Meydan Report, Thursday March 9. 2017

Thursday March 9, 2017, Meydan Racecourse: Satish Seemar was in treble form at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday, with his evening highlighted by the victory of Bochard in the featured IPIC Trophy over 1600m.

The IPIC-sponsored card, the final to be staged at Meydan before the Saturday March 25 Dubai World Cup, featured seven races on the dirt track.

Fifteen may have gone to post for the IPIC Trophy but Bochart was soon in front, tracked by Pat Dobbs aboard Active Spirit and they crossed the line in that order, both horses responding gallantly to their jockey’s urgings in a duel throughout the entire home straight.

“He needs to be ridden like that,” said Mullen. “I made all on him in a decent 1200m maiden at Jebel Ali at the start of the year and things have not gone his way since.
“The boss was adamant I should be positive on him today and he has been proven correct. With 200m to run I thought I was in trouble but this horse is all heart and fought valiantly to hold on.”

Earlier Mullen had been determined to get to the front in The CEPSA, an IPIC Group Company, a 1400m handicap, driving Secret Ambition to lead after 200m. 
They were never headed and, for the horse, it was a third UAE victory in his first local season, having been purchased at the ERA Horses in Training Sale.

“He was not the quickest away but soon found his stride,” said Mullen. “He actually won at the very first meeting of the season, at Jebel Ali in October, and has been on the go ever since.

“This was his eighth start of the campaign and he is a great advert for Satish and his team, as well as the ERA sales which have proved such a great initiative.”
Trainer and jockey celebrated the middle leg of their trio with the ultra-impressive victory of Raven’s Corner in the Borealis, an IPIC Group Company, and a 1200m handicap in which he proved far too good for his eight rivals. 

Now a winner twice from three starts locally, having won over 1400m here at Meydan on his second UAE start three weeks ago, he looks a smart prospect.

In front early on, Mullen was content to take a lead from Mutahaddith before committing for home early in the straight. They were soon in front and the race, as a contest, was over.
“He did not run until April last year and had six starts in England before joining us,” said Mullen. “He was a bit warm before the race so his busy schedule may be catching up with him but he can have a nice break now. You would like to think he is a genuine Dubai World Cup Carnival prospect for next year. He is versatile with plenty of natural speed but also stays well and can be handy or go from the front.”

South African Mike de Kock only had one runner on the card and it was a winner, Syncopation registering a smooth success in a 1400m maiden, the Aabar Properties, an IPIC Group Company.

Soon tracking the speed under Sam Hitchcott, he was driven to the lead over 400m out and was soon clear before running on strongly.

They crossed the line five lengths clear with Syncopation registering his first victory at the ninth attempt but only third locally and for De Kock. 

“Even from a poor draw I was able to get a nice lead and was always happy,” said Hitchcott. “This victory will probably just be a bonus because, with a summer on his back, he could develop into a nice little horse next season.

Adrie de Vries was expressing similar sentiments after winning the ADCOP, an IPIC Investment, a second maiden on the card but over 2000m aboard Al Taweel.
Trained by Bahraini Fawzi Nass, it was a case of third time lucky for the winner who appreciated the step up in trip having run over 1400m and then 1200m on his two previous outings. 

They crossed the line four lengths clear of Vivernus who has passed eventual third Tradesman early in the straight but had no answer to the winner who swept by 200m from home.

“He was a bit slowly away but was soon on the heels of the two leaders,” said De Vries. “The pace slowed then quickened early in the straight when he was a bit flat footed but soon picked up and stayed on strongly.

“He was still green and could be a nice horse next season as he can only improve.”

The longest race on the card was a 2200m handicap, the Nova, an IPIC Group Company, and Maria Ritchie saddled her first Thoroughbred winner when Enery and Fernando Jara collared long time leader, Darkening, halfway up the straight. 

The concluding IPIC Handicap over 1600m was won in workmanlike style by Street Act under Tadhg O’Shea for Ali Rashid Al Rayhi’s Grandstand Stable.
Tickets for the Dubai World Cup on Saturday March 25, 2017 are available from store.meydan.ae

Caption: Bochart captures the IPIC Trophy under Richard Mullen at Meydan Racecourse. Image: Andrew Watkins

The 2017 renewal of the Chengdu Dubai International Cup on Sunday April 2, 2017 is to feature the first International Jockeys’ Challenge, pitting five Chinese jockeys against five visiting internationals.

Now in its fourth year, the Chengdu Dubai International Cup represents a joint venture between Meydan Group, the Chengdu Municipal Government, the Chengdu Sports Bureau, the Wenjiang District Government and China Guangsha Group.

It takes place at the Jinma Lake Racecourse in the Wenjiang District of Chengdu and annually features horses, jockeys and trainers from Dubai Racing Club.

In a twist to the existing format two of the five races on the card will now be run as a jockeys’ challenge and in preparation for the challenge five Chinese jockeys are currently in training at Dubai Racing Club’s Millennium Stables and Green Stables under the watch of trainers Ismael Mohammed and Erwan Charpy. The jockeys also visited Meydan Racecourse on Super Saturday. 

Ma Liankai who leads the group of jockeys has achieved notable results internationally and locally. He was winner of the international race at the 2015 Hungarian National Gallop Equestrian Festival and more recently he was the runner-up in the 2016 Group 1 CHIA China Cup.

Liankai spoke about the experience of being in Dubai and watching world- class racing on Super Saturday.
“It is very impressive to be here. The day starts very early at 3 am, and the facilities are excellent. The trainers and jockeys here are very professional and there is so much for us to learn. 
“On Super Saturday we really liked the atmosphere, and the chance to see the ruler of Dubai from up close.  It is a rare opportunity to be able to witness competitions of such a high calibre. We are very honoured to have been given this opportunity.
“We are keen to showcase the best of our Chinese competitive spirit to the people of Dubai and the world, and we hope we can do that at the Chengdu Dubai International Cup.”

Caption: Five Chinese jockeys picked for the international jockey challenge at the Dubai Chengdu International Cup  attend the races at Meydan on Super Saturday 2017 (Photo credit Dubai Racing Club// Mosh Lafuente)