Exciting Al Nefud Storms Back to his Best

He was good… he’s still good! That’s the word on Al Nefud who stormed back to his best in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile [Presented by Palm West Beach] at Meydan Racecourse.

Once a Dubai World Cup hopeful after chasing home Hot Rod Charlie in the 2022 G2 Maktoum Challenge Round 2, the Bhupat Seemar-trained five-year-old had been off the track since March of that year but could hardly have been more impressive here.

Up against a stellar field, including Group winners Golden Goal, Atletico El Culano and Secret Ambition, the Dubawi gelding was given a confident ride by Tadhg O’Shea, who kicked clear off the home turn and showed no signs of running out of steam. Al Nefud powered home by six and three-quarter lengths from Golden Goal. Secret Ambition, winner of this race in 2019, was third.

Al Nefud was running for the first time in the silks of Michael and Negar Burke, who purchased him at the recent Al Rashid Stable dispersal sale for AED800,000.

“I said to Michael [Burke] and the owners that he hadn’t run for 600 days, but I don’t think there’s anything his equal over the mile in this country,” said O’Shea.

“He is fragile, his form shows that, but he’s a high-class horse and I’m delighted for the Burke family – they weren’t afraid to put their hand in their pocket and pay for this fellow.

“You see a performance like that and you think it’s scary if he improves for it, but he has to.”

It was an excellent night for the 11-time Champion Jockey and his main boss Seemar, who collected a treble, instigated when Mendelssohn Bay won the Palm West Beach Maiden, for two-year-olds, over 1400metres.

Described as ‘quirky’ by trainer Bhupat Seemar, the gelded son of UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn closed hard in the straight to deny long-time leader Million D’Oro by a length.

“He’s the only Thoroughbred I know who can do a 360degree turn in full canter!” said O’Shea. “He’s far from straightforward, but he’s only a baby. He’s had a good experience there and he has plenty of talent. He’ll be a lovely horse going two turns.”

The Zabeel Stables treble was completed in the concluding Dubai Island Conditions race, for three-year-olds over 1600metres.

Southern Artist was an eye-catching debut winner at Jebel Ali in March, before struggling when upped to Listed grade next time out. Given the summer off, Fitri Hay’s gelding made no mistake here, getting the better of Tiger Nation by half a length.

Costa and Coen Double Up

The Michael Costa bandwagon just keeps on chugging and his Lahfaty was an impressive debut winner of the Palm Jumeirah Maiden, for two-year-old fillies, over 1200metres.

A $210,000 Keeneland yearling purchase, the daughter of Mitole was fractious in the stalls and had to be rousted along to take the lead in the early stages by Ben Coen. Off the home turn, nothing could go with her, however, and she registered an emphatic three-length win over Fatinah.

“I didn’t necessarily want to lead but I was caught four deep down the back and I just wanted to get in,” said Coen. “She got into a nice rhythm but was quite green in front and if I’d have taken my foot off the gas she’d have had a look around.

“She’s hit the line strong, so they’ll be no problem stepping up in trip.”

Costa and Coen collected a double when Thawban won the 1200metre The View at The Palm handicap on just his third start. Race fit from a fourth at Jebel Ali, the three-year-old came from off the pace to collar leader Mr Kafoo inside the final furlong, winning comfortably.

“We went a good strong even gallop and I got there in a matter of strides; probably too soon,” said Coen after his fifth winner of the campaign. “But to be fair he kept on finding more.”

Barzalona Back With a Bang

Dubai World Cup-winning jockey Mickael Barzalona didn’t waste much time in getting off the mark for the season, giving a masterclass of a ride on Made In Dubai in the Palm Jebel Ali Handicap, over 1600metres.

Trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer, it was a first dirt win for the four-year-old, who weaved through his rivals late to beat Pitcher’s Point by two lengths.

“He doesn’t care about the kickback and loves coming between horses; that’s the key to him,” said Barzalona. “I didn’t want to get to the front too early but actually he was able to win it easily.”

Bin Ghadayer later completed a double, his Book Review taking a competitive edition of the Thunder Snow Handicap [Presented by Como Residences], over 1900metres. The six-year-old has always been dangerous from the front and jockey Royston Ffrench played to his strengths by dictating the pace, going further clear in the straight and beating Franz Strauss by six and three-quarter lengths.

The first Purebred Arabian Group race of the season, the G2 Bani Yas [presented by the Crown Palm], opened proceedings and went to Najm Al Wathba under jockey Bernardo Pinheiro for Majed Al Jahoori. It was a third career win for the four-year-old who reversed form with RB Money Maker from their clash at Al Ain, dominating the race and winning by two and a half lengths from Nadelshiba.

“My horse is really fast, as he showed last season, but over five furlongs [1000metres] he doesn’t have time to breathe and relax,” said Pinheiro.

“I got draw one today which means a lot for this horse and he managed to jump out from the gate and take the lead. Fortunately, at the end of the race he still had enough power.”

The third Dubai Racing Carnival meeting takes place on Friday, December 8^th and features the AED500,000 Listed Al Garhoud Sprint.

He was good… he’s still good! That’s the word on Al Nefud who stormed back to his best in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile [Presented by Palm West Beach] at Meydan Racecourse.

Once a Dubai World Cup hopeful after chasing home Hot Rod Charlie in the 2022 G2 Maktoum Challenge Round 2, the Bhupat Seemar-trained five-year-old had been off the track since March of that year but could hardly have been more impressive here.

Up against a stellar field, including Group winners Golden Goal, Atletico El Culano and Secret Ambition, the Dubawi gelding was given a confident ride by Tadhg O’Shea, who kicked clear off the home turn and showed no signs of running out of steam. Al Nefud powered home by six and three-quarter lengths from Golden Goal. Secret Ambition, winner of this race in 2019, was third.

Al Nefud was running for the first time in the silks of Michael and Negar Burke, who purchased him at the recent Al Rashid Stable dispersal sale for AED800,000.

“I said to Michael [Burke] and the owners that he hadn’t run for 600 days, but I don’t think there’s anything his equal over the mile in this country,” said O’Shea.

“He is fragile, his form shows that, but he’s a high-class horse and I’m delighted for the Burke family – they weren’t afraid to put their hand in their pocket and pay for this fellow.

“You see a performance like that and you think it’s scary if he improves for it, but he has to.”

It was an excellent night for the 11-time Champion Jockey and his main boss Seemar, who collected a treble, instigated when Mendelssohn Bay won the Palm West Beach Maiden, for two-year-olds, over 1400metres.

Described as ‘quirky’ by trainer Bhupat Seemar, the gelded son of UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn closed hard in the straight to deny long-time leader Million D’Oro by a length.

“He’s the only Thoroughbred I know who can do a 360degree turn in full canter!” said O’Shea. “He’s far from straightforward, but he’s only a baby. He’s had a good experience there and he has plenty of talent. He’ll be a lovely horse going two turns.”

The Zabeel Stables treble was completed in the concluding Dubai Island Conditions race, for three-year-olds over 1600metres.

Southern Artist was an eye-catching debut winner at Jebel Ali in March, before struggling when upped to Listed grade next time out. Given the summer off, Fitri Hay’s gelding made no mistake here, getting the better of Tiger Nation by half a length.

Costa and Coen Double Up

The Michael Costa bandwagon just keeps on chugging and his Lahfaty was an impressive debut winner of the Palm Jumeirah Maiden, for two-year-old fillies, over 1200metres.

A $210,000 Keeneland yearling purchase, the daughter of Mitole was fractious in the stalls and had to be rousted along to take the lead in the early stages by Ben Coen. Off the home turn, nothing could go with her, however, and she registered an emphatic three-length win over Fatinah.

“I didn’t necessarily want to lead but I was caught four deep down the back and I just wanted to get in,” said Coen. “She got into a nice rhythm but was quite green in front and if I’d have taken my foot off the gas she’d have had a look around.

“She’s hit the line strong, so they’ll be no problem stepping up in trip.”

Costa and Coen collected a double when Thawban won the 1200metre The View at The Palm handicap on just his third start. Race fit from a fourth at Jebel Ali, the three-year-old came from off the pace to collar leader Mr Kafoo inside the final furlong, winning comfortably.

“We went a good strong even gallop and I got there in a matter of strides; probably too soon,” said Coen after his fifth winner of the campaign. “But to be fair he kept on finding more.”

Barzalona Back With a Bang

Dubai World Cup-winning jockey Mickael Barzalona didn’t waste much time in getting off the mark for the season, giving a masterclass of a ride on Made In Dubai in the Palm Jebel Ali Handicap, over 1600metres.

Trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer, it was a first dirt win for the four-year-old, who weaved through his rivals late to beat Pitcher’s Point by two lengths.

“He doesn’t care about the kickback and loves coming between horses; that’s the key to him,” said Barzalona. “I didn’t want to get to the front too early but actually he was able to win it easily.”

Bin Ghadayer later completed a double, his Book Review taking a competitive edition of the Thunder Snow Handicap [Presented by Como Residences], over 1900metres. The six-year-old has always been dangerous from the front and jockey Royston Ffrench played to his strengths by dictating the pace, going further clear in the straight and beating Franz Strauss by six and three-quarter lengths.

The first Purebred Arabian Group race of the season, the G2 Bani Yas [presented by the Crown Palm], opened proceedings and went to Najm Al Wathba under jockey Bernardo Pinheiro for Majed Al Jahoori. It was a third career win for the four-year-old who reversed form with RB Money Maker from their clash at Al Ain, dominating the race and winning by two and a half lengths from Nadelshiba.

“My horse is really fast, as he showed last season, but over five furlongs [1000metres] he doesn’t have time to breathe and relax,” said Pinheiro.

“I got draw one today which means a lot for this horse and he managed to jump out from the gate and take the lead. Fortunately, at the end of the race he still had enough power.”

The third Dubai Racing Carnival meeting takes place on Friday, December 8^th and features the AED500,000 Listed Al Garhoud Sprint.