British Endeavour Pays Dividend as Bandwagon Rolls On

British Endeavour Pays Dividend as Bandwagon Rolls On

Dividend became the latest international winner at an extremely cosmopolitan Dubai Racing Carnival when winning the Lord Glitters Handicap [sponsored by Azizi Developments] – the feature race of meeting 11.

Ridden by Rossa Ryan, the four-year-old was produced from midfield with a beautifully-timed challenge which saw him easily hold off King’s Charter by three-quarters of a length.

“Absolutely superb!” was the summary from co-trainer Dr Richard Newland, who works in partnership with Jamie Insole. “It’s our first ever winner abroad and lovely to nab one. This horse has been knocking at the door in big handicaps and we were hopeful tonight that the extra furlong and cheekpieces would help. Rossa was keen not to deliver him too early and he judged it perfectly.”

Ryan, also winning for the first time at Meydan, said: “I had the two Godolphin horses and the Wathnan horse in front of me and I thought ‘I’m definitely in the right spot.’

“He has a good turn of foot and a tight turning track like this suits him down to the ground. I think the best way is to drop him in the middle and ride him for an explosive turn of foot and that way he enjoys it.

“It’s great for the owners [Commercium] as it’s their first horse out here.”

Another British trainer, Ed Walker, is making the Carnival look easy. He celebrated his third win from four runs when Northern Champion took his Meydan record to two from two in the Dubai Trophy [sponsored by Azizi Developments].

The colt was dropping in distance to 1200metres having won the Jumeirah Stakes over 1400metres but came with a determined run down the centre of the track under Oisin Murphy to win by two lengths from Maximized.

It was a first Meydan winner for five-time British Champion Jockey Murphy since 2020 and he was glad of the opportunity.

“I used to be a regular visitor here and have lots of winners, but it’s great to get the leg up on his fellow and I’m grateful to Simon Sadler, his owner, who organised my trip,” he said.

 “It was a good decision by Ed Walker to go back to six furlongs. I didn’t take a pull out of the gate and he had a little bit of pressure on his left. From halfway I let him get racing and he picked them off as they slowed down.”

British-based South African trainer Dylan Cunha has thrown plenty at this year’s Carnival and he was rewarded with a second win. Tailgunner Joe blazed up the inside under Bernardo Pinheiro in the Azizi Venice Handicap, over 1600metres on turf, beating Jolly Roger by a quarter of a length.

“I followed the horse since he arrived in Dubai,” said Pinheiro. “I saw his races on dirt and then his races on turf were in a high class, so when I saw him in a handicap I got in touch and asked for the ride.

“He was the only three-year-old in the field, carrying 54kilos, and he had a good draw [5] unlike the last few times. He jumped OK and then I kept him there with the field and let him breathe but he surprised me when he really gave me the second gear.”

Cunha, collecting his third Dubai win in two seasons, added: “He’s been so unlucky in Dubai with draws and it was an awesome ride from Bernardo.

“I’m thankful to the owner [Nick Bauer, Ridgeview Stud] for believing in me and the horse and to the team in Dubai for doing such a good job.”

Pinheiro completed a double when Desperate Hero gained his first Dubai win in the finale, the Azizi Riviera Handicap over 1200metres on turf.

Trained by Pinheiro’s main boss Salem bin Ghadayer, the six-year-old grey arrived with a powerful late run to beat Rapper’s Delight by two and a half lengths.

“I was riding him in a different way in that he was jumping well and flattening at the end of his races,” explained Pinheiro of a change in tactics on the gelding. “So we changed the style and I sat behind and then once he relaxed I was sure he was going to run home.”

Birthday Boy Dobbs with a Double

Pat Dobbs has long been one of the most popular riders in the UAE and the veteran jockey celebrated a double on his birthday. The highlight was Cats By Five, who registered his second win in a row in the 1200metre Burj Azizi Handicap, on dirt.

Trained by Doug Watson, Cats By Five has really found his groove and this was a taking win, extending away to beat the front-running Lahfaty by five lengths.

“He’s improving,” said Dobbs. “He worked last Sunday and I thought it was the best feel I’ve had since we got him.

“He’s definitely found his feet this year. He always feels like a seven-furlong [1400metre] horse at home so I wasn’t worried about sending him on in the straight. He’s a lovely big horse and very straightforward.”

“I knew he had that in him and that’s why we bought him,” said Watson. “We’ll see what he can do next time up against the big boys on Super Saturday [G3 Mahab Al Shimaal.] Hopefully he can earn himself a spot on World Cup night.”

The earlier leg of the Dobbs-Watson double came when Nyaar took the Azizi Creek Views Handicap, over 1400metres on dirt.

The six-year-old enjoys a fast pace and he pounced at the 200metre marker under Pat Dobbs to beat early leader Action Point by just under two lengths.

“He’s a horse who when he hits the gates he’s a lot better and he had a nice smooth run around,” said Dobbs. “When he’s on song he is a decent horse but he does mess about and make it hard for himself sometimes.

“The horse on my inside hung on for longer than I thought, but this horse stays a mile and it was a true test tonight. I was very happy with him.”

Trainer Bhupat Seemar and jockey Richie Mullen continued their respective good runs of form, combining with Watch Collector in the Azizi Reve Maiden, over 1900metres on dirt.

The Medaglia D’Oro gelding had been well-beaten on his previous three starts but found the inside rail and a finishing kick, beating stablemates Sucette and Rashwan by a length and a quarter and eight lengths.

“He’s a big strong horse and whatever he does this year will be a bonus,” said Mullen after his 24^th winner of the season. “The gelding operation has helped him get his mind on the job as even in the straight he was like ‘what’s this all about.’

“He traveled around lovely and I had the two market leaders in front of me. Mickael [Barzalona, riding Auntie Fair] rolled off the rail enough for me to get him through and get running and he ran all the way to the line, but it was like his first day at school.”

The opening Azizi Mina Handicap for Purebred Arabians went to Uptown Walk The Line who made all the running and was let go off the final bend for a devastating ten length win in the hands of Sandro Paiva.

It was a fourth career win for Saif Almarar’s six-year-old, who is surely destined for a rise in grade.

“We won with him in Al Ain and he ran well here last time, when he was a bit slowly out but still finished third,” said Paiva after his 14^th winner of the season. “We decided more distance would suit him and he was pretty quick from the start. Then he kept traveling well and I thought ‘wow, it’s going to be a good win I think!’”

The Dubai Racing Carnival continues next Friday, 13 February, at Meydan Racecourse.