Dr Jim Walker's Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) threw down a notable marker for some of the top staying contests in Europe this summer when running his rivals ragged to win the G2 Dubai Gold Cup by 5 3/4 lengths in a new track record time of 3:17.77.
Taking his first ride at Meydan, Joe Fanning had the Mark Johnston-trained 4-year-old handy throughout, positioned just off the early leader For The Top (Arg) (Equal Stripes {Arg}) in the initial stages before making his intentions clear ahead of the final bend. Easing Subjectivist to the lead, Fanning asked him to stretch clear of his rivals, laying down a challenge which none could answer as the leader quickly put plenty daylight between himself and the chasing pack around the turn. Staying on resolutely over the two miles, Subjectivist's advantage only increased down the straight as he galloped home to seal a dominant victory.
Walderbe (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), trained by Ralf Rohne in Germany, was runner-up under Mickaelle Michel, finishing a head in front of Away He Goes ((Ire) (Farhh {GB}). Godolphin's Secret Advisor (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) had been sent off as favourite under William Buick but could never land a blow, eventually clinching fourth from Team Valor's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}).
The youngest runner of the field, Subjectivist was making his first start since winning the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 25.
“He's a good horse and there was a bit of juice in that ground, which suited him,” said Joe Fanning. “He settled well and I was always going so easy before the turn in. He stays very well. I rode him out here yesterday and thought the ground was good. I think he'll go on any surface. He's a good horse and has loads of ability and I think he's a better horse this year.”
The jockey added that it was “100 per cent” worth having to spend 10 days in hotel quarantine on his return to the UK.
Mark Johnston, who made the trip to Dubai with his wife Deirdre, almost certainly feels the same after cheering home his first winner on World Cup night for more than two decades.
“The horses have all run well here but frankly we haven't been bringing the right horses, it's a simple as that,” said Britain's winning most trainer. “So the is the first time I've come here thinking surely this horse is the one they all have to beat. He was a Group 1 winner in his last outing and he didn't have to improve on that, he just had to run up to his best.”
Johnston continued, “There were big doubts about the ground because he had won on from good ground to heavy ground—his Group 1 came on heavy ground—but he hasn't run on anything faster than that. Joe Fanning, who has not ridden here before, was fascinated by the track when he went out on it yesterday. I walked on the track and I don't think I've seen a turf track in the world in better condition than this. So I was feeling that we had all our ducks in a row—there was no reason why he shouldn't perform up to his best on this, and he has done.”
Looking ahead to a top-class staying campaign back in Europe, Johnston added, “I never belittle the success of Stradivarius (Ire). We've come second to Stradivarius so many times with Dee Ex Bee (GB) and Nayef Road (Ire)—he's become a bit of a nemesis for us. But this year, going into 2021, we have this horse and we have his three-parts brother Sir Ron Priestley (GB), so we have some great ammunition to take on Stradivarius with.”
Pedigree notes
Inbred 3×3 to Danehill, Subjectivist is a graduate of Barry and Susan Hearn's Mascalls Stud and is the third foal of the mile maiden winner and listed-placed Reckoning (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). The 12-year-old mare is a grand-daughter of Aspirationl (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), herself a full-sister to leading National Hunt sire Sholokhov (Ire) and half-sister to the dam of another, Soldier Of Fortune (Ire).
All three of the mare's winners are trained by Johnston in Yorkshire and they have all gained black type. As mentioned above, Sir Ron Priestley (GB), by another son of Galileo (Ire), Australia (GB), is now five and was runner-up to Logician (GB) in the St Leger after winning five races at three, including the G3 March S. Their 3-year-old half-sister Alba Rose (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) is also owned by Dr Walker and was third in the G2 Rockfel S. having won a seven-furlong novice race at Thirsk last season. She holds an entry for the Irish Oaks.
Reckoning's 2-year-old filly by Ulysses (Ire) was a vendor buy-back at 140,000gns at Tattersalls last October. The mare also has a yearling colt by Roaring Lion and was covered last year by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI GOLD CUP SPONSORED BY AL TAYER MOTORS-G2, $750,000, Meydan, 3-27, 3yo/up, 16fT, 3:17.77, gd.
1–SUBJECTIVIST (GB), 121, c, 4, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Reckoning (Ire) (MSP-Eng),
by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Great Hope (Ire), by Halling
3rd Dam: Aspiration (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
(62,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Dr J Walker; B-Mascalls Stud
(GB); T-Mark Johnston; J-Joe Fanning. $435,000. Lifetime
Record: GSW-Eng, G1SP-Fr, 16-5-4-2, €710,714. *1/2 to Sir
Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}), GSW & G1SP-Eng,
$414,683; and Alba Rose (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), GSP-Eng.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Walderbe (Ger), 127, h, 5, Maxios (GB)–Waldfee (Ger), by Dai
Jin (GB). (€17,000 Ylg '17 BBAOCT). O-Stall Dusseldorf Fighters;
B-Niels Ohlig (GER); T-Ralf Rohne. $150,000.
3–Away He Goes (Ire), 127, g, 5, Farhh (GB)–Island Babe, by
Kingmambo. (75,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Khalifa Saeed
Sulaiman;
B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Ismail Mohammed. $75,000.
Margins: 5 3/4, HD, 3 1/4.
Also Ran: Secret Advisor (Fr), Spanish Mission, Global Heat (Ire), Royal Marine (Ire), Red Verdon, Mekong (GB), For the Top (Arg), Volcanic Sky (GB).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.
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