Mountain Hunter brings up fourth Godolphin success
A last-race1-2-3 ensured a fourth winner of the night for Godolphin and a great end to week seven of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 14 February.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Mountain Hunter, partnered by Christophe Soumillon, emerged victorious in the 12-furlong handicap on turf. The five-year-old son of Lonhro, stepping up in distance, raced prominently on the inside in the early stages as Astronomer took the 14-strong field along.
With five furlongs remaining, Stage Magic (Charlie Appleby/Colm O’Donoghue) moved to the front and went clear turning into the straight, Mountain Hunter, travelling well, improved from fourth to second entering the straight and he came through to lead with over a furlong and a half to go. He ran on well to triumph by a length and a half from stable companion Red Galileo (Saeed bin Suroor/Rowan Scott), who stayed on strongly after a troubled passage in the straight to snatch second from Walton Street (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), a nose further back in third. The winning time came to 2m 29.32s on good ground.
Saeed bin Suroor said: “We thought that a mile and a half would suit Mountain Hunter and he travelled really well through the race.
“Christophe Soumillon knows the horse and controlled the race well. Mountain Hunter finished strongly and really tried at the end – four horses came to pass him, but he fought them off.
“I think he could run over a little further than a mile and a half in the future and we will keep the options open, but he enjoyed racing over this trip tonight.
“Red Galileo is an eight-year-old now, but he is still trying hard. We will keep him racing and he could step back up to two miles, which is a better distance for him.”
Christophe Soumillon added: “I was really comfortable behind the lead.
“Mountain Hunter jumped out very quickly and I was happy in the front for a short period but, when I saw the horse on my outside take the lead, I was going really well behind him.
“I was really happy when I saw the pace getting even stronger down the back straight. My horse was a bit keen at some points, but he looked to enjoy it when he came between horses in the last turn.
“He didn’t stop when I asked him to go, taking the lead quite easily, and his effort was great right until the end.
“I know that Saeed can get his horses really fit and it looked like Mountain Hunter would get a mile and a half on his pedigree.
“He is a nice, big horse with a great action and I like to ride horses with a bit of speed here, to get into a good position, and that is exactly what happened.
“He looked in great shape tonight and I think there are more options if we try to go further than a mile and a half.
“We will see how he comes out of this run, but he didn’t get tired in the final furlong tonight and could maybe handle further if the pace is less strong.”
Sparkling G2 Balanchine performance by Poetic Charm
Poetic Charm confirmed her dominance of the filly and mare division at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival with another decisive success in the nine-furlong G2 Balanchine on turf at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 14 February.
The four-year-old Dubawi filly, an easy winner of the mile G2 Cape Verdi at the same course on Thursday, 17 January, was tucked in by William Buick to race slightly keenly in second last of the six runners towards the outside. She still had four rivals in front of her at the top of the straight, but ran on strongly down the outside of the field to go to the front with well over a furlong remaining.
Poetic Charm soon opened up a significant advantage and was eased down to come home two and three quarter lengths ahead of Mia Tesoro in 1m 49.60s on good going, with another three-quarters of a length back to Peri Lina in third.
Godolphin’s other runner Asoof (Saeed bin Suroor/Christophe Soumillon) led or disputed the running on the inside rail and kicked for home entering the straight. He was one paced after being headed by Poetic Charm, finishing fourth.
Poetic Charm completed a treble on the night for trainer Charlie and William Buick at seventh fixture of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival.
Charlie Appleby explained: “Poetic Charm came out of the Cape Verdi in great order and the only obstacles we had tonight were the penalty for that win and the step up in trip.
“James Doyle got off her after the Cape Verdi and he couldn’t see why this trip would be an inconvenience, while we were only re-opposing the horses that we had beaten quite comfortably that night.
“It was a very pleasing performance and hopefully we can try to find a G1 race for her somewhere down the line.
“We have some colts for the G1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday (9 March) and I always like to see the fillies run against their own sex. She is definitely on an upward curve, but we have some colts out here that could be quite exciting.
“We might look out to America and there is a nice race at Santa Anita, the G1 Gamely Stakes (9f, Monday, 27 May), which we have our eye on.
“We will get her back – I am far from saying she won’t run in the Jebel Hatta, but the ultimate aim is that we were going to look at America.
“It’s a nice discussion to have with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed when we start to assemble teams for Super Saturday and Dubai World Cup Night (30 March).”
William Buick commented: “It was a trappy, little field and the worst thing you can do in those races is not give the opposition respect.
“We knew that we had to get everything right at our end and then she could produce what she did there, which was lovely.
“She is relaxing so nicely and the extra furlong wasn’t a problem. She has opened up a few more opportunities for herself.
“Poetic Charm proved last time that she is filly who really fills herself up through the race and has a great finishing kick.
“With a combination of being drawn six of six and the extra furlong, it was important to get the first furlong right and take it from there.
“A mile or nine furlongs come alike to her. She has won G2 races now and we will be looking for the elusive G1 now.”
fonte : Godolphin
