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| Staff Writer |
Marbaan proved too strong for old rival Mysterious Night as they renewed their rivalry in the Gr.3 Ras Al Khor at Meydan Racecourse on Friday evening, the penultimate night of the Dubai Racing Carnival.
Meeting for the fifth time in their careers, the pair had most recently clashed in January's Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort over the same 1400m trip, with Marbaan coming out on top. This time the result was the same, as Ray Dawson guided his mount to an impressive victory by just over two lengths.
William Buick found himself trapped on the rail aboard the Charlie Appleby-trained Mysterious Night inside the final 400m and, despite running on once clear, it was too late to challenge the winner.
"He's a super horse and his last win was very impressive, but you could say this was even more so," said Dawson after the feature race victory. "He traveled around there so well and all I needed was a bit of space, which I knew I'd get, and he picked up really well.
"Michael Costa has found the key to him which is to keep him as relaxed as possible, as he can be a bit hot headed. Hopefully he can keep this form for World Cup night, if that's where connections decide to go, I don't know what the plan is."
Buick had earlier enjoyed success when Royal Favour romped home in the 1900m Creek Views Conditions Stakes by eight lengths, potentially earning a Gr.2 UAE Derby invitation.
The Simon and Ed Crisford trainee tracked the early pace before powering clear in the straight, comfortably defeating Poet Orten.
"He did have to bounce back; we were all a little bit disappointed last time, but that was his first time among horses getting the proper kickback," said Buick. "Today was totally different, I loved how he got out and got into the clear."
The Crisfords doubled up later on the card when Pen Portrait stormed to victory in the Mina Handicap over 1400m on dirt under Danny Tudhope. The 4YO, a previous winner at Sharjah, traveled strongly throughout and easily reeled in leader Action Point to win by just over a length.
Rising UK-based South African trainer Dylan Cunha celebrated his first Carnival winner when Silver Sword landed the Burj Handicap over 1600m on turf, giving Dawson a double on the night.
The grey, sporting the famous 'Secretariat' blue and white checked silks, had most rivals ahead entering the straight but powered home to beat recent winners No Retreat, Folk Festival and Magnum Opus.
Spanish racing also enjoyed success as 13-time champion trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta notched his second Carnival win when El Bosnia took the closing 1200m turf Riviera Handicap under Vaclav Janacek, defeating favourite Matloob.
"It's very special as he's Spanish-bred and he's demonstrated that a Spanish-bred can perform abroad," said Janacek.
The Camden Colt, previously twice runner-up since arriving from the UK, made a successful switch to dirt in the 1400m handicap. Trained by Bhupat Seemar and ridden by Tadhg O'Shea, he tracked pacesetter Saleymm before powering clear to beat Quality Humor by two-and-a-half lengths.
"He's been training superbly and we couldn't believe that he got beaten twice on the turf," said Seemar. "Ideally, we'd like to run him in the Godolphin Mile, but his handicap might not go up enough to warrant that."
Ahmad Bin Harmash and Connor Beasley combined to take the 1800m turf Wasl Handicap with Cosmic Desert, who proved too strong for Poster Paint and Sense Of Wisdom.
The evening began with Djafar returning to form in the Gr.2 Mazrat Al Ruwayyah for Purebred Arabians. Musabbeh Al Mheiri's 8YO, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, collared pacesetter Al Laith who battled back to finish second.
Meydan returns next Friday for the final meeting of the Dubai Racing Carnival before the US$30.5million Dubai World Cup meeting on April 5.
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Marbaan proved too strong for old rival Mysterious Night as they renewed their rivalry in the Gr.3 Ras Al Khor at Meydan Racecourse on Friday evening, the penultimate night of the Dubai Racing Carnival.
Meeting for the fifth time in their careers, the pair had most recently clashed in January's Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort over the same 1400m trip, with Marbaan coming out on top. This time the result was the same, as Ray Dawson guided his mount to an impressive victory by just over two lengths.
William Buick found himself trapped on the rail aboard the Charlie Appleby-trained Mysterious Night inside the final 400m and, despite running on once clear, it was too late to challenge the winner.
"He's a super horse and his last win was very impressive, but you could say this was even more so," said Dawson after the feature race victory. "He traveled around there so well and all I needed was a bit of space, which I knew I'd get, and he picked up really well.
"Michael Costa has found the key to him which is to keep him as relaxed as possible, as he can be a bit hot headed. Hopefully he can keep this form for World Cup night, if that's where connections decide to go, I don't know what the plan is."
Buick had earlier enjoyed success when Royal Favour romped home in the 1900m Creek Views Conditions Stakes by eight lengths, potentially earning a Gr.2 UAE Derby invitation.
The Simon and Ed Crisford trainee tracked the early pace before powering clear in the straight, comfortably defeating Poet Orten.
"He did have to bounce back; we were all a little bit disappointed last time, but that was his first time among horses getting the proper kickback," said Buick. "Today was totally different, I loved how he got out and got into the clear."
The Crisfords doubled up later on the card when Pen Portrait stormed to victory in the Mina Handicap over 1400m on dirt under Danny Tudhope. The 4YO, a previous winner at Sharjah, traveled strongly throughout and easily reeled in leader Action Point to win by just over a length.
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Rising UK-based South African trainer Dylan Cunha celebrated his first Carnival winner when Silver Sword landed the Burj Handicap over 1600m on turf, giving Dawson a double on the night.
The grey, sporting the famous 'Secretariat' blue and white checked silks, had most rivals ahead entering the straight but powered home to beat recent winners No Retreat, Folk Festival and Magnum Opus.
Spanish racing also enjoyed success as 13-time champion trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta notched his second Carnival win when El Bosnia took the closing 1200m turf Riviera Handicap under Vaclav Janacek, defeating favourite Matloob.
"It's very special as he's Spanish-bred and he's demonstrated that a Spanish-bred can perform abroad," said Janacek.
The Camden Colt, previously twice runner-up since arriving from the UK, made a successful switch to dirt in the 1400m handicap. Trained by Bhupat Seemar and ridden by Tadhg O'Shea, he tracked pacesetter Saleymm before powering clear to beat Quality Humor by two-and-a-half lengths.
"He's been training superbly and we couldn't believe that he got beaten twice on the turf," said Seemar. "Ideally, we'd like to run him in the Godolphin Mile, but his handicap might not go up enough to warrant that."
Ahmad Bin Harmash and Connor Beasley combined to take the 1800m turf Wasl Handicap with Cosmic Desert, who proved too strong for Poster Paint and Sense Of Wisdom.
The evening began with Djafar returning to form in the Gr.2 Mazrat Al Ruwayyah for Purebred Arabians. Musabbeh Al Mheiri's 8YO, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, collared pacesetter Al Laith who battled back to finish second.
Meydan returns next Friday for the final meeting of the Dubai Racing Carnival before the US$30.5million Dubai World Cup meeting on April 5.
1. Marbaan (T: Michael Costa)
2. Mysterious Night (T: Charlie Appleby)
3. Khanjar (T: Musabbeh Al Mheiri)