Europeans shine in the rain at Meydan

It was a soggy night which greeted horses trained in nine different countries for the fourth week of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, but all seemed sunny for the visiting Europeans who celebrated two winners.

Persistent rain caused a downgrade in both tracks, to Muddy on the dirt and Yielding followed by Slow on the turf. Such conditions can cause a few shocks and that was the case in the first of the turf events, the Listed Dubai Sprint (Presented by Longines), over 1200metres.

It gave the visiting international contingent a third win of the Carnival when Coachello took down favourite Man Of Promise after a tussle through the final 200metres.  The five-year-old, running for the third time this month, was a first Dubai winner for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott and he battled back once headed, crossing the line three-quarters of a length ahead of Man Of Promise with Thunder Of Niagara back in third.

“He jumped very good and I got there a bit too soon,” said winning jockey Pat Dobbs. “He hit a few patches on the ground but when he got the better ground he grabbed the bit and took me there.

“I think he’s better over a straight six [1200metres] as it’s easier to get into a rhythm over this distance.”

A good night for the overseas raiders saw Denmark celebrate a first success at the Carnival thanks to the win of Good Fortune (pictured) in the Zabeel Turf. The five-year-old was just a second Dubai runner for trainer Soren Jensen and he had to be tough to see off the Godolphin-owned favourite White Wolf, prevailing by a short head.  

“The sun’s not shining but it doesn’t matter!” said Jensen. “It’s my first trip down here and I’ve seen how difficult it is for Scandinavia to win here, so I’m very proud and delighted for the team.”

It was also a first UAE win on his first day riding at Meydan for French jockey Theo Bachelot, who has just completed a stint in Japan.

“I’m so excited to come here and it’s wonderful to win a race,” he said. “I went a little bit early and it was a tight finish but on this ground he was perfect.”

One race destined for the locals was the official feature, the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes (Presented by Longines), in which all eight runners were trained in Dubai. It was dominated by Doug Watson, whose Prince Eiji led home a one-two-three for the stable. Impressive in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile in December, the seven-year-old was behind two of these rivals when only fifth in the G2 Maktoum Challenge Round 1 last time but bounced back here.

Ridden by Sam Hitchcott, Prince Eiji was up with the pace throughout and was well placed to strike once leader Ever Given dropped back, winning by one and a quarter lengths from stablemates Everfast and Thegreatcollection.

“Fantastic result,” said Watson, winning this race for the second time. “I’m very happy for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid [Al Maktoum, owner] to see Prince Eiji come back like that. I thought Sam [Hitchcott] sat in the perfect position all the way around as you just don’t know how conditions like that are going to suit them.”

“He showed what he’s capable of there,” added Hitchcott. “It was a difficult decision for Pat [Dobbs] to ride Everfast but I learned a lot from riding this horse last time. He’s an athlete; he’s very natural when it comes to switching his leads, which is what you need on the dirt.”

On a night when water was on most people’s minds, Mawj was an appropriately named winner of the new Jumeirah Fillies’ Classic (Presented by Longines) over 1400metres on turf.

Mawj is Arabic for wave and Saeed Bin Suroor’s filly, a Group 2 winner in the UK, looked to have the race won easily when she and Pat Cosgrave kicked clear off the final turn. However, she only just held on by a rapidly diminishing short head from Dream Of Love, who flew home under William Buick.

“To be honest I got racing too far out and I wasn’t really going too well at the 600metres,” said winning jockey Pat Cosgrave. “She’s an Exceed And Excel and she doesn’t really want this ground. It was tight at the line but class got her through.”

Naval too Powerful in Classic 

A narrow second with both Dream Of Love and Man Of Promise, Charlie Appleby and Buick finally got on the scoresheet in race seven, the Listed Jumeirah Classic, over 1800metres on turf.

A dual Listed winner who was sixth in the G1 Dewhurst when last seen, Naval Power was arguably one of the most exciting horses on the card and he unleashed a potent turn of foot to beat stablemates One Nation and Highbank with plenty in hand.

Appleby indicated before the race that a UK Classic trial could be next for the Teofilo colt, who has only been beaten once in six starts, while Buick was happy with a job well done.

“That was lovely in a competitive race, as the second and third set a good standard,” said the jockey. “He’ll be a better horse on better ground.”

There was another good battle in the Longines Legend Diver Collection Handicap, over 1900metres, which went to Franz Strauss on his first run on the dirt.

An AED280,000 purchase at September’s Racing In Dubai Sale, the son of Golden Horn squeezed through a gap at the 300metre point and then showed plenty of tenacity to hold off Withering, who closed with intent from the back of the field under Adrie De Vries.

It was a 21^st winner of the season for trainer Bhupat Seemar, who is now eying a Dubai World Cup trial for the four-year-old.

“He’s a wonderful horse who was bought by [UK-based trainer] Ian Williams for owner Greg Bryce,” said Seemar. “He’s a Golden Horn and no-one thought he would go on the dirt but he’d been working well and I’m glad he showed tonight what he shows in the mornings.

“We might go next to the Curlin Handicap, although it’s in two weeks’ time which is a bit quick.”

Seemar and O’Shea celebrated a double, also winning the closing Longines Record Collection Handicap, over 1400metres on dirt, with Western Symphony, who was collecting his second win of the season.

“He’s a solid horse and I rode him too quiet on the turf last time, when he probably should have won,” said O’Shea. “He travels lovely on the dirt and that [1400metres] is his trip.”

Wet conditions can mean exaggerated winning margins but Lahresh was still extremely dominant in the opening Festival City Stakes (Presented by Longines), for three-year-olds over 1900metres, under a confident Antonio Fresu.

Sitting just off the pace set by Mr Precocious, the Musabbeh Al Mheiri trainee broke his maiden here. Fresu kicked clear before the home turn and won unchallenged by four and a half lengths from Go Soldier Go, who ran on after struggling at the back of the field early on.

Meydan stages its fifth Carnival meeting next Friday, February 3^rd, when the G2 Singspiel Stakes and G2 Cape Verdi share top billing.