Dubai World Cup Carnival 2021, Third meeting – Results and Quotes

MINA RASHID (HANDICAP)
$68,000 | 1200m (dirt) | TB

Winner: CANVASSED (IRE)
Pedigree:  Shamardal (USA) – Painter’s Pride (FR) by Dansili (GB)
Owner: Sh Mohd Obaid Al Maktoum
Trainer: Doug Watson
Jockey: Patrick Dobbs
Official Time: 1:10.44
Track Record: 1:10:12 – MIND YOUR BISCUITS – 2018
Margin of Victory: 2 1/4 Lengths

Pat Dobbs Jockey, CANVASSED, (1st): “Doug has trained him differently lately and that has made a massive difference. He is still highly strung tonight, but he was good at Jebel Ali and hopefully he will get better with more racing”.

It took him a while to get going, but obviously his speed is very strong and from halfway I was never in doubt that he would get beaten.”

MEYDAN CUP (LISTED HANDICAP)
$88,000 | 2810m (turf) | TB

Winner: DUBAI FUTURE (GB)
Pedigree: Dubawi (IRE) – Anjaz (USA) by Street Cry (IRE) 
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Jockey: Lanfranco Dettori
Official Time: 2:54.90 (Stakes Record)
Track Record: 2:54:47 – ALMOONQITH – 2015
Old Stakes Record (Meydan turf): 2:58:51 – SECRET ADVISOR – 2020
Margin of Victory: 1 1/2 Length

Frankie Dettori, Jockey, DUBAI FUTURE, (1st): “He obviously had a good race last time, finished strongly with a bad draw. This time he jumped well, I wasn’t so sure who to follow – Willam or Patsy. I wanted to give him plenty of options, so I got him on the outside. He was a true professional”.

“I am sure (he could go on to the Nad Al Sheba Trophy). He’s done nothing wrong, he came second last time. He won easily today, was a very willing partner and he was enjoying the ride.”

UAE 2000 GUINEAS (GROUP 3)
$125,000 | 1600m (dirt) | TB

Winner: MOUHEEB (USA)
Pedigree:  Flatter (USA) – Shananies Song (USA) by Eltish (USA)
Owner: Sh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Trainer: Nicholas Bachalard
Jockey: Ryan Curatolo
Official Time: 1:36.46 (Stakes Record)
Track Record: 1:34:99 – MUNTAZAH – 2019
Old Stakes Record (Meydan dirt): 1:37:69 – MAFTOOL – 2015
Margin of Victory: Neck Length

Ryan Curatolo, Jockey, MOUHEEB, (1st): “This win means everything to me, I want to thank god, and the connections. The horse proved that he was the best today. He is a very talented horse, and last time we almost got there. He is a bit inexperienced, but he is getting better with time. The trainer did a very good job with him and his rider in the morning did a good job as well, because he can be quite difficult”.

“Today he was more relaxed before the race, and that was good. This is a super special moment for me tonight, I am very pleased for the people who gave me the opportunity, and hopefully I can maintain that”.

“I think this horse can go a bit longer, and his trainer will see what is best for him.”

Nicholas Bachalard, Trainer, MOUHEEB, (1st): “I am delighted, for the team, and Sheikh Ahmed, who believed in us. It has not been an easy 3 years for the stable and hopefully some of the trust in all of us would now be back”.

FIREBREAK STAKES (GROUP 3)
$130,000 | 1600m (dirt) | TB

Winner: SECRET AMBITION (GB)
Pedigree:  Exceed And Excel (AUS) – Inner Secret (USA) by Singspiel (IRE)
Owner: Nasir Askar
Trainer: Satish Seemar
Jockey: Tadhg O’Shea
Official Time: 1:36.12 (Stakes record)
Track Record: 1:34:99 – MUNTAZAH – 2019
Old Stakes Record (Meydan dirt): 1:36:23 – CAPEZZANO – 2020
Margin of Victory: 3 3/4 Lengths

Tadhg O’Shea, Jockey, SECRET AMBITION (1st): “He has danced every dance, and a lot of credit goes to Shane Ryan and team to be honest, this horse would have run more races if we were able to get out of the gates better, as he tends to miss it a lot. and Shane along with Satish and Bhupat and the team at Zabeel have all worked very hard for this result”.

“He is ultra-tough and his form is there for everyone to see, and he deserved a big one again. My horse flew from the gates and then the writing was on the wall. We got to the front, and we were going with some good fractions, and we got a bit of a breather and then had a go again. It is onwards and upwards from here and we might stretch the trip for him a bit. He is going to be rock solid in the Godolphin Mile anyway.”

Satish Seemar, Trainer, SECRET AMBITION (1st): “I don’t think any horse deserves a win more than Secret Ambition. He just runs the hardest and is the most honest in every race. I must say full credit goes to Tadhg O’Shea this evening. Right out of the gates he made a smart move, and put him on the right spot and gave full confidence to Secret Ambition. Secret Ambition is that kind of horse, once he has his way, there no way of coming close to him”.

“We will discuss (plans for his future) with the connections whether we will go straight to the big day (Dubai World Cup Day)– Godolphin Mile or maybe try a different distance”.

“He has had two or three second placed finishes and a third, but he needed this win to get the confidence of the people too and the connections. So a win is very important, it gives us a lot of confidence.”

MEYDAN CLASSIC TRIAL (CONDITIONS)
$50,000 | 1400m (turf) | TB

Winner: TOPPER BILL (FR)
Pedigree:  Intrinsic (GB) – Alyaa (IRE) by Iffraaj (GB)
Owner: Ali Al Shafar & Abdulla Al Shafar
Trainer: Satish Seemar
Jockey: Richard Mullen
Official Time: 1:24.21
Track Record: 01:22:32 – D’BAI – 2018
Margin of Victory: 1 1/4 Length

Richard Mullen, Jockey, TOPPER BILL, (1st): “He is just a bonny little horse you know. He jumped well with a nice pace on him, and travelled extremely well. He is a smashing horse, he moves very well on turf and he has had a very good education as a young horse and that is key in the making of this horse. It was a good performance and hopefully there is a little bit more to come”.

“I would just like to dedicate that win to Pat Buckley – The whole of the UAE has lost a great man. I’ve been here for 22 years and counting and Pat has been a big part of racing here and a big part of my life. He’s been a great friend over the years and he hasn’t been well and we received the sad news this evening. The UAE will be a quiet place without him. We can only send our condolences to his family here in the UAE and back home in New Market”.

“His Highness Late Sheikh Zayed brought him over and he set up Abu Dhabi Racing and was an integral part of the original World Cup here. As an apprentice I came here and he mentored us over the years and I have had a lot of trip with Pat over the years. He has been a great friend and it a huge loss. Like I said the world is a smaller place without him”.

DUBAI SPRINT (LISTED HANDICAP)
$88,000 | 1200m (turf) | TB

Winner: MAN OF PROMISE (USA)
Pedigree:  Into Mischief (USA) – Involved (USA) by Speightstown (USA)
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Official Time: 1:09.26 (Stakes Record)
Track Record: 1:07:61 – WILDMAN JACK – 2020
Old Stakes Record (Meydan turf): 1:09:81 – RUSUMAAT – 2020
Margin of Victory: 3 Length

William Buick, Jockey, MAN OF PROMISE, (1st): “He is a neat horse and he showed a little more speed today than what I expected. He travelled beautifully, and it was a nice performance and he can only get better.

“I am very sorry hear of Pat Buckley’s passing, and my condolences to all of his family and friends. He was always very friendly and the ultimate professional. A very sad day for horse racing, not just in the UAE but around the world.”

-END-

Secret Ambition (GB) (Satish Seemar – Tadhg O’Shea) winner of UAE 2000 Guineas – DOWNLOAD HERE