Dubai World Cup Carnival – 6 February 2020.
BENBATL DAZZLES IN AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE ROUND 2; FORE LEFT MAKES HISTORY IN 2000 GUINEAS (Treble for William Buick)
The Group 2 $450,000 Round 2 over 1900m, a key prep for the 2000m $12 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), showed a new dimension for Godolphin’s multiple Group 1 winner Benbatl, who won his dirt debut with style under Christophe Soumillon. Raced prominently in third, just behind the pace set by G1 winner Roman Rosso and upstart Chiefdom, he switched out around the turn, took over while three-wide turning for home and held off fellow Dubawi offspring Military Law by two facile lengths. Gronkowski finished third, another 6¾ lengths astern the runner-up. The final time was 1:56.80, just .13 off Frosted’s 2016 stakes record.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who has twice won this with subsequent Dubai World Cup winners (Moon Ballad and Thunder Snow) was elated. The win was Benbatl’s 10th from 20 starts and added $270,000 to the 6-year-old’s bankroll to eclipse $5.7 million. A Group 1 winner on three continents, he will now point toward the big event in an attempt to give his connections a third consecutive triumph in tandem in the prestigious affair.
The $250,000 UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) over 1600m on dirt was a classic worth remembering, as Reddam Racing’s Fore Left overcame post 14 of 16 to make all under William Buick and win in determined style by 1¾ lengths. The final time was 1:38.43 after setting strong fractions of 24.08 (no run-up) and 46.45 for the first 400m and 800m. Zabardast was a hard-charging third under Mickael Barzalona, while the Satish Seemar-trained pair of Emblem Storm and Lake Causeway completed the top four with one length between them.
Trained by Doug O’Neill, Fore Left became the earliest-ever American to win during the DWC Carnival and first Group winner, while winning his third career stakes race. The son of Twirling Candy won Belmont Park’s Tremont Stakes last summer and this past autumn’s Sunny Slope at Del Mar.
Over the course and distance of the $2 million Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1), the $175,000 Dubai Sprint (Listed) provided a glimpse of the competitive local turf sprint division, with at least four in with a chance in the final furlong. In the end, it was HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Rusumaat who proved the most willing in the end, pulling clear of American Blitzkrieg by one length, while favourites Roulston Scar and Ekhtiyaar rounded out the top four. The final time was a smart 1:09.81. Mussabeh Al Mheiri trains the winner, who gave jockey Dane O’Neill a double on the card.
The $100,000 Meydan Classic Trial over 1400m on turf was a rousing way to start the card, with undefeated Uruguayan filly Bella Fever overcoming a lacklustre start to close resolutely between horses in the final 400m under a masterfully patient ride by Dane O’Neill. Settled midpack until the turning for home, she switched out, split horses and outpaced market favourite Final Song, despite carrying 4kgs more than her Godolphin-owned rival.
The win was Mike de Kock’s first of the 2020 DWC Carnival and 141st of his storied Carnival career. Owned by J Stables and Victor Azambullo, the daughter of Texas Fever carried the same orange and blue silks of 2017 and 2018 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) winner Mind Your Biscuits to her neck victory in a swift 1:23.81. Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby-trained Story of Light was third and Reddam Racing’s American invader I Will Not was a good fourth for trainer Doug O’Neill.
The evening’s second race, the $135,000 Yahsat Trophy Handicap, was contested over 1400m on turf, just like the opener. Finishing up just .29 seconds faster (1:23.52)—rather complimenting Bella Fever—it produced a blanket finish of three nations at the wire that was won by England’s Woven, a second 2020 DWC Carnival winner for trainer David Simcock. Godolphin’s Yattwee, the market favourite, was an unlucky second, failing to find room for his rally until late and out-gaming third-place Chiefofchiefs, also from the UK, and US-based Wildman Jack in fourth. A head, neck and half-length separated the top four at the wire in a thrilling contest. Woven, a 4-year-old gelding owned by Never Say Die Partnership, won for the second time in 13 starts and was ridden by Harry Bentley.
The nightcap was the second division of the 1400m $135,000 turf handicap titled the Mubadala and was won in workmanlike (or work-woman-like) style by filly Beyond Reason, who bested the boys with a potent closing kick, holding off Laieth and Tashweeq under William Buick for Charlie Appleby. The win gave Buick a treble on the night.
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