The Ahmed Bin Harmash trained Championship and jockey, Colm O’Donoghue claim the Group 2 $250,000 Al Fahidi Fort over 1400m of Meydan Racecourse’s turf on Thursday January 19, 2017.
Credit: Dubai Racing Club//Andrew Watkins
Championship Claims Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort – Korea Lands First Carnival Winner
The locally-trained Championship emerged much the best from the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City – District One at Meydan’s third Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting on Thursday.
Trained by Ahmed Bin Harmash and ridden by jockey, Colm O’Donoghue Championship was a classy winner of the $250,000 1400m race, the first major turf contest of the season.
Winner of the 1600m Listed National Day Cup at Abu Dhabi on his penultimate outing, Championship and O’Donoghue were basically never headed and gained ample compensation for their heartbreaking defeat on their previous outing when caught in the dying strides by Light The Lights in the 1800m Listed Singspiel Stakes two weeks ago. Championship was chased home by Godolphin’s Flash Fire and the Mike de Kock duo of Noah From Goa, on his local debut and Anaerobio, winner of this race in 2014.
“Ahmad and his team deserve all the credit,” said O’Donoghue after the race. “Championship had a tough race two weeks ago but they have freshened him up and he was in great form tonight.
“I was always happy out in front and he was striding along nicely so I asked him to quicken just after halfway and he found plenty. He just kept responding throughout the straight and that was a good performance in a quality race.
“I’m not sure where he will go next; that is up to Ahmad, he is the boss, but it is a great result for a brilliant team to work for.”
As impressive as Championship was, the night belonged to Korea which became the 21st country to win a race in the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Trainer Young-Kwan Kim saddled his country’s first Carnival winner when Main Stay under Irish rider, Pat Cosgrave dominated in the 1200m District One dirt Handicap.
Actually a little slow to start, Cosgrave rushed his mount to the front and, after 100m, they gained a narrow initiative.
The Taj and Spirit Quartz were in his slipstream throughout the vast majority of the race but had no answer when Main Stay quickened halfway up the straight.
Both weakened and, with nobody emerging from the pack, crossed the line almost three lengths clear.
“To be honest I really thought he was a 1400m horse and might find this a bit sharp,” said Cosgrave. “However, he was soon into his stride and able to get to the front so, knowing he was going to stay the trip well, I was keen to be positive.
“He has dirt form in Korea and an American pedigree so we had to be hopeful the surface would suit and it is obviously great to get a winner after hitting the post earlier on.”
Cosgrave was referring to having finished second earlier in a 2000m handicap aboard Triple Nine, like this winner, trained by Young-Kwan Kim whose Seoul Bullet was also fourth in the race won by Main Stay.
The main support race was the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Sponsored By District One Villas, held over 1400m on dirt and won in style by Godolphin’s Really Special.
Unbeaten after two starts in England, including a Listed race success at Newmarket on her second outing, she has now won on turf, the all-weather and dirt for her trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, who was saddling his 198th Carnival winner.
Ridden on this occasion by Christophe Soumillon, she stalked the early pace set by Richard Mullen aboard the Richard Fahey-trained Rajar and, entering the straight had the race between themselves and the Doug Watson-trained Complimenti.
However, once Soumillon asked his mount to win her race she responded in style, shooting between her two rivals 200m out and they soon had matters under control.
“She is a nice filly but still learning as she was very green going to post and then at the stalls,” said Soumillon. “I wanted to keep her out of any kickback which I was able to do and then, when I asked her, she changed legs and quickened nicely.
“She handles the dirt but will certainly be as good back on turf and will stay further.”
That was the first of two victories for Godolphin on the night with Charlie Appleby saddling a winner in the closing District One Mansions, a 2000m handicap on the turf. It was claimed by Artigiano, who was finding his way back into the Winner’s Enclosure for the first time since breaking his maiden at Leicester in May 2012.
English-based trainers monopolised the Meydan Sobha Trophy, a 1000m turf handicap, supplying not just the winner, the Jeremy Gask-trained Medicean Man, but also the next three home with Sir Maximilian and Harry Hurricane dead heating for second and Line of Reason claiming fourth.
Medicean Man was given a confident ride by apprentice David Parkes, going from virtually last at halfway to lead about 200m from home before running on strongly to score his fourth Carnival victory in striking fashion.
“He is a grand old horse who loves it here in Dubai,” said Parkes. “He is an absolute pleasure to ride as he just travels so strongly and has a great turn of foot as he showed there.
“In fact, he quickened so well we actually hit the front sooner than planned but he kept on going.
“He is eleven now but retains his speed and enthusiasm so it would be nice to think he could win another while he is here.”
The opener, the District One Trophy, a 1600m dirt handicap, was won easily by the Doug Watson-trained Nathr with Jim Crowley sporting the famous blue and white silks of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Well away, Crowley was content to settle him just behind the early speed but always looked to be travelling well and, leaving the home turn, sent his mount to the front.
They soon puts distance between themselves and their toiling rivals, crossing the line four lengths clear of Muhtaram.
“We did not have a particularly good draw but he broke very well which was crucial,” said Crowley. “We were always travelling strongly and, once able to give him a bit of a breather on the turn, I was keen to set sail for home.
“He responded very well and ran on very strongly over what is probably his optimum trip.
“He will have to step up in class now I guess, but on this evidence he can be competitive upped in grade.”
Mickael Barzalona was seen at his very best aboard the Salem bin Ghadayer-trained Hunting Ground who was never headed in the Meydan Sobha, a 2000m dirt handicap.
Second on his previous outing, when slowly away, he made no such mistake this time and shot out of the stalls to lead from the outset.
Committed for home leaving the final turn, he never looked likely to be caught although Korean challenger, Triple Nine did run on in the final stages to claim a closing second.
“He ran very well last time but somewhat missed the break,” said Barzalona. “Therefore I was conscious we needed a good break and he was very quickly away. He enjoyed himself out in front and, knowing he stays further, I was happy to commit for home early and he has galloped on well.
“He deserved to get his head in front and it is a good result for the whole team.”
Main Stay enters the history books as the first Korean winner of a Dubai World Cup Carnival race after claiming the 1200m $125,000 District One Handicap
Credit: Dubai Racing Club//Andrew Watkins
Flash Fire out to continue hot streak in Al Fahidi Fort
Flash Fire bids to build on a perfect start to 2017 when tackling the seven-furlong G2 Al Fahidi Fort (20.50hrs local time) on turf at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, January 19, the third Dubai World Cup Carnival racenight.
The five-year-old son of Shamardal made an impressive seasonal return for trainer Charlie Appleby in a handicap over the same course and distance on January 5, which saw the opening Carnival card, when he powered clear of his 15 rivals to score by two and a half lengths.
He also ran several excellent races in some of the UK’s top seven-furlong heritage handicaps last year, including winning the Victoria Cup at Ascot and finishing a close fifth in the Bunbury Cup on Newmarket’s July Course.
Flash Fire, the mount again of William Buick and drawn seven of the eight runners, takes on South African G1 winner Noah From Goa and Listed Singspiel Stakes runner-up Championship.
Charlie Appleby commented: “I was very impressed with Flash Fire last time out, when he quickened up well.
“He has gone up 5lb for that win and we felt that he deserved to take his chance at Group level.
“He was gelded before his last run and he seems to be moving a lot better. He was a lethargic worker beforehand but seems to be enjoying life more now and looks more of an athlete.
“Seven furlongs is his ideal trip and this hopefully gives us a nice opportunity to win a G2 race with him.”
Three Godolphin fillies try to embellish their Classic credentials in the seven-furlong UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (19.05hrs) on dirt including a daughter of Dubawi, Calare (Charlie Appleby/William Buick, drawn 11), who was a comfortable winner of a Listed race at the Curragh, Ireland, on her latest start in October.
Unbeaten Shamardal filly Really Special (Saeed bin Suroor/Christophe Soumillon, drawn 3) also scored at Listed level on her most recent appearances with an impressive display at Newmarket in late October, while Polytrack maiden winner Voice Of Truth (Saeed bin Suroor/Colm O’Donoghue, drawn 14), another Dubawi filly, also run in the 16-strong field.
Six-year-old Fog Of War (Saeed bin Suroor/Christophe Soumillon), who was beaten a short-head in a valuable handicap at the Curragh in September, 2015, makes his first appearance since then and dirt debut in the Meydan Sobha Handicap (20.15hrs, 10f, 11 runners).
There are three Godolphin runners in the closing District One Mansions Handicap (22.00hrs, 14 runners) over 10 furlongs on turf include Artigiano (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), who is running at the Dubai World Cup Carnival for a fourth consecutive year.
The seven-year-old is joined by Carnival debutants Folkswood (Charlie Appleby/Colm O’Donoghue) and Huge Future (Saeed bin Suroor/Adrie De Vries).
fonte : Godolphin
Meydan (UAE)19 Jan 2017
UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Sponsored By District One Villas (Conditions) (Fillies) (Dirt)
(3yo) 7f Fast
| POS. | HORSE SP | JOCKEYTRAINER | AGE | WGT | OR | TS | RPR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (3) |
Really Special5/6F
|
Christophe SoumillonSaeed bin Suroor | 3 | 8-11 | 96 | – | 100 | ||
| Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on well (op Evens) | |||||||||
| 2 (13) | 3¼ |
Complimenti(USA)8/1
|
Pat DobbsDoug Watson | 3 | 8-11 | – | – | 90 | |
| Tracked leading pair, every chance 1 1/2f out, not quicken final 110yds | |||||||||
| 3 (4) | 1¾5 |
Rajar20/1
|
Richard MullenRichard Fahey | 3 | 8-11 | 89 | – | 85 | |
| Soon led, ran on well but headed 1f out | |||||||||
| 4 (8) | 16 |
Sasha Waltz(IRE)40/1
|
Fernando JaraFredrik Reuterskiold | 3 | 8-11 | 80 | – | 83 | |
| Mid-division, ran on final 2f, never near to challenge (op 33/1) | |||||||||
| 5 (11) | ½6½ |
Calare(IRE)3/1
|
William BuickCharlie Appleby | 3 | 8-11 | 102 | – | 81 | |
| Tracked leading pair, every chance 3f out, one pace final 2f | |||||||||
| 6 (12) | 7¼13¾ |
Mabrouka33/1
|
Sam HitchcottDoug Watson | 3 | 8-11 | 79 | – | 62 | |
| Always mid-division | |||||||||
| 7 (7) | 1¼15 |
Nomorerichblondes(USA)33/1
|
Antonio FresuA bin Harmash | 3 | 8-11 t | 84 | – | 58 | |
| Never better than mid-division | |||||||||
| 8 (1) | 1¾16¾ |
Island Vision(IRE)10/1
|
Jamie SpencerDavid Simcock | 3 | 8-11 | 90 | – | 54 | |
| Slowly into stride, never near to challenge (op 11/1) | |||||||||
| 9 (5) | ¾17½ |
Midnight Chica(USA)66/1
|
Chris HayesD Selvaratnam | 3 | 8-11 t | 83 | – | 52 | |
| Never better than mid-division | |||||||||
| 10 (14) | ¾18¼ |
Voice Of Truth(IRE)14/1
|
Colm O’DonoghueSaeed bin Suroor | 3 | 8-11 | 84 | – | 50 | |
| Tracked leaders until weakened final 3f | |||||||||
| 11 (6) | 3½21¾ |
French Pass100/1
|
Jacob ButterfieldE Jeanne | 3 | 8-11 | – | – | 40 | |
| Slowly into stride, always in rear | |||||||||
| 12 (10) | 4¾26½ |
Spanish Moon(RUS)25/1
|
Dane O’NeillDoug Watson | 3 | 8-11 b | 85 | – | 27 | |
| Slowly away, never near to challenge | |||||||||
| 13 (2) | ¾27¼ |
Don’t Lie Kitten(USA)28/1
|
Jim CrowleyA bin Harmash | 3 | 8-11 | 80 | – | 25 | |
| Always in rear (op 40/1) | |||||||||
| 14 (9) | 2754¼ |
Decruz(IRE)200/1
|
B ReisR Bouresly | 3 | 8-11 | – | – | – | |
| Always in rear | |||||||||
- 14 ran Winning time: 1m 25.89s (slow by 1.89s) Total SP: 130%
- Non-runners: Nalout (non-runner), Xara’s Rule (non-runner)
- 1st owner: Godolphin (Really Special) 1st breeder: Darley
- 2nd owner: Kildare Stud – Frankie O’Connor (Complimenti)
- 3rd owner: Nick Bradley Racing 26 (Rajar)
- CSF: 8.85
Meydan (UAE)19 Jan 2017
Al Fahidi Fort Sponsored By Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – District One (Group 2) (Turf)
(3yo+) 7f Good
| POS. | HORSE SP | JOCKEYTRAINER | AGE | WGT | OR | TS | RPR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) |
Championship(IRE)5/2
|
Colm O’DonoghueA bin Harmash | 6 | 9-0 t | 110 | – | 114 | ||
| Soon led, ridden clear 3f out, ran on well (op 3/1 tchd 100/30) | |||||||||
| 2 (7) | 3½ |
Flash Fire(IRE)5/4F
|
William BuickCharlie Appleby | 5 | 9-0 | 112 | – | 105 | |
| Tracked leading pair, ridden 3f out, ran on final 1 1/2f but no chance with winner | |||||||||
| 3 (5) | ¾4¼ |
Noah From Goa(SAF)5/1
|
Christophe SoumillonM F De Kock | 4 | 9-0 | 114 | – | 103 | |
| Mid-division, never able to challenge but ran on final 2f (op 9/2) | |||||||||
| 4 (2) | 2½6¾ |
Anaerobio(ARG)12/1
|
Pat CosgraveM F De Kock | 9 | 9-0 t | 109 | – | 96 | |
| Tracked leading pair, every chance 3f out, one pace final 1 1/2f | |||||||||
| 5 (6) | 410¾ |
Dark Emerald(IRE)18/1
|
Richard MullenBrendan Powell | 7 | 9-0 tv | 108 | – | 85 | |
| Slowly into stride, never better than mid-division (op 14/1) | |||||||||
| 6 (4) | 1¾12½ |
Dragon Mall(USA)7/1
|
Jamie SpencerDavid Simcock | 4 | 9-0 | 104 | – | 80 | |
| Slowly into stride, never near to challenge (op 13/2 tchd 6/1) | |||||||||
| 7 (8) | 1830½ |
Graystorm(TUR)40/1
|
Ahmet CelikMehmet Cucel | 4 | 9-0 | 104 | – | 32 | |
| Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, soon beaten | |||||||||
| 8 (3) | hd30¾ |
Nabbaash100/1
|
B ReisR Bouresly | 6 | 9-0 | 100 | – | 31 | |
| Slowly into stride, always in rear | |||||||||
- 8 ran Winning time: 1m 22.82s (fast by 0.38s) Total SP: 119%
- 1st owner: Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed al Maktoum (Championship) 1st breeder: Ms Natalie Cleary
- 2nd owner: Godolphin (Flash Fire)
- 3rd owner: Sh Mohd Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, McVeigh Et Al (Noah From Goa)
- CSF: 6.25
fonte : RacingPost
Meydan: #Championship vince l’Al Fahidi Fort G2. Main Stay prima per la Corea in Dubai. Brex Drago terzo in handicap
