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In a commanding performance that surprised even his connections, the French raider Fort Payne stormed to victory in the Gr.3 Burj Nahaar, demonstrating remarkable versatility in his transition from turf to dirt. Trained by Nicolas Caullery and ridden with supreme confidence by Dylan McMonagle, the colt navigated through the field with patience before unleashing a decisive turn of foot to claim the AED 1,200,000 contest for four-year-olds and upward.
"Really smooth ride. I couldn't believe how well he did on dirt," remarked winning jockey McMonagle after the race, highlighting the significance of their achievement against seasoned dirt specialists. It was McMonagle's third ride on dirt.
This triumph not only showcased the adaptability of Fort Payne but also secured him a coveted berth in the prestigious Gr.1 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night.
The race unfolded with an early pace set by Sound Money, trained by Julio Olascoaga, who positioned himself consistently against the rail. However, the frontrunner's challenge faded in the closing stages as those held up began to make their moves. Among them was Oasis Boy from the Doug Watson yard, who showed considerable promise in the latter stages before tiring in the final furlong to finish runner-up for Doug Watson's team.
Cagliostro (USA), who had opened slowly from the gate, produced a commendable effort to finish third. Trained by Hamad Al Jehani, the American-bred runner had previously shown his class when placing third in the Gr.3 Firebreak Stakes behind King Gold and Laurel River, and once again demonstrated his consistency at this level despite the compromised start.
Mendelssohn Bay (USA), trained by Bhupat Seemar, ran on well to secure third position, further enhancing his reputation as a reliable performer in top-quality dirt contests. His continuing good form suggests there may be more to come from this progressive individual as the season develops.
The strongly run race proved too much for some fancied contenders, including Castlewarden (USA). Despite being likened to his full brother Laurel River and considered "a superstar in the making," he could only manage seventh place on this occasion, failing to build on the promise of his Meydan debut where he had finished third.
Japanese raider T O Saint Denis, who had impressed when finishing second at odds of 27-1 in the Gr.2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs, failed to reproduce that form, coming home ninth. The five-year-old, whose previous American outing saw him beaten just four lengths by the millionaire multiple graded stakes winner First Mission over a sloppy, sealed surface, clearly found this assignment more challenging.
This edition of the Burj Nahaar ultimately belonged to Fort Payne, whose classic turf-to-dirt transition proved a masterstroke by trainer Nicolas Caullery. The French connection prevailed in style, sending a clear message that European raiders should not be underestimated when venturing onto the desert dirt of Meydan.