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| Rowan Anderson |
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Three winners prepared by Charlie Appleby in another clinic delivered from the master trainer for the global racing powerhouse.
The might of Godolphin was once again on show in Meydan overnight throughout the seven-race card as the World Cup Carnival continued to heat up.
Hoop James Doyle also put his talents in the saddle on show with two wins for Appleby trained runners and a third onboard heavily fancied Algiers.
On a card that was highlighted by a trio Group Twos and a Group Three it set itself up as a meeting to be remembered and it surely did deliver.
In the Group Two Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 it was Algiers showing why he was so heavily backed impressing in victory under James Doyle for trainer Simon Crisford.
In a quality field of nine he was the highest rated hope for the USD $350,000 feature with the 6YO having won his UAE season debut 26 days ago in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 by 6.5 lengths under Doyle, the pair continued on with the task at hand.
Tracing the leaders through the journey the gelding seemed keen but Doyle rode him well putting another thumping six lengths on the pack putting the race to bed from the top of the straight.
“That was just fantastic. The horse switched his lead leg at exactly the right time and then galloped on strongly which is so important in these dirt races,” said Simon Crisford who trains Algiers with son Ed.
“We were considering the Godolphin Mile but after that I think we will have to seriously be thinking Dubai World Cup.”
Hoop Doyle was impressed with him also along with the prospect of things to come this campaign from the partnership.
“He was very keen early on in the race when I was trying to restrain him but he just kept on galloping and that was a very good performance. It is an exciting horse to be associated with.”
Last season Algiers took out the Jebel Ali Mile with Remorse finishing second, on this occasion Remorse and Bhupat Seemar trained stablemate Bendoog rounded out second and third placings.
Doug Watson dominates the Group Three Al Shindagha Sprint feature with his training record of four having saddled Cool Cowboy (2017), My Catch (2018), Drafted (2019) and Al Tariq (2021). In the saddle Pat Dobbs holds the record thanks to his partnership with Watson.
Heading into the race his 5YO Isolate was lining up as favourite even in his local debut having won two Stakes class races last year back home. However, this year the Watson and Dobbs partnership had to settle for runner up as the Bupat Seemar gelding Tuz kicked away to score by three lengths on the favourite.
The gelded son of Oxbow used the 800m turn to amble up to the then leader Alkaraama and take over proceedings at the front going on with the victory.
In race four it was the females turn to step out in the Group Two Cape Verdi run over 1600m and it was a real bell ringer with favourite With The Moonlight winning by three quarters of a length over other Godolphin runner White Moonlight.
The names of Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby dominate the history of the race with the pair having won half of all runnings so it was no surprise their names would be called home first and second.
The Charlie Appleby filly was on UAE debut and Buick retained the ride after winning on her two times previously. From the gates the Godolphin pair led showing all that it was to be another battle between two in the world renowned blue silks. With 200m left of the journey White Moonlight led with Buick piloting his mount through hitting the lead at the 100m mark and going on to claim the spoils.
“She is a very nice filly and this was the perfect spot to bring her back. She will appreciate stepping back up in trip so that was very pleasing,” hoop Buick said.
Two times Spanish Stakes winner Samedi Rien prepared by Spanish trainer Guillemo Arizkorreta put in a gallant effort to move through the pack from ninth place to finish third.
In the Group Two Singspiel Stakes once again it was the Charlie Appleby pair of Valiant Prince and Ottoman Fleet who shared the bulk of the market backing.
David O’Meara had won the past two editions with Lord Glitters but his 7YO Dark Angel gelding, Shelir, finished fourth close to six off the winner defusing the trainers chance at a third win in the USD $180,000 feature.
In the end it was Valiant Prince the victor after jumping fourth from the barriers Doyle once again moved his mount up to second improving with the pace. As the race steadied Doyle moved the gelded son of Dubawi back to sit mid field and patiently staying there for the bulk of the journey. With 400m left to travel the passage was set for the hoop to move through and past the leading trio of San Donato, Desert Fire and Ursa Minor while using eventual runner up Alfareeq as pace setter on his inside. The pair went together and in the end it came down to a bobbing of the heads for the Appleby-Doyle partnership to salute once again.
“He obviously loves it here and he is really growing up as he behaved impeccably tonight and has shown a great attitude in a battle to snatch victory under a penalty. Hopefully he can keep progressing,” Doyle said.
With the victory the Dubawi x Chachamaidee product makes it back to back Group Two victories and three straight wins after claiming the Al Rashidiya last month.
In race two, the Vazirabad handicap, Charlie Appleby got his treble off to a start with First Ruler tracking four horses wide under Doyle in the final 500m before hitting the lead with 300m left to travel. In his second UAE appearance for his career he went on to win by a length over the David O’Meara runner Get Shirty.
In the final race, a 1600m turf handicap, rookie trainer Ali Albadwawi saddled his first carnival winner in Shadwell’s Moqtarreb, partnered by the owner’s retained jockey Dane O’Neill.