Author: News

Raven’s Pass Colt Two-For-Two At Meydan

8th-Meydan, AED175,000, Hcp., 3-8, NH & SH 3yo/up, 1400m, 1:29.95, ft.
ELUSIVE TERRY (IRE) (c, 4, Raven's Pass–Bonding, by Violence) gave trainer Bhupat Seemar his fifth win of the evening while maintaining his perfect record at Meydan on Friday. A four-length winner of an Jebel Ali maiden on Jan. 27, the colt jumped a touch slow and was hustled up to contest the early pace. Glued to the rail, he applied pressure to My Kinda Day (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) on the turn. On top at the 400-metre marker, the 4-year-old held firm despite pressure from both sides and lifted to win by two lengths. “Drawn one, second start ever, first time at Meydan… he was good,” said Pat Cosgrave. “I thought he'd run his race at 300 metres but then he went on again–he's tough. I wouldn't be surprised if he's quite a good horse and if he goes a mile he'll be even better. He could keep improving and go out of handicaps at some stage, he's got no flaws.” Reflecting on an excellent night, Seemar added, “We came here with some good horses with good chances but it all has to drop right. It's a massive team effort, the guys at home do an excellent job and I just get to pick up the prizes.” Triple Venture (Elusive Quality) beat out Elraaed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by a nose for second. Bonding has an unraced 3-year-old full-sister named Haydarieh (Ire) (Raven's Pass), and colts by Belardo (Ire) and U S Navy Flag born in 2022 and 2023, respectively. GIII Santa Ysabel S. winner and GI Las Virgenes S. third Itty Bitty Pretty (El Corredor) is under the third dam. Sales history: €123,962 2yo '22 GOFMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, AED. Click for the ERA chart and video.
O-Diarmuid Clohessy. B-ABCL Partners (Ire). T-Bhupat Seemar.

 

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Lucky Sweynesse Looks To Bounce Back in QSJC

Having endured a sub-optimal trip when only sixth to Victor the Winner (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) in defence of his crown in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup Jan. 26–not to mention some post-race veterinary issues–reigning champion sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) will look to atone for that effort in Sunday's G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, a race he also took out 12 months ago.

The 5-year-old, victorious in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December, was found to be lame in his right fore the morning after the Centenary Sprint, but turned in a smooth runner-up effort in a Feb. 20 trial over the dirt track and should be a warm item Sunday. James McDonald, who was in the saddle last year, looks for another hit-and-run Group 1 in Hong Kong.

California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) made the running and Lucky Sweynesse did the chasing in last year's Queen's Silver Jubilee, but the pacesetter couldn't quite see it out and settled for a sound second. The 6-year-old was very good in carrying 135 pounds to victory in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy over a mile on seasonal debut back in October, but those weight-bearing efforts can exact a toll, as he is winless in his last four, including a fourth in the G1 Stewards' Cup over the metric mile Jan. 21. A trip to the desert for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint could be in the offing with a return to something approaching his best form.

“He's entered for Dubai and we'll decide whether we will go depending on how he performs on Sunday,” said Cruz. “We hope for a good result.”

Zac Purton opted for California Spangle over Lucky Sweynesse last year and gets a leg up on Beauty Joy (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) from Tony Cruz Sunday afternoon. After besting Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in November's G2 Jockey Club Mile, Beauty Eternal was an even sixth behind Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and exits a solid second to the Dubai-bound Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) in the Stewards' Cup.

Cruz is a three-time winner of the Queen's Silver Jubilee, most notably with the legendary Silent Witness (Aus) back in 2005.

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Gun Runner Colt Lights Up Meydan

4th-Meydan, AED175,000, Cond., NH & SH 3yo, 1900m, 1:58.65, ft.
GUNS AND GLORY (c, 3, Gun Runner–Baby Go Far {Brz} {G1SP-Brz}, by Elusive Quality) dominated from the front end at Meydan in his third start on Friday. Once the gates flew, Tadhg O'Shea drove his mount to the front and the duo set a decent pace past the grandstand and into the backstretch. In a very easy rhythm, Guns And Glory set sail for home at the 500-metre mark, and his rivals had no answer, with the bay drawing off to win by 12 lengths in an impressive fashion. Elyabri (American Pharoah) closed to take second, a neck to the good of Fayadh (Liam's Map). “His rider [Jennifer Ferguson] fell off him yesterday and has a broken leg, because he's a bit of a handful and spends a lot of time on his hind legs,” said O'Shea. “I said to [owner] Dr Hay, I thought he'd win the first time, but he needed that run and then was disappointing last time. At the start of the season, I thought he was a UAE Derby horse and I'm sure if the invitation comes they'd love to take it up.” Hay added, “He was a bit babyish last time, but tonight he's shown that he's come on a ton. I think with a performance like that he deserves a run [in the Derby.]” Picked up for $160,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale before making €543,210 from Stephen Hillen/Dr. Hay to top the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale last March, the colt was fourth to Military Artist (Munnings) when unveiled on Dec. 1, and improved a spot to third upped from 1600 metres to this track and trip behind Elyabri on Feb. 2. His dam was placed at Group 1 level in Brazil, and she foaled a full-sister to the winner in 2022. Her latest is a Justify yearling filly, and she was covered by Epicenter last spring. Baby Go Far is a daughter of G1 Grande Premio Marciano de Aguiar Moreira heroine Linda Rafaela (Brz) (Bin Ajwaad {Ire}), and a half-sister to G1 Brazilian Oaks winner Viva Rafaela (Brz) (Know Heights {Ire}). Sales history: $160,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; €543,210 2yo '23 GOFMAR. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-1, AED131,250. Click for the ERA chart and video.
O-Mrs Fitriani Hay. B-Stud TNT, LLC (KY). T-Bhupat Seemar.

 

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