DUBAI (February 13, 2021) – Races at Meydan on Saturday were illuminated by a 1800m quality turf handball, the Longines Spirit Collection Stakes, which would certainly not have been out of place at the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival, looking ultra-competitive on paper , but in reality it proved a relatively simple assignment for Eastern World which knocked down its 15 competitors, mostly thatching.
One of three in the field of ability to represent Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, the 4-year-old Dubawi breed home was settled in second place by Royston Ffrench, content to allow David Egan to test the tempo on Deep Intrigue. When Egan started throwing out distress signals completely 600m out, Ffrench aimed at the judge and the pair never looked in danger after that.
This was the horse ‘s first local tour and he was doubling his career, having started seventh, having won a 1600m maiden in June last year at Newmarket. His main claim so far is that he is the half-brother of Thunder Snow, the only Dubai World Cup double winner for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor.
Ffrench said: “It is always special to win in those colors, especially at Meydan and a big thank you to Godolphin for the opportunity.
“He loved it a little early on, but I didn’t want to disappoint him and he got enough when he matured. He stayed well, but he has enough distance so he could come back. ”
Five of the 11 runners in the Longines Spirit Gathering, a 1600m dirt maiden for 3-year-old pillars and geldings, were debaters and this was one of them, Panadol, which proved far too good, at any rate gives the links a sore head. In front after about 25m below Mickael Barzalona, sporting silk Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Flatter’s mud exploded clear at the top of the straight line and was always going to win easily after that for Salem bin Ghadayer.
Bought by ties as a junior last June at Ocala for $ 180,000, it could be kind of smart as the Endifaa runner had already shown exceptional promise in his two starters.
Bin Ghadayer said: “From the time he arrived we thought he had enough potential and we always thought he was one of our best, in his age group, in the garden .
“His first hard work at home was great and he was always happy for us at home, but they have to do it along the way first. We gave him plenty of time before he started and we will now, perhaps, look at the Al Bastakiya and, hopefully, the UAE Derby. ”
Seventy minutes later connections marked a double after smooth success Monoski in the Longines Spirit Gathering Cup, a 1600m dirt hand tool. Located in about a fifth behind a frantic early gallop led by Royal Sands, Barzalona had only that competitor in front of leaving home. The French jockey soon caught his eye and swept past to win for sure, Royal Sands losing a second home near the Celtic Prince.
A 4-year-old gelded son at Street Boss, he was a career success for the winner, first in the UAE and on dirt, at the fourth attempt and since joining Bin Ghadayer from Mark Johnston. The saddened second sent him to his previous victory, at the second time he asked as a youngster, over 1200m at Pontefract in May 2019.
Barzalona said: “I had planned to race closer to the distance, but they left very quickly and my horse has done a great job, traveling well, looking back and accelerates nicely.
“That should give the horse enough confidence and hope he can build on that now he’s put his head in front again.”
Another for 3-year-olds, a 1400m turf maiden, the Longines Spirit Collection Turf, drew a field of 13 and was the only debater, Mayehaab, who came upon the scallops under a courageous voyage from Adrie de Vries. As a gelded son at New Approach, he found the early distance set by Ajmal, but he was always looking at that measure and going past going into the final 300m, lead opening not available. Yurman, finally turning home, traveled home for second place ahead of Hawa Bilady, another man who was as close to the finish as any other stage of the race.
Owned by Hasan Mefareh Alajmi in partnership with Fawzi Nass, who is also a trainer, it cost 72,000gns at Tattersalls last July and looks good.
De Vries said: “We were expecting a big run because it had worked well. It was supposed to run a fortnight ago, but it was a small problem so we waited for this.
“It could be a nice and versatile horse as it works well on dirt too so we have a few options. ”
The trainer and jockey later completed a double court Madkhal not extended to challenge the Longines Spirit Gathering Challenge, a 1200m dirt handgun, and the only difference is that this is Nass himself. Located in the middle of the nine runners by De Vries, who took the shortest route and grabbed the rail save ground all over, once pulled out to challenge the Dahawi leader, a gelded son responded 5- year Distorted Humor his complaints. They hit the front with around 225m left and were always in control despite Dahawi fighting on to a game for Antonio Fresu.
Nass’ s cost has now won an award, once in Britain for Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin and this doubled his Meydan foul amount after he previously scored in the 1400m handball in December.
De Vries said: “He has plenty of natural toes so we knew 1200m was not an issue and he won over the tour in England. He was against the kickback and, once I found a racing room, I was always going there. It was a great evening! ”
The final 1200m turf handball, the Longines Spirit Gathering Cup, drew a capacity range of 16, but as it emerged, 15 may have stayed at home as well due to Taneen it became clear just after halfway under Dane O’Neill that there was never a cause for concern after that.
After tracking the scorching speed set by Koditime, the pair raced to shore, once that competitor hoisted the white flag with perhaps 450m left, O ‘ Neill is clear and, with his partner firmly on the verge, the 8-year-old Speighstown gelding is always going to double his UAE size. Twice a British winner for Roger Varian, his most recent success and third career was over 1000m at Jebel Ali in March 2018, his fourth UAE appearance.
O’Neill, riding for his main employer, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum on board trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri, said: “The way the race fitted in was a perfect fit for him; we were in the right place, behind the distance and, once in front, he has just come home. ”
Dubai Racing Club press release and photo (credit: Erika Rasmussen / Dubai Racing Club)