Meydan: Giovedì 4 Febbraio c’è il secondo Round del Maktoum Challenge, scende in pista il grigio #Frosted
Dubai World Cup Hopefuls in Action at Meydan Racecourse Thursday
Dubai World Cup Hopefuls in Action at Meydan Racecourse Thursday
Frosted and Mubtaahij Make First Appearances of 2016
Two of the main contenders for the 2016 Dubai World Cup will be in action at Meydan Racecourse tomorrow (Thursday) for the best Dubai World Cup Carnival action of the year so far.
The fifth meeting of the flagship Meydan Racecourse season is sponsored by Emirates Global Aluminum and features the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2, the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes and the Group 2 Cape Verdi for fillies and mares.
The official feature, worth US$250,000, is the middle round of the Al Maktoum Challenge series and has attracted a quality field of nine, including Godolphin’s Frosted.
Trained in the USA by Kiaran McLaughlin, Frosted has spent most of his career in the highest of company. Winner of last year’s Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct in April, he then ran in two legs of the American Triple Crown.
Fourth in the Kentucky Derby, he was then second in the Belmont Stakes, with both races won by the legendary American Pharoah.
Frosted ran nine times last year, registering a second victory of 2015 in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby before finishing the year in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
It was then announced he would be aimed at the Dubai World Cup and, under the care of McLaughlin, has been based at Charlie Appleby’s Al Marmoon Stables in Dubai.
McLaughlin, a former multiple UAE Champion Trainer, knows what it takes to win a Dubai World Cup, having done so for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum with Invasor in 2007.
“Frosted has settled in really well and is training great,” said McLaughlin. “He has been off the track for a while but looks fit and ready to go. We think he is ready for a big effort in what could be the first of three Meydan outings.
“We will seriously consider Super Saturday and the concluding round of the Maktoum Challenge but wait and see how he gets on Thursday and how he comes out of the race.”
Godolphin rider, William Buick takes the ride.
Former assistant to McLaughlin and now a well-established UAE-based trainer in his own right, Doug Watson saddles both Layl and Faulkner. His pair were a close second and fourth respectively in the 1600m first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge at the opening meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on January 7, 2016.
“Both are in really good form,” said Watson. “Frosted is a serious horse obviously but our two should run well.”
Paul Hanagan rides Munaaser, winner of his only UAE start, a 2000m dirt handicap at Meydan. “We were pretty hopeful that day,” said the rider. “Obviously this is a better race but he is in great nick and should be competitive.”
Third in the opening round of the Al Maktoum Challenge, was the Mike de Kock-trained Prayer For Relief who looks certain to appreciate this extra 300m and appears a big danger to all.
The Al Maktoum Challenge has produced a Dubai World Cup winner, in 2003 victor, Moon Ballad, while, in the last two years, both African Story and Prince Bishop were second in this race before winning the world’s richest horse race.
De Kock also unveils his main Dubai World Cup hope, Mubtaahij, in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes, over 1600m on the dirt.
Last year’s UAE Derby winner, he was subsequently campaigned in the USA, finishing behind Frosted in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
Freshened up in England, before returning to the UAE, he certainly appears a genuine Dubai World Cup contender, given his affinity for the Meydan dirt surface.
“He has been working nicely and this was always the plan for his comeback,” said De Kock. “He has thrived for his break and we are really looking forward to getting him back on the track.
“Hopefully, he is our Dubai World Cup horse this year.”
Mubtaahij faces stiff opposition though, including Al Maktoum Challenge R1 winner, Le Bernardin, as well as the McLaughlin-trained duo Confrontation and Watershed.
However, the main danger could be the Watson-trained One Man Band, winner of his three most recent starts this season, including twice over this course and distance.
The Cape Verdi sees a small, select field of fillies and mares line up and among them is the Niels Petersen-trained Icecapada, bidding for a third consecutive win after arriving in Dubai on the back of two Listed victories in Sweden.
Opposing her is Si Luna, trained by William Mongil, who renews her partnership with Christophe Soumillon after two victories in France, including the Group 3 Prix de Flore in November last year. Soumillon is bidding for a fourth Cape Verdi victory.
Frosted, pictured at Godolphin’s Al Marmoom Stables, will have his first start of 2016 in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2.
Credit: www.godolphin.com
Frosted Returns In Round Two
Time/Date – 20.45hrs local time/Thursday, February 4, 2016
Racecourse/Country – Meydan/UAE
Surface/Distance – Dirt/1m 1f 110y
Frosted bids to lay down a strong marker for the Dubai World Cup on his seasonal return in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 Sponsored By EGA over nine and a half furlongs on dirt at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, February 4.
The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained colt was one of North America’s top three-year-olds last season following a superb campaign that included a fine second to the world’s best racehorse, American Pharoah, in the 12-furlong G1 Belmont Stakes Presented by Draftkings on dirt at Belmont Park in June.
He also finished behind American Pharoah when fourth in the 10-furlong G1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands at Churchill Downs in May and in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic over the same trip at Keeneland at the end of October, in which Frosted faded to seventh behind the American Triple Crown winner on his most recent start.
Frosted gained two major victories over nine furlongs last year, readily winning the G1 Twinspires.com Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct in April and comfortably taking the G2 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx in September.
William Buick partners the grey son of Tapit for the first time.
Kiaran McLaughlin commented: “Frosted is training well and loves it out in Dubai. He hasn’t run for a while but is ready to go.
“Obviously, there are a few changes compared to what he has been used to, such as the racetrack and a different jockey on board, but we feel that he is the one to beat.
“William Buick is an excellent horseman, who understands the game very well, and we have discussed Frosted‘s style of running, so everything should go well.
“I think that Frosted is ready for a big performance. He is the type of horse who, the more you do with him, the better he is.
“We are even thinking about running him in Round Three of the Maktoum Challenge (March 5) ahead of the Dubai World Cup (March 26).
“We will see how he comes out of this race first and go from there.”
Frosted, drawn five, meets eight opponents in the Al Maktoum Challenge R2 Sponsored By EGA on Thursday.
fonte : Godolphin
Meydan (UAE)THU 4 FEB 2016
| 3:35 |
EGA BILLET TROPHY (HANDICAP) (TURF) (3yo+ 100-113) Winner £48,980 16 runners 5f GoodAR/RU Race Conditions: £81,633 For northern hemisphere 4yo+ & southern hemisphere 3yo+ Rated 100-113 Ertijaal’s Handicap Mark 113 Penalty value 1st £48,979.59 2nd £16,326.53 3rd £8,163.27 4th £4,081.63 5th £2,448.986th £1,632.65 |
14 
| 4:10 |
CAPE VERDI SPONSORED BY EGA (GROUP 2) (FILLIES & MARES) (TURF) (3yo+) Winner £81,633 7 runners 1m Good AR/RU Race Conditions: £136,054 For northern hemisphere 4yo+ & southern hemisphere 3yo+ fillies & mares Penalty value 1st £81,632.65 2nd £27,210.88 3rd £13,605.44 4th £6,802.72 5th £4,081.63 6th £2,721.09 |
| NO. FORM | HORSE | AGE | WGT | TRAINER RTF% | JOCKEY | OR | TS | RPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112140-7 |  |
Excilly | 4 | 9-4 | Tom Dascombe | Richard Kingscote | 102 | 85 | 112 |
| 21 Excellent Art (GB) — Afra Tsitsi (FR) (Belong To Me (USA)) | |||||||||
| 22422-6 |  |
Almashooqa | 3 | 8-11 | M F De Kock | Paul Hanagan | 104 | — | 94 |
| 21 Bernardini (USA) — Joy Of Flight (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS)) | |||||||||
| 3362769- |  |
Malka | 5 | 9-4 | Mme Pia Brandt | Mickael Barzalona | 102 | 59 | 111 |
| 39 Green Tune (USA) — Quadrupa (GER) (Big Shuffle (USA)) | |||||||||
| 4451211- |  |
Icecapada | 4 | 9-4 | Niels Petersen | William Buick | 102 | — | 105 |
 109 Mastercraftsman (IRE) — Bounce (FR) (Trempolino (USA)) |
|||||||||
| 5522311- |  |
Si Luna | 7 | 9-4 | W Mongil | Christophe Soumillon | 108 | 79 | 117 |
| 95 Kallisto (GER) — Signorita (GER) (Generous (IRE)) |
|||||||||
| 662472-1 |  |
More Aspen | 5 | 9-4 | S Seemar | Richard Mullen | 104 | 60 | 113 |
 21 More Than Ready (USA) — Jade Aspen (USA) (Jade Hunter (USA)) |
|||||||||
| 773/122- |  |
Very Special h | 4 | 9-4 | Saeed bin Suroor | James Doyle | 104 | 73 | 113 |
| 78 Lope De Vega (IRE) — Danielli (IRE) (Danehill (USA)) |
|||||||||
| 4:45 |
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R2 SPONSORED BY EGA (GROUP 2) (DIRT) (3yo+) Winner £102,041 9 runners 1m1f110y Fast AR/RU Race Conditions: £170,068 For northern hemisphere 4yo+ & southern hemisphere 3yo+ Penalty value 1st£102,040.82 2nd £34,013.61 3rd £17,006.80 4th £8,503.40 5th £5,102.04 6th £3,401.36 |
| 5:20 |
EGA POTLINES TROPHY (HANDICAP) (TURF) (3yo+ 95-113) Winner £61,224 14 runners1m6f11y Good AR/RU Race Conditions: £102,041 For northern hemisphere 4yo+ & southern hemisphere 3yo+ Rated 95+ Star Empire’s Handicap Mark 113 Penalty value 1st £61,224.49 2nd £20,408.16 3rd £10,204.08 4th £5,102.045th £3,061.22 6th £2,040.82 |
| 5:55 |
FIREBREAK STAKES SPONSORED BY EGA (GROUP 3) (DIRT) (3yo+) Winner £81,633 7 runners1m Fast AR/RU Race Conditions: £136,054 For northern hemisphere 4yo+ & southern hemisphere 3yo+ Penalty value 1st£81,632.65 2nd £27,210.88 3rd £13,605.44 4th £6,802.72 5th £4,081.63 6th £2,721.09 |
| NO. FORM | HORSE | AGE | WGT | TRAINER RTF% | JOCKEY | OR | TS | RPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1124222- | |
Confrontation | 6 | 9-0 | Kiaran McLaughlin | William Buick | 107 | — | 119 |
| 230 War Pass (USA) — Successfully Sweet (USA) (Successful Appeal (USA)) | |||||||||
| 223/97-0 |  |
Long River v | 6 | 9-0 | S bin Ghadayer | Royston Ffrench | 104 | 72 | 82 |
| 28 A.P. Indy (USA) — Round Pond (USA) (Awesome Again (CAN)) |
|||||||||
| 331415- |  |
Watershed | 4 | 9-0 | Kiaran McLaughlin | James Doyle | 102 | — | 115 |
| 40 Bernardini (USA) — Thousand Islands (GB) (Dubai Millennium (GB)) | |||||||||
| 4421184- |  |
Mubtaahij | 4 | 9-0 | M F De Kock | Christophe Soumillon | 119 | 107 | 132 |
 243 Dubawi (IRE) — Pennegale (IRE) (Pennekamp (USA)) |
|||||||||
| 553461-1 |  |
Le Bernardin t | 7 | 9-3 | A Al Raihe | Tadhg O’Shea | 113 | 111 | 126 |
| 28 Bernardini (USA) — La Rosa (USA) (Wild Again (USA)) |
|||||||||
| 664911-1 |  |
One Man Band | 5 | 9-0 | Doug Watson | Pat Dobbs | 110 | 111 | 126 |
| 28 Pivotal (GB) — Musicanna (GB) (Cape Cross (IRE)) |
|||||||||
| 7704/5-6 |  |
Indianapolis tv | 5 | 9-0 | S Seemar | Richard Mullen | 102 | 74 | 97 |
| 21 Medaglia d´Oro (USA) — Pretty N Smart (USA) (Beau Genius (CAN)) | |||||||||
| 6:30 |
EGA CASTHOUSE TROPHY (HANDICAP) (TURF) (3yo+ 100-111) Winner £71,429 14 runners 1m2fGood AR/RU Race Conditions: £119,048 For northern hemisphere 4yo+ & southern hemisphere 3yo+ Rated 100+Sanshaawes’s Handicap Mark 111 Penalty value 1st £71,428.57 2nd £23,809.52 3rd £11,904.76 4th£5,952.38 5th £3,571.43 6th £2,380.95 |
fonte : RacingPost
