al maktoum challenge round 3 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Hypothetical (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) showed improvement throughout last year's carnival to finish second in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 and fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup, and the 5-year-old continued his ascent on Saturday with a win in the latest renewal of Round 3 to become the 13th Group 1 winner for his first, and Lope De Vega's first top-level winner on the dirt.

Breaking prominently from his wide gate, Hypothetical was driven forward by Mickael Barzalona and put his head in front as they passed the finish line for the first time. The 2019 GI Preakness S. runner-up and now locally trained Everfast (Take Charge Indy) refused to let Hypothetical get an early lead, however, and dueled with that rival on the rail through the first turn and into the backstretch. Hypothetical at last shook off Everfast midway down the backstretch to lead by a length, with Dubai Icon (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in striking distance on the outside and Remorse (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) poised on the rail. Everfast moved to re-rally and Remorse was driven up the rail as they straightened for home, but Hypothetical had more to give. He held off a persistent Remorse under a drive to win by a length, with Everfast edging out Kafoo (Curlin) for third 6 1/2 lengths back.

A 550,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, Hypothetical broke his maiden in his lone start at two in December of 2019 for John Gosden but was soundly beaten in three starts at three, joining Salem bin Ghadayer for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed after finishing last, beaten 39 lengths, in a Doncaster handicap in September of 2020. He had a busy carnival last year, making six starts including a winning debut before his aforementioned Group 1 exploits. Hypothetical beat just two home in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 on Jan. 14, but rebounded to win the G3 Firebreak S. on Feb. 4.

Pedigree Notes

Hypothetical is the second foal out of G3 Prix Fille de l'Air second Peut Etre (Ire) (Whipper), who is a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and GIII Honey Fox S. victress Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and two other stakes-placed horses. They are out of Zut Alors (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was third in the G3 Prix Miesque. The third dam Zieting (Ire) (Zieten) was a listed winner in the U.S. and France and produced three middle-distance pattern race winners in Combat Zone (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Royal Empire (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), as well as the dam of G3 Tattersall S. winner La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). It is the further family of the G1 Commonwealth Cup scorer Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and his Group 2-winning and Classic-placed half-brother Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Peut Etre's most recently reported foal is a 3-year-old filly by Dark Angel (Ire) named Pourquoi Pas (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R3 (SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE)-G1, $450,000, Meydan, 3-5, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 2000m, 2:04.79, ft.
1–HYPOTHETICAL (IRE), 126, h, 5, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Peut Etre (Ire) (GSP-Fr), by Whipper
2nd Dam: Zut Alors (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Zeiting (Ire), by Zieten
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (550,000gns yrl '18 TATOCT) O-Sheikh
Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Knocktoran Stud
(IRE); T-Salem bin Ghadayer; J-Mickael Barzalona. $270,000.
Lifetime Record: 13-5-2-0, $1,145,906. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Remorse (Ire), 126, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Jealous Again, by
Trippi. (70,000gns HRA '20 TATOCT) O-Al Rashid Stables LLC;
B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Bhupat Seemar. $90,000.
3–Everfast, 126, g, 6, Take Charge Indy–Awesome Surprise, by
Awesome Again. ($47,000 yrl '17 KEEJAN) O-Kildare Stud –
Frankie O'Connor; B-Extern Developments (KY); T-Doug
Watson. $45,000.
Margins: 1, 6HF, SHD. Also Ran: Kafoo, Go On, Salute The Soldier (Ger), For The Top (Arg), Appreciated, Sanad Libya, Ugurtay (Tur), Dubai Icon (GB), Roman Rosso (Arg), Thegreatcollection, Prevent (GB). Scratched: Avant Garde.
Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

The post Hypothetical A Dirt Group 1 Winner For Lope De Vega appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Three weeks before the UAE's biggest day of horseracing, the Dubai World Cup card, this weekend's Super Saturday is a 'dress rehearsal' with all seven races mirroring the conditions of one of those on the big day, officially highlighted by the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 on dirt along with the Group 1 Jebel Hatta, the turf highlight.

Over the same 2000m (1 1/4 miles) on dirt as the $12 million Dubai World Cup, the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 has on three occasions been won by a subsequent Dubai World Cup winner with Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry (2002) and Electrocutionist (2006) all completing the double at Nad Al Sheba for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor.

Frankie Dettori rode all three to win this, though did not partner Street Cry in the World Cup, and is aboard dirt debutant Dubai Mirage for the same connections this year. Competing at his first Meydan carnival, the 4-year-old gelding has finished second on both local starts, in turf handicaps over 1600m (one mile) and 1800m (nine furlongs).

Being a gelded son of Dubawi, he certainly looks worth trying on the dirt surface and did lose his maiden tag on his sole all-weather appearance in Britain.

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Dubai Mirage has run well on the turf so far this season, finishing second on both occasions, and we wanted to give him a chance on the dirt. This will be a very tough race, but he has been going nicely at home.”

For Fawzi Nass and Adrie de Vries, Salute The Soldier was a Super Saturday winner last year in the 1600m (one mile) Group 3 Burj Nahaar. A 6-year-old Sepoy gelding, he bounced back to winning ways in the 1900m (1 3/16 miles) Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 just over three weeks ago.

De Vries said: “That was a new trip last time and he stayed well, suggesting the extra 200m (furlong) will not be an issue. He seems in great form and it is exciting to, hopefully, be involved with a genuine Dubai World Cup prospect.”

Second on that occasion to De Vries' mount was Thegreatcollection, also runner-up in the 1600m (one mile) Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 when Salute The Soldier was third. To be ridden by Pat Dobbs, the 7-year-old Saint Anddan gelding is trained by Doug Watson for Zaur Sekrekov.

The trainer said: “He stayed the 1900m (1 3/16 miles) well last time and, on that evidence, 2000m (1 1/4 miles) is not going to be a problem. He has been in great form all season.

“Hopefully they go quick and he can close on them in the straight. We are really looking forward to seeing how he goes.”

Thegreatcollection's most recent victory, in the middle of December, was in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile, chased home by Secret Ambition with Salute The Soldier back in fourth.

Trained by Satish Seemar for Nasir Askar, Secret Ambition was then runner-up when attempting to defend his crown in the Group 3 Jebel Al Mile. Most recently, he won the 1600m (one mile) Group 3 Firebreak Stakes, at the carnival, a month ago.

With regular pilot Tadhg O'Shea suspended, Richard Mullen resumes the partnership victorious in the 2019 Jebel Ali Mile. Seemar also saddles Quip, Saltarin Dubai, victorious in the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes on his most recent start a month ago under Mullen, and Roman Rosso.

Salem bin Ghadayer is seeking a third consecutive victory in the race and fourth in five years. He saddles Firnas, Tailor's Row and Hypothetical, runner-up behind Secret Ambition in the Firebreak Stakes before recording a second 1600m dirt Meydan handicap success a fortnight ago.

Bin Ghadayer said: “All three are in good form and have been running well, but this is, obviously, a tough race. We hope they all run well and can give a good account of themselves.”

The post Salute The Soldier Appears ‘A Genuine Dubai World Cup Prospect’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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