 |
|
| Staff Writer |
Charlie Appleby dominated proceedings at Meydan on Friday evening, securing a remarkable treble with Arabian Light, Symbol Of Honour, and Royal Power in the feature races, all carrying the famous Godolphin blue on a night of high-quality racing.
 |
The evening's highlight saw Arabian Light deliver a compelling performance in the Lord Glitters Handicap, sponsored by Azizi Developments. The 4YO son of Kingman, out of Meydan Listed winner Pure Diamond, looked unlucky when third in the Lord North Handicap last time, but made amends here with a conclusive victory.
Despite slightly missing the break and being bumped at the start, Arabian Light made smooth progress through the field, hitting the front inside the final two furlongs to deny veteran Sean, who ran a stormer in second, by half a length.
"He was a bit slow away but I managed to get in the slipstream of the leaders and he had a nice run round," said Buick. "He perhaps got a bit lonely in front late on. There's plenty for him to look at here and he's still a young horse."
Earlier on the card, Symbol Of Honour maintained his perfect record with an authoritative victory in the Dubai Trophy. The Appleby-trained grey, sent off hot favourite to follow up his course and distance win in the Al Wasl Stakes, proved his class again over the six-furlong trip.
After taking time to get on terms with leader Dark Saffron, Symbol Of Honour asserted his dominance in the closing stages, crossing the line a length and three-quarters clear. The form of his previous victory, beating subsequent Group Two winner West Acre, received another timely boost.
"The form of his last win worked out well," said Buick. "I was delighted with him today. He's a real pro and goes out there and does what he has to do. I think he'll stay seven furlongs."
On a week which saw the sad death of leading owner and breeder The Aga Khan, it was fitting that Royal Power claimed the Vazirabad Handicap, named after the owner's three-time Dubai Gold Cup winner. With Mickael Barzalona in the saddle, Royal Power delivered a late charge to deny stablemate El Cordobes in a thrilling finish.
"William told me before the race that he should have improved for the last run and I was able to get in an OK spot," said Barzalona. "When I got him into the clear he fought hard to get to the winning post."
The opening Azizi Venice Handicap over a mile produced a masterclass from Bernardo Pinheiro aboard Folk Festival. Salem bin Ghadayer's charge, repeating his victory over No Retreat from Abu Dhabi three weeks ago, swooped from last to first for a half-length success.
"I know what I have under my legs!" said Pinheiro. "I really like this horse, even though he only started racing here 15 days ago. Three weeks ago I was up there with the speed, but today from barrier 15 he would have been too keen, so I had to ride him patiently. He was flying at the end."
De Vries found compensation when Moon Blade, last on debut at Jebel Ali over six furlongs, relished the step up to a mile in the Azizi Mina Conditions race. The son of Central Banker reeled in Poet Orten and Galactic Star for a length success.
"We always thought a lot of him and he's been working well," said De Vries of the Marwan Al Baidhaei-trained winner. "When he ran up the hill it was way too short for him, but he came on a lot and he's a nice horse for the future. I think he'll get a mile and a quarter easily."
Power Mode, formerly trained by Danny Murphy in Ireland, dominated the Azizi Riviera Handicap for Bhupat Seemar. Under Tadhg O'Shea, the 4YO made all to score by three lengths from stablemate Jungle Mac, improving significantly from his Abu Dhabi tenth.
"At Abu Dhabi I got absolutely no run on him. I was on the inside and went for two gaps and both closed on me," explained O'Shea. "He's been training very well and he winged the gates today. I just laid up his neck and let him do the rest."
Musabbeh Al Mheiri's Elyabri secured his second win of the season in the Burj Azizi Handicap under Richie Mullen, outbattling Book Review by a length over ten furlongs on dirt.
"Connections gave me plenty of confidence and said if I could get down the inside he would love it," said Mullen. "He hit a flat spot halfway round the turn and then I angled him out to give him a clear sight of things. The second battled back and he had to dig deep, but you only have to look at his form to see he's a nice genuine horse."
Racing returns to Meydan next Friday, February 14, with an eight-race programme scheduled.