REVIEW: DWCC 3 2021 (Race Video, Full Finishing list 2021)

Group 3 $130,000 Firebreak Stakes (1600m D) 

The 1600m dirt highlight was contested by just six runners, but once Tadhg O’Shea set sail for home early in the straight there was only ever going to be one outcome. An entire son of Exceed And Excel, the 8-year-old was ridden to grab the initiative in the early stages, an advantage they never really appeared likely to relinquish. Winner of the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile in January 2019, in which he was second this year, he also won the 2019 Listed Dubai Creek Mile, but had not tasted success since. He had, however, been runner-up five times and third once in his six subsequent outings. He has been a great servant for Satish Seemar and owner Nasir Askar, winning this in a race record time. 

Group 3 $125,000 UAE 2000 Guineas (3yo 1600m D) 

Restricted to 3-year-olds, also over 1600m on dirt, the UAE 2000 Guineas sponsored by Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal, attracted a select field of just six, but produced a thrilling finish with Mouheeb leading in the dying strides to deny Meshakel who made a gallant effort from the front only to be thwarted. Slowly away on both his previous outings, a winning debut over 1200m at Jebel Ali and when himself just conquered in the UAE 2000 Guineas trial three weeks ago, over the same 1600m, he broke alertly this time. 

Settled in third by Ryan Curatolo, the Flatter colt was probably five lengths off the eventual runner-up entering the straight with Godolphin’s Naval Crown splitting them. That one cried enough in the final 300m, fading into third, when Curatolo had to get very serious with Mouheeb who, as he had done in the trial, responded gamely to gain a gutsy success. They posted the fastest time in the history of the race in the process. It was a first Meydan winner, since taking over at Jebel Ali Stables, for trainer Nicholas Bachalard who, from his previous base in Saudi Arabia, did win the 2017 UAE 1000 Guineas with Nashmiah. 

Meydan Classic Trial & Rest of the Card

Also for the 3YO Classic generation, but on turf, the Meydan Classic Trial sponsored by Jebel Ali Port was a virtual carbon copy of the 1200m turf Dubai Trophy of three weeks earlier when Godolphin’s First Smile looked the likely winner only to be outstayed by Topper Bill and Richard Mullen.  

 A gelded son of Intrinsic, trained by Satish Seemar for Ali Al Shafar & Abdulla Al Shafar, he has now landed both his local starts having won once in Britain when trained by Adrian Nichols. It was a notable double on the card for Seemar. First Smile was denied second close home by stable companion Last Sunset, the Godolphin duo both saddled by Saeed bin Suroor.

Responsible for seven of the ten runners, Godolphin were always likely to dominate the Meydan Cup sponsored by P & O Marinas, a Listed turf handicap over 2810m, and that proved to be the case with the blue silks filling the first five places. It was Frankie Dettori, wearing a red cap, who landed the spoils for Saeed bin Suroor aboard Dubai Future, chased home by his stable companions Volcanic Sky and Global Heat. Charlie Appleby duo, Ispolini and Ghostwatch filled the next two places albeit well beaten. Inaugurated in 2015, Godolphin have now landed the staying prize five times with Bin Suroor edging one ahead of Appleby who had won the previous two renewals, including in 2019 with the aforementioned Ispolini.

Curated from press release by Dubai Racing Club/ Emirates Racing