Moonlight stars again

With The Moonlight became the eighth filly to complete the G2 Cape Verdi-Balanchine double with a stylish win in Friday’s Carnival feature at Meydan Racecourse.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Frankel filly and William Buick sat just off the heels of leader Lyrical Poetry and was asked for an effort at the 500metre marker. It took her a few strides to overhaul the Irish challenger but in the end it was an easy four and a half-length victory – her trainer’s fifth in a row in this 1800metre turf contest.

“She came on for the Cape Verdi in every way and the nine furlongs [1800metres] suits her better than the mile,” said Buick of With The Moonlight, who is likely to be campaigned in America again this summer. “She’s really getting the hang of it now. She has a good bit of class and does everything the right way.”

Buick also rode the winner of the opening Al Karama Stakes, for three-year-olds over 1400metres on dirt. Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill was there to see his Ah Jeez prove a cut above the local colts.

Drawn in eight, the son of Mendelssohn was perhaps wider than ideal turning for home but had plenty left in the tank to hold off Sharp Army, who rallied but could never get on terms.

“It was very straightforward,” said Buick. “That’s his first start on dirt ever and I got a nice position just behind the leaders and out of the kickback. You just hoped that he would pick up on the surface as well as he did on turf.”

O’Neill added: “he ran just the way we hoped. He’d been training well but you never really know until they run a race. Being a son of Mendelssohn we thought he would be OK on the dirt and it couldn’t have worked out any better.”

Despite teaming up with the favourite One Nation, Appleby and Buick had to settle for second in the Jumeirah Derby, (Presented by Al Tayer Motors) which instead went to Sharar.

A half-brother to American turf star Lady Eli, Sharar beat older horses in handicap company to break his maiden last time out and had the same 1800metres of turf to cover here. Ridden by Adrie de Vries for trainer Fawzi Nass, he timed his run to perfection, getting up by a neck over One Nation, with Highbank third.

“It got a little bit tight and I had to wait for the gap for a long time,” said De Vries. “It didn’t really go to plan, but he would have been unlucky to lose as he travelled really well.

“He’s only half the size of some of these other horses, but he has a lot of quality. I’d be happy to put him away now as he needs to fill out and then he’ll be a proper horse next season.”

A European Classic contender was unveiled in the new Jumeirah Fillies’ Guineas, when Mawj led them a merry dance from the front, putting to bed any stamina doubts with her first victory over a mile.

Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor and ridden by Danny Tudhope, she took them along at a tepid pace but exploded in the straight for an unextended eight and a half-length victory over Fairy Cross.

The G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket is likely to be on the agenda for Mawj, who won a Group 2 in the UK last season.

“Obviously the trip was unknown,” said Tudhope. “I didn’t really want to make it, but there was no-one going on and she has plenty of speed. She pricked her ears and came back to me and felt very good. We know she stays a mile now.”

“As we know, she has plenty of speed,” added Bin Suroor. “She’s a nice filly and she has improved a lot. The boss [Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum] will decide where she goes next. She could go to the UAE Derby but it’s nine furlongs (1900metres) so more likely we will take her back to Newmarket or maybe the French Guineas.”

Colour Up hacks up in dirt sprint

A step up to pattern company is the plan for Colour Up, who ran out the effortless winner of the Defender 90 Handicap, over 1200metres on dirt.

Making just the sixth start of his career, the son of Mehmas travelled much the best under Pat Dobbs and cruised away off the final turn for a five and a half-length victory over Vasari.

The Listed Jebel Ali Sprint on March 11^th is an option for Sayed Hashish’s sprinter, who impressed his jockey.

“He relaxed a lot better tonight and when I gave him a squeeze halfway around the bend he lit up and quickened like a really good horse,” said Dobbs. “He doesn’t want to be running that often so the Jebel Ali Sprint could be the plan if he’s OK.”

Trainer Ali Al Badwawi saddled the second Carnival winner of his short career when Taamol landed the Defender 110 Handicap, over 1400metres on turf.

The Shadwell-owned nine-year-old has been running for longer than his trainer has held a license and notched the eighth win of his 45-race career here. Ridden by Dane O’Neill, he came from mid division and got the gap with 100metres left to travel, beating Meishar by a neck.

“He’s got a level of consistency this year which he’s lacked in recent years,” said O’Neill. “He started the campaign by winning and that seems to have rejuvenated him a bit. I got a lovely seam through which was a big help and before he knew it, he was through and across the line.”

In-form trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri saddled the first two home in the closing Defender 75^th Limited Edition Handicap, over a mile on dirt, when Street Mood beat On The Warpath.

The eventual winner, a trademark closer, benefitted from the scorching pace set by Bernardo Pinheiro on his stablemate, who did well to hold on for second, ahead of British raider United Front. It was the third win of the season for Street Mood, who has his quirks off the track but is reliable on it.

“He’s always been a decent horse but this year he kept on improving and he got really confident after his first win,” said winning jockey Antonio Fresu.

“I was confident tonight as last time he got stuck in traffic. We went a good pace which was good for me and when I was in the clear, he ran on really well. I’m pleased for the stable, they’re doing really well.”

Meydan’s next meeting is the second biggest of its year. Super Saturday, March 4^th, is an official day of prep races for the Dubai World Cup meeting, with the G1 Jebel Hatta and G1 Maktoum Challenge R3 the highlights.