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| Sumita Pawar |
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The Gr.2 Cape Verdi at Meydan Racecourse witnessed a surprise win by Silver Lady, the stable companion of Charlie Appleby's English Rose. Although the focus was on the latter to win the fillies and mares contest, it was Silver Lady, a 4YO filly trained by Appleby and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, who emerged victorious. Despite being highly-fancied to win the 1600m turf affair, English Rose had to settle for second place as she failed to thwart a full-blown challenge from her teammate.
The race started tactically with Godolphin's third horse, Shining Jewel, taking the lead from the widest gate under Richard Mullen's heavy-handed guidance. Hugo Palmer's Stenton Glider, ridden by Jim Crowley, ran behind Shining Jewel. Meanwhile, William Buick and English Rose found themselves at the rail and were forced to go around their teammate Silver Lady, who was running fifth out of eight horses.
As a result, English Rose had to expend vital energy to get around Silver Lady, which proved to be costly when the two horses pulled clear from the rest and engaged in a close battle in the home stretch. Silver Lady held on gamely to win by a neck, while Stenton Glider finished in third place, four lengths behind. Ismail Mohammed's Nibras Angel, ridden by Adrie de Vries, finished fourth, after losing a close battle to Stenton Glider by a nose.
“We were pleased with Silver Lady and English Rose, who pulled clear of the rest of the field. Both fillies appear as though they will appreciate a step up in distance in time,” said Appleby, who hinted at an American campaign for Silver Lady, with English Rose now searching for a first Stakes level success in the Group two Balanchine.
“The likelihood is that we will now look at an American campaign for Silver Lady, while English Rose will head to the Group two Balanchine, where she will hopefully be joined by Sapphire Seas.”
In the Cocoa Beach Stakes, a Conditions race for 3YO fillies held over 1600m, Fawzi Nass' Manama Gold, ridden by De Vries, delivered a remarkable performance by winning with a nine-and-a-quarter length lead after being encouraged in the straight. With a little over 250m left to run, the Star Guitar filly hit the front and effortlessly pulled away from Michael Costa's Lahfaty, who finished three-and-a-half lengths behind in second place. The third position was secured by Salem bin Ghadayer trainee Kibo Misaki.
“She was perfect today and I decided to leave it late because I knew she had plenty left in reserve and it was quite comfortable in the end,” De Vries commented.
The first race of the day was the 1600m P & O Marinas maiden for Purebred Arabians, where debutant Alwarry surprised everyone with a splendid turn of foot to finish with three-and-a-half lengths to spare from Mohammed Daggash’s Diyaah, ridden by Sandro Paiva. The trainer-jockey combination of Ahmed Al Mehairbi and Mullen turned up triumphant in this race.
Connor Beasley enjoyed a quick double after the opener, winning the We One 1200m maiden aboard Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s Al Arbed and then guiding his main employer Ahmad bin Harmash’s Mr Kafoo to a win in the National Industries Park 1200m handicap ahead of Mojeyrr.
Bin Harmash earned his second victory of the night in the Dubai Trade 1900m handicap as top-weight Franz Kafka delivered a three-quarters-of-a-length victory ahead of Laser Guided.
Mysterious Night won the Jebel Ali Free Zone handicap with a commanding four-length lead ahead of Mohammed’s Nibras Angel, giving trainer Appleby his second victory of the night. Meanwhile, Bhupat Seemar and champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea claimed the penultimate event on the card, the 1600m Dubai Auto Zone handicap, with Imperial Master.
The card-closing DP World Logistics 2000m maiden saw trainer Al Mheiri, jockey Barzalona, and owner Naser Asker secure their second victory of the night as Mount Tambora finished three-and-a-half lengths clear of Ezaj.