted in this blog a week ago Saeed Bin Suroor's side of the Godolphin operation have also struck form with avengeance via the impressive Ihtimal & the evergreen Prince Bishop.
The opening 7f Tapeta handicap went the way of Eastern Rules (see photo) who backed up last week's fine effort with a gutsy win reverting back to his preferred hold up tactics. Shane Foley has come on in leaps & bounds as a rider gave him a well judged ride. It was a extremely slowly run race for the first half of the event as Maraheb a late entry into the race due to Tamarkuz's non participation dropped anchor on the front end, he looked as though he hated it so they were strange tactics, as they turned into the straight it became obvious in a bunching field that it would be a sprint to the line & Eastern Rules quickened up to take the lead holding all comers to the line.
Mustaheel sat out the back of the slow pace, he had to come widest of all covering the most ground quickening up well in the final 200 metres, he only just failed. This was an excellent run from him but I wouldn't be overly confident that he could back it up. My Freedom raced more prominently but was still beaten fair & square as he was unable to quicken when the tempo increased similar comments apply to Alnashmy & Spirit Of Battle who seem best when ridden with exaggerated hold up tactics. Master Of War also came with a late rattle & he may be the only one to take out of this event.
The trial for the Meydan Classic was run at a much stronger tempo thanks to the Doug Watson trained Make It Reel but in all honesty looked a complete bag of nails in the straight bar the winner He's No Saint (see photo) as he provided David Marnane & Ireland with yet another winner, he had the run of the race on the inside & quickened up well to beat a very poor field of 3 year olds.
Pretend was bitterly disappointing pulling early & finishing nothing in the straight to drop away tamely. The rest just looked awful to me Najm Suehail either doesn't stay or more likely doesn't want to win, Eye In The Sky appeared to run on well at first glance but on closer inspection it was under strong driving & he just stayed on at one pace as everything else in front of him stopped. Journeyman, Figure Of Speech, Autumn Lily & Dubawi Fun were all shockingly one paced while Man Amongst Men is just a complete rogue lots of ability but clearly not interested in using it. The debutant Salvadori was outpaced & green throughout but finally worked it out in the straight he was flattered by his finishing position but probably showed enough to win an ordinary local non Carnival maiden.
The first Classic of the UAE season went the way of the impressive Ihtimal (see photo) who had reportedly been working well at home. She sat in behind the strong early gallop set by Magroora & in truth was always travelling comfortably, as the pace slowed a fraction as the field turned for home De Sousa was wise & pulled Ihtimal out, she quickened up impressively to win easily. On that run she should get the UAE Oaks distance & then come back to England for the 1000 Guineas, in a year where rain has dominated in this country maybe a winter in Dubai will be to her advantage.
What she beat only time will tell, Mensoora was easily put in her place but she was best of the De Kock runners but only because she got a good ride from Soumillion, what Richard Hughes was doing on Magrooma I have no idea as she was nearly 10 lengths off a decent gallop all the way into the straight & still Hughes didn't get busy when he finally asked the race was gone so the filly did well to get as close as she did in 5th, she will appreciate further & I would still have one eye on the Oaks with her. Wedding Ring was put in her place a decent filly but not Group or Listed Class while Feedyah ran with promise clearly in need of the run & looking like a return to Turf would be in her favour.
The big staying handicap was run at a crawl with Great Hall dropping anchor on the lead until they came into the straight when Statutory took over for a few metres as he was quickly swamped by the top 3 in the betting with Ceterach going down the inside, Star Empire coming widest & lastly Excellent Result (see photo) who had been given a lovely ride by De Sousa in behind the front runners, he had to extragated from a pocket but once in the clear the result was never in doubt as he stayed on powerfully to win cosily in the end. As I said in my preview this horse was weighted to win a Carnival handicapped & so it proved, he will go on to the Nad Al Sheba in which he will take some stopping.
Star Empire ran well but age is catching up with him whilst Ceterach had his day in the sun a couple of weeks ago. Ralston Road plugged on for 4th appreciating the step up in distance but again finding a few to good while Great Hall stuck on well for 5th but then he was helped by a good ride from Martin Lane. Statutory deserves a mention over a trip short of his best on his first run, he showed up well & tired towards the finish, if he makes the Dubai Gold Cup he may well be a factor.
The Big race of the night was the 2nd round of The Al Maktoum Challenge (see video below) which had attracted a very deep field.
It was run at a blisteringly fast pace from the outset as once the bull that is Artigiano pulled himself to the front he again did himself no favours, for the others it was perfect as he strung the field out like washing. He like Steeler clearly has issues as both have run like this at the Carnival pulling far too hard.
Zain Shamardal showed early zip, as did Hunter's Light who was a little fresh on his seasonal debut while the evergreen Kieran Fallon had Prince Bishop poised to strike in behind this frantic gallop stablemate African Story however was in a world of pain from his wide draw he was shuffled back to almost last some 15 lengths behind the pace. As Artiginao began to fade as the field turned for home Fallon struck, Surfer tried to go with the master Fallon who took the race by the scruff of the neck as Prince Bishop thundered clear, Hunter's Light tried to hang on to him but his fitness told & he faded to finish an honourable 4th with Zambuca plugging on in 3rd, meanwhile De Sousa tried to extricate African Story as he picked off runners one by one in the straight & with 200 metres to go he was almost a second behind his stablemate, finally in the clear the old horse tried his best to chase Prince Bishop (see photo) down but it was too much as he passed the post a length & a quarter down, I don't need any Trakus system to tell me that African Story would have won & is the one to take from the race as my eyes told me that story. In what looks to be a fairly weak year for the World Cup itself this old horse will take some beating at the end of March.
Of the others Zahee ran ok but is below this class, Dunaden finished closer than I thought, Samurai Sword excelled himself & surely back in a top handicap would have to be respected. Heavy Metal was disappointing with a switch back to Turf looking likely while the reason that Battle Of Marengo was let go by Coolmore was there for all to see....as he finished a well beaten last.
The closing 1 mile Turf handicap was run at a very decent gallop set by Disa Leader of all horses, with eventual winner Mont Ras sat close to him. I have to hold my hands up I thought Mont Ras (see photo) was handicapped out of things but he was given an excellent ride by William Buick & the horse showed guts to repel the 2 South African's (although El Estruendoso clearly doesn't have that many guts).
My E/W selection on Avon Pearl (see photo) was well rewarded as he stayed on from an uncompromising position to nab 4th on the line, this was an excellent effort & he can build on this so a similar handicap looks well within his grasp. Nothing else stood out behind Banna Boirche travelled best of all but found little staying on at one pace while Chil The Kite just cannot win from his current mark.
Horses to Follow:
African Story
- My idea of the Dubai World Cup winner
Avon Pearl
- Showed enough to suggest a similar 1 mile Turf handicap is within his grasp
@fttfracing
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