|
fonte : ANAC
Review: Smooth Cape Verdi success for Promising Run
Promising Run recorded a second G2 success on the turf of Meydan, UAE, when the comfortable winner of the Cape Verdi Stakes over a mile on Thursday, 25 January.
The five-year-old mare, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, broke well under Pat Cosgrave and raced in second by the inside rail as Rehana took the eight-strong field along.
Promising Run was switched out in the straight and delivered a strong challenge to go to the front over a furlong from home.
She ran on resolutely to go clear and score by four and a half lengths from Rehana in 1m 36.56s, completing a Godolphin three-timer on the night.
Promising Run’s previous G2 turf success at Meydan came in the 2017 Al Rashidiya over nine furlongs.
Saeed bin Suroor commented: “At home, Promising Run is always very relaxed and even when she works in the morning she never shows a lot. She can be lazy and is always calm.
“After we saddled her tonight, she got a bit excited as this was her first race back.
“The best horses jumped out fast from the stalls, which suited us. I said to Pat to ride Promising Run handily and give her a chance.
“She can go over further, but a mile was a good starting point today. She has class and was a G2 winner as a two-year-old in the UK.
“Promising Run is tough and always tries hard. She is different on the racecourse to what she shows at home in the morning. We just put cheekpieces on her to keep her focused and they helped her.
“She has improved physically this year and will now go for the Balanchine (G2, 9F, 17 February, Meydan). She was 80 to 90 per cent fit today and will improve.
“It is not easy to have winners at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, but we always try hard to get the best results.”
Pat Cosgrave added: “Saeed said to me before the race that Promising Run shows nothing at home, which is good because she obviously saves it for the track. She is a capable mare when she gets racing.
“I led on her at Lingfield last time. I think that was the wrong way to ride her as I think she prefers a bit of a lead and she has now won twice first time out in Dubai – some horses really love it here.”
Review: Gold Town shows plenty of class in UAE 2000 Guineas Trial
Gold Town booked his place for the UAE Classics with an impressive success in division one of the seven-furlong UAE 2000 Guineas Trial on dirt at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 25 January.
Switching to dirt following a productive European turf and All-Weather campaign in 2017, the Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old was pushed along leaving the stalls and soon opened up a narrow advantage over his 10 rivals.
Gold Town had the rest of the field off the bridle turning in and the son of Street Crypowered clear after straightening up before being eased down in the closing stages by William Buick. He won by four and a quarter lengths from Roland Rocks in 1m 25.08s, but the margin could have been at least double that.
Charlie Appleby was delighted “Gold Town’s homework had been good beforehand and he brought a lot of experience to the table.
“The most pleasing thing about tonight was how he handled the dirt and was able to use his tactical speed.
“William said that he got a great feel and Gold Town is one of a few horses who can quicken on that surface.
“It will be interesting to see what the second division throws up, but our horse couldn’t have been more impressive. “He has ticked a lot of boxes with his performance tonight and hopefully we can head straight to the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3, 1m, 15 February).
“I think that there will hopefully be a bit more improvement to come with the step up to a mile.”
William Buick added: “It was a great performance by Gold Town.
“If you can get on the lead like he did and get some sort of breather into them, it’s a big bonus, but he won very well and gave me a great feel.
“He is by Street Cry, which is a huge bonus in general and especially on this surface, so he is an exciting horse and certainly one to look forward to.
“He had been training well on the dirt, but stepped on the gas today and was always within himself. He feels like a horse who can improve on this performance as well.
“Gold Town felt very natural on the dirt, which not many horses that I have ridden out in Dubai have done.
“I rode Frosted in Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge and he was a natural dirt horse – Gold Town has a bit to go before he reaches that level, but he gives me a great feel and it is not easy to quicken on the surface, which he did tonight.
“His form last year was pretty good and he never ran a bad race, but he has filled out physically and feels very good mentally as well.”
Review: Don’t Give Up lives up to name on dirt debut
Don’t Give Up stayed on strongly for a clear-cut success on his first appearance on dirt in the opening 10-furlong handicap at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 25 January.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Dubawi colt, successful on Polytrack and turf as a three-year-old in the UK last year, broke smartly for Gerald Mosse and soon raced a close second of the eight runners on the outside of the leader Active Spirit.
Four-year-old Don’t Give Up travelled strongly turning for home and readily opened up a definite advantage after taking the lead at the top of the straight, running on well to prevail by a length and three quarters over Saltarin Dubai in 2m 5.55s.
Godolphin’s other runner, Alabaster (Saeed bin Suroor/Oisin Murphy), rallied after missing the break to come home a never nearer third, four and a half lengths behind Don’t Give Up.
Gerald Mosse commented: “Don’t Give Up carried his name well – he is a lovely horse.
“It was his first run in Dubai, my first ride on him and his first start on dirt, so there were quite a few things for him to learn, but he did it perfectly.
“He jumped very well and was travelling nice and easily all of the way. He started to relax down the back which was lovely because I didn’t want him to do too much early on.
“When I started to make him ready to take up the running in the turn, he gave me a really nice feeling.
“The trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, told me to try and not get too much kick-back and that happened because Don’t Give Up jumped well and got a good position in the race.”
Saeed bin Suroor remarked: “We gave Don’t Give Up a break after he ran in England, as we thought he was a horse who could do something for us in Dubai.
“He improved for the break and won really well tonight.”
fonte : Godolphin
