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| Rowan Anderson |
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The Dubai World Cup Carnival continued with a seven race card at Meydan highlighted by the Group Two Zabeel Mile and two Listed races: UAE 1000 Guineas and the Al Khail Trophy.
Master Of The Seas trained by Charlie Appleby continued his form taking the Group 2 Zabeel Mile if only by half of a length.
The 5YO gelded son of Dubawi returned after 283 days away from the track winning a Group Three at Newmarket last start under William Buick.
He looked fresh and fought off all challengers from I Am Superman and Shelir in the straight to show the talent Appleby has on drawing the best from any horse.
This marked the Godolphin trainer’s sixth Zabeel Mile win and extended Master Of The Seas record to ten starts for five wins that include two Group Threes and two Group Twos.
The UAE 1000 Guineas ended up being a clinic from Mimi Kakushi winning by 4.5 lengths. She had won the trial last month and was not going to be denied a win in the feature.
Mimi Kakushi trained by Salem bin Ghadayer and won the trial by a two-length margin under Mickael Barzalona, who retained the ride here and once again repaid the trust.
The second Listed Race in the Al Khail Trophy was won by Global Heat with the 7YO prepared by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Pat Cosgrove.
Ismail Mohammed’s 7YO gelding Away He Goes kept digging deep trying to challenge the leader in the final 200m but had to settle for second piloted by Mickael Barzalona.
For the son of Fahh x Island Babe it was once again a case of being the ‘groomsmen’ not yet the groom having placed now on five of six starts in the UAE.
The Group Two Derby Italiano winner Ardakan was placed in the right spot for the run home by jockey James Doyle with the Marco Botti trained 4YO colt rounding out placings in third.
The meeting opened with the Big Easy Arabian Sprint run over 1200m and worth USD $40,000. Attracting a field of eight it was the Majed Al Jahoori trained 6YO Leena who won at decent odds by a length over Mumayaza.
The Yas Racing Team bred and owned mare returned to the track following a 49 day break where she ran second at Al Ain race track. The victory with Pinheiro onboard marked her first at Meydan and the first since November 2021 which saw her win dominantly by five lengths.
Race two saw five go around in a handicapped race over 1200m following the scratching of Bochart and Behavioural Bias, both trained by Bhupat Seemar.
The 4YO Frosted x Graceful Rage colt Rawy was heavily favoured and showed why from the gates to hit the lead.
With 500m left to run Rawy shrugged off a challenge from My Dubawi before being joined by the Doug Watson trained Colour Up who laid down a fresh challenge for the leader.
The final 200m were a real battle between these two before Rawy underneath Mickael Barzalona pulled away winning by half a length for Salem bin Ghadayer.
Rawy would not be denied the win having not been in the winners circle since January last year in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial.
The final race to close out the card was a handicap over 1400m worth USD $80,000 and the running was a little bizarre but classy at the same time from the eventual winner Shining Blue.
On the final turn with 600m left to travel Danny Tudhope pulled his 5YO Saeed bin Suroor mount out seven horses deep before sliding in to the centre of the track to hit the lead and power home over Spirit of Light and the Charlie Appleby trained New Kingdom.
A riding double of Mickael Barzalona along with a training double by Salem bin Ghadayer consolidating his fourth spot on the trainers championship ladder just behind Bhupat Seemar.
Al Ain will tonight host a seven race card before racing returns to Meydan with a seven race card on Sunday.