1/20/15 (Last updated: 1/19/15 4:41 PM)
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
JANUARY 20, 2015
Dubai: A Tale of Two Guineas Trials
by Kellie Reilly
They weren't stakes races, but the two most interesting events on last Thursday's Dubai Carnival program were the local preps for the U.A.E. Guineas. The pair served up a stark study in contrast: while Mubtaahij (Dubawi) made his case as Mike de Kock's next star in the Two Thousand Guineas Trial, Godolphin's Local Time (Invincible Spirit) just got up in the fillies' trial for the One Thousand Guineas.
Mubtaahij was twice unplaced in England, but both came in hot-looking Newmarket maidens. The $599,445 Arqana yearling broke through versus older horses over a metric mile here on New Year's Eve. According to the Dubai Racing Club, he set a track record on the new dirt course, a time that was just eclipsed by the smart veteran Surfer in the January 8 Maktoum Challenge Round 1.
Back in trip to about seven furlongs for the trial, Mubtaahij stamped himself as a rapid improver with an even better performance in another track record of 1:24.86. Granted, it's early days on the Meydan dirt, but setting back-to-back track records is still an accomplishment. The well-bred colt also showed nifty athleticism by altering course to the rail while negotiating the far turn, and he stretched five lengths clear of Argentinean-bred stablemate Ajwad (Not for Sale) in eye-catching style.
De Kock has won the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas five times, and every one of his quintet -- Victory Moon, Asiatic Boy, Honour Devil, Musir and Soft Falling Rain -- captured the local prep. Mubtaahij looks good enough to make it six. He could aim much higher: Dubai guru Pat Cummings (@Dubairacenight) tweeted that Mubtaahij has reportedly been nominated to the U.S. Triple Crown.
Another colt, Godolphin's Maftool (Hard Spun), turned in a sneakily-good trial in defeat. After totally blowing the start, the Saeed bin Suroor pupil did well to rally for third, just a neck off Ajwad. Maftool had to make a sustained effort to get into contention, while taking the overland route, and if he hadn't kept lugging in down the stretch, he might have grabbed second. With a level start, he could well have given Mubtaahij a race. The Kentucky-bred colt was a notable juvenile in England, staying on for second in the Sirenia (Eng-G3) before powering to victory in the Somerville Tattersall (Eng-G3), and finishing fifth in a soft-ground Dewhurst (Eng-G1).
The One Thousand Guineas Trial was less satisfying, both visually and on the clock. Local Time took 1:27.16 -- more than two seconds slower than Mubtaahij -- to wear down de Kock's Ad Idem (Jet Master) at the wire. Moreover, Local Time displayed an exaggerated knee action as she clawed back the yards. The turf-bred filly didn't appear to be in love with the surface, but might have gotten the job done on class. Indeed, the bin Suroor trainee had won three straight in England (two on Kempton's Polytrack prior to the Oh So Sharp [Eng-G3] at Newmarket).
Yet it's worth mentioning that South African-bred Ad Idem was giving her eight pounds, as well as a massive fitness advantage. Ad Idem, who hadn't raced since April, also had to endure the roundabout trek from South Africa due to the burdensome quarantine regulations. The beautifully bred filly exceeded expectations by nearly wiring this.
Although the top two were 10 lengths clear of third, fourth-placer Good Place (Street Cry) deserves a mention for a better-than-appears effort. A stablemate of Local Time, the Godolphin filly reared straight up at the start, got rank as she tried to advance, tossed her head as though resenting the kickback in her dirt debut, and frittered away a vast amount of energy. Nevertheless, she made a strong bid out wide on the far turn, only to have the debacle catch up with her, and she flattened out. Note also that going into the trial, bin Suroor had mentioned that she needed longer than this trip. The blueblood deserves another try on the dirt.
We might not have seen the One Thousand Guineas winner at all in the trial. Bin Suroor has trained eight winners of that classic, five of whom didn't have a prep. He has a couple of other well-regarded fillies we haven't seen at the Carnival, and Local Time could have given their trainer a good measuring stick.
Age-defying properties: Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) hadn't won since the 2013 Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), and hadn't raced since his fourth as the defending champion last March. But in the Dubawi Stakes, the nine-year-old waved his wand and rolled back the years. There was plenty of life in those old legs as he burst between horses to win going away by 3 3/4 lengths.
Observe that runner-up Muarrab (Oasis Dream) traveled absurdly well while chasing the fierce pace out wide. The lightly-raced gelding struck the front on cruise control before succumbing to Reynaldo. Muarrab had won four straight at Jebel Ali (the last in his return from a year-long layoff), and has more to offer.
Draw a line through it: Aside from the aforementioned mishaps of Maftool and Good Place, Slumdogmillionaire (Strike Smartly) gets a pass for his 11th in his belated debut for Doug Watson. As feared, the dual South African Group 1 star was ring-rusty off the 22-month holiday. The deck was further stacked against him as the 132-pound highweight breaking from post 13 in the turf handicap. After prompting the pace in second, Slumdog couldn't quicken over the metric mile, but boxed on one-paced and got swamped late. At this point in his career, he might benefit from a step up in trip too.
One to follow: Mastermind (Var) appeared on Saturday's non-Carnival card, but don't let him fly stealth-style under your radar. De Kock told his website that the South African sophomore still had a belly on him, signifying he'd need the run. Taking on older horses in a turf dash, in just his third career start, Mastermind showed good speed in the front rank throughout. Even when his lack of fitness told, he stuck to his task determinedly. In fact, he fought on so well that he came again for second. Group 2-placed in only his second start back home, he has plenty of upside.
On tap: De Kock owns the record for most wins (six) in the Al Fahidi Fort (UAE-G2), and he has no fewer than three engaged in Thursday's renewal defending champion Anaerobio (Catcher in the Rye), Zahee (Dylan Thomas) and new South African import Red Ray (Western Winter).
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
JANUARY 20, 2015
Dubai: A Tale of Two Guineas Trials
by Kellie Reilly
They weren't stakes races, but the two most interesting events on last Thursday's Dubai Carnival program were the local preps for the U.A.E. Guineas. The pair served up a stark study in contrast: while Mubtaahij (Dubawi) made his case as Mike de Kock's next star in the Two Thousand Guineas Trial, Godolphin's Local Time (Invincible Spirit) just got up in the fillies' trial for the One Thousand Guineas.
Mubtaahij was twice unplaced in England, but both came in hot-looking Newmarket maidens. The $599,445 Arqana yearling broke through versus older horses over a metric mile here on New Year's Eve. According to the Dubai Racing Club, he set a track record on the new dirt course, a time that was just eclipsed by the smart veteran Surfer in the January 8 Maktoum Challenge Round 1.
Back in trip to about seven furlongs for the trial, Mubtaahij stamped himself as a rapid improver with an even better performance
De Kock has won the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas five times, and every one of his quintet -- Victory Moon, Asiatic Boy, Honour Devil, Musir and Soft Falling Rain -- captured the local prep. Mubtaahij looks good enough to make it six. He could aim much higher: Dubai guru Pat Cummings (@Dubairacenight) tweeted that Mubtaahij has reportedly been nominated to the U.S. Triple Crown.
Another colt, Godolphin's Maftool (Hard Spun), turned in a sneakily-good trial in defeat. After totally blowing the start, the Saeed bin Suroor pupil did well to rally for third, just a neck off Ajwad. Maftool had to make a sustained effort to get into contention, while taking the overland route, and if he hadn't kept lugging in down the stretch, he might have grabbed second. With a level start, he could well have given Mubtaahij a race. The Kentucky-bred colt was a notable juvenile in England, staying on for second in the Sirenia (Eng-G3) before powering to victory in the Somerville Tattersall (Eng-G3), and finishing fifth in a soft-ground Dewhurst (Eng-G1).
The One Thousand Guineas Trial was less satisfying, both visually and on the clock. Local Time took 1:27.16 -- more than two seconds slower than Mubtaahij -- to wear down de Kock's Ad Idem (Jet Master) at the wire. Moreover, Local Time displayed an exaggerated knee action as she clawed back the yards. The turf-bred filly didn't appear to be in love with the surface, but might have gotten the job done on class. Indeed, the bin Suroor trainee had won three straight in England (two on Kempton's Polytrack prior to the Oh So Sharp [Eng-G3] at Newmarket).
Yet it's worth mentioning that South African-bred Ad Idem was giving her eight pounds, as well as a massive fitness advantage. Ad Idem, who hadn't raced since April, also had to endure the roundabout trek from South Africa due to the burdensome quarantine regulations. The beautifully bred filly exceeded expectations by nearly wiring this.
Although the top two were 10 lengths clear of third, fourth-placer Good Place (Street Cry) deserves a mention for a better-than-appears effort. A stablemate of Local Time, the Godolphin filly reared straight up at the start, got rank as she tried to advance, tossed her head as though resenting the kickback in her dirt debut, and frittered away a vast amount of energy. Nevertheless, she made a strong bid out wide on the far turn, only to have the debacle catch up with her, and she flattened out. Note also that going into the trial, bin Suroor had mentioned that she needed longer than this trip. The blueblood deserves another try on the dirt.
We might not have seen the One Thousand Guineas winner at all in the trial. Bin Suroor has trained eight winners of that classic, five of whom didn't have a prep. He has a couple of other well-regarded fillies we haven't seen at the Carnival, and Local Time could have given their trainer a good measuring stick.
Age-defying properties: Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) hadn't won since the 2013 Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), and hadn't raced since his fourth as the defending champion last March. But in the Dubawi Stakes, the nine-year-old waved his wand and rolled back the years. There was plenty of life in those old legs as he burst between horses to win going away by 3 3/4 lengths.
Observe that runner-up Muarrab (Oasis Dream) traveled absurdly well while chasing the fierce pace out wide. The lightly-raced gelding struck the front on cruise control before succumbing to Reynaldo. Muarrab had won four straight at Jebel Ali (the last in his return from a year-long layoff), and has more to offer.
Draw a line through it: Aside from the aforementioned mishaps of Maftool and Good Place, Slumdogmillionaire (Strike Smartly) gets a pass for his 11th in his belated debut for Doug Watson. As feared, the dual South African Group 1 star was ring-rusty off the 22-month holiday. The deck was further stacked against him as the 132-pound highweight breaking from post 13 in the turf handicap. After prompting the pace in second, Slumdog couldn't quicken over the metric mile, but boxed on one-paced and got swamped late. At this point in his career, he might benefit from a step up in trip too.
One to follow: Mastermind (Var) appeared on Saturday's non-Carnival card, but don't let him fly stealth-style under your radar. De Kock told his website that the South African sophomore still had a belly on him, signifying he'd need the run. Taking on older horses in a turf dash, in just his third career start, Mastermind showed good speed in the front rank throughout. Even when his lack of fitness told, he stuck to his task determinedly. In fact, he fought on so well that he came again for second. Group 2-placed in only his second start back home, he has plenty of upside.
On tap: De Kock owns the record for most wins (six) in the Al Fahidi Fort (UAE-G2), and he has no fewer than three engaged in Thursday's renewal
posted from Bloggeroid
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