 |
|
| Sumita Pawar |
 |
Ouzo had a series of impressive finishes in last year's Dubai Racing Carnival, earning third, second, third, and sixth places. However, his perseverance finally paid off in the Lord North Handicap, which was the main event at Meydan Racecourse on Friday.
Jockey Adrie De Vries had a memorable evening as Jamie Osborne's gelding made a spectacular first start of 2024. Despite being drawn wide at 11, they were able to overcome a shortage of room whilst emerging from the back of the pack to win the 1800-meter turf event. They denied the fellow British trainee Silent Film by half a length.
“I was delighted all the way,” said Osborne. “I thought they’d gone quick, and he was going well enough to pick up, we just needed the splits.
“We’ll come back for the Lord Glitters Handicap over the same distance in three weeks’ time. But he’ll now go to a rating that he’s never played with before, so he may well find it difficult off his new mark.”
Adrie De Vries, the 52YO jockey, had a remarkable night as he secured a treble win, including Ouzo's victory. Earlier in the race, he produced one of the most impressive results of the event. Despite being his 42nd career start, the 10YO Thegreatcollection weaved through from the back of the field and clinched the Palm Beach Towers Handicap, a 1400-meter dirt race.
It was a typically eccentric performance by the veteran, whom trainer Doug Watson decided to run without headgear for the first time in his long career.
“It’s always the same, he drops himself out and makes up his own mind, so you just have to leave him alone,” said De Vries. “But in the straight I was thinking ‘don’t get there too soon!’
“It was his first start without blinkers so he went to the start like it was his first time out!”
Later in the event, Watson had another thrilling experience when Kabirkhan made a triumphant debut in the Dubai Islands Handicap, a 2000-meter dirt race. The horse had previously been trained in Russia, where he won eight out of nine starts.
Kabirkhan looked impressive during the event, maintaining a steady pace, and triumphed over his fellow Russian import and teammate Hero Mo by a margin of four lengths. This win was a reversal of their previous meeting in September, where Hero Mo had emerged victorious.
“His times at home have been very good,” said winning jockey Pat Dobbs. “For me, he’s got everything you want in a racehorse; he’s genuine, tough and he’s got a bit of character, which most of the good ones do.”
“I could do very little with them for two weeks and they could do well in the [G1] Maktoum Challenge [January 26th],” added Watson of the first and second. “I know what is here and coming over and I think they can compete well.”
The Al Wasl Stakes saw an impressive finish as the Godolphon filly Star Of Mystery, beat the colts. Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Star Of Mystery had a slow start but managed to pass most of the field in the 1200-meter turf contest. She showed great tenacity in beating Group 3 winner Starlust and his fellow European raider Seven Questions.
According to Buick, she is a strong traveller and managed to find the horses they needed to beat. This was the second leg of a double for Buick, after Vespasian won the opening Palm Jumeirah Handicap, a 1000-meter turf race.
Simon and Ed Crisford's 5YO, Vespasian, won the Palm Jumeirah Handicap. Buick rode him and said that he was always up with the pace and got the better of his Jebel Ali conqueror, Al Shibli. He also said that Vespasian is a very genuine horse and he always felt he was holding the second.
Changing Colours caused a bit of a shock in the Como Residences Handicap, a 1400-meter turf race. Musabbeh Al Mheiri's gelding sprinted into the lead under Sandro Paiva and eventually beat Molaqab by two lengths. Paiva said that Changing Colours had a very good break, unlike his previous race at Jebel Ali where he missed the break
In the 3YOs' Palm Jebel Ali event, over a mile on dirt, Fawzi Nass' favourite Military Artist was settled behind leader Million Doro after a quick start. Turning for home, Fawzi's flashy chestnut was far too good and stormed to a length and a quarter success over the closing Tokyo Tower. De Vries rode Military Artist and said that he broke really well and had to with that draw. He was the best horse in the race, and he made use of him.
2023 Champion trainer, Bhupat Seemar, showcased his desire to reclaim his title by securing a double win in the last two races. The Palm West Beach Handicap, a 1400-meter turf race, saw jockey Andrew Slattery mark his first Meydan win as he partnered Border Edge, who always remained at the forefront. They won the race by three-quarters of a length, with Nyaar finishing second for the third consecutive time.
Slattery stated that they had planned to attain the box seat, and they managed to do so. He further added that the race was quite easy from that point on.
The most exciting finish of the night was witnessed in the Palm Crown Handicap, a 2410-meter turf race. While the grey Ahesta Bero and Sea Stone, trained by Ismail Mohammed, tried their best, it was Webinar who emerged victorious by a short head under the guidance of Tadhg O'Shea. It was Webinar's first Meydan win, with his last victory coming at Abu Dhabi, where he defeated Ahesta Bero as well.
O'Shea mentioned that Webinar enjoyed being back on the turf, and they had tried dirt earlier, but it didn't work out well. He added that Webinar is a strong-travelling horse, and he had a willing partner when it mattered.