Nations Pride Friday’s DWCC Headliner

The Dubai World Cup Carnival adds its own footnote to the study of flags, known as vexillology for the more serious, since its intent is to draw horses from all over the world. As the meet continues to march towards its big night in late March, another Friday of racing arrives with a trio of Group 3 events.

Waving Godolphin Blue

The G3 Dubai Millennium S. sports this week's headliner, as Grade I winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) returns for a new campaign after what could be considered a successful 2022. The Godolphin homebred won last year at Meydan in the Jumeirah Derby, before competing at Newmarket, Epsom, in the 'Turf Triple' at each of the NYRA courses Stateside and finally in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, where he was fifth behind stablemate Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing the blue brought him an Eclipse Award nomination in the Male Turf Division off of his victories in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. in August and the GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. in September, as well as his runner-up effort in the first leg of the Turf Triple, the GI Belmont Derby Invtiational S. in July. The 4-year-old colt should enjoy a return to 10 furlongs here as the deserving favorite in European markets.

“There will be some improvement to come for whatever he [Nations Pride] does on his seasonal return, as we hope that he has another international campaign ahead of him this year, said trainer Charlie Appleby. “Depending on how he goes here, we will consider potentially looking at the [G1] Jebel Hatta [on Super Saturday] or the [G1] Dubai Turf [on Dubai World Cup night].”

Appleby also runs multiple stakes winner and multiple group-placed Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), third in the G2 Singspiel S. last time out. “Returning to this distance looks as though it might benefit Ottoman Fleet based on his two runs so far this year,” he continued. “He goes into the race a fit horse with solid form around him, so he should be a major player.”

Dual French listed winner Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) is aiming to improve after a fourth in the G3 Al Rashidiya on Jan. 13.

Longshot in the Nad Al Sheba

As for the other group races on Friday, a true distance test and  prep race for the G2 Dubai Gold Cup will be proctored at 14 panels on the grass in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy S. Godolphin, winners on nine occasions, has the advantage with four runners in Global Heat (Ire) Toronado (Ire), Brilliant Light (GB) (Sea The Stars), Siskany (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire} and Kemari (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“Siskany looks great and will be a player if he brings his best form to the table,” said Charlie Appleby. “He has won over the course and trip, so he looks the one they have to beat.

“Kemari will also be competitive if he can rekindle some of his old form. He ran some solid races last year but can be a little inconsistent these days.”

Added fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, “Global Heat won over this trip in the Al Khail Trophy and came out of his recent handicap run in good order. He stays well and I'm hoping for another good effort. Brilliant Light worked well last week and has some good form over this distance. He is ready to go again and will appreciate the step up in trip.”

Not to be overlooked is the Amy Murphy trainee Magical Morning (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who is a quality longshot and could play the role of spoiler, if the gelding can handle the stretch out in distance.

American Jaunt Continues in UAE Oaks

Rounding out Friday's Group 3 events is a Classic on the dirt oval that brings together seven fillies. Of these, Mimi Kakushi (City Of Light) looks best, not because her barn won this race last year, but because the bay filly clearly likes the Meydan surface–including a pair of wins in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial over 1400 metres on Dec. 23 and in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas upped to a mile on Jan. 20. Seven fillies have completed the UAE Guineas/Oaks double, with Shahama (Munnings), subsequently second in the GII Mother Goose S. and a winner of the GIII Monmouth Oaks in America, the latest in 2022.

Standing in her way will be the American-based Ami Please (Goldencents) for trainer Doug O'Neill. Running solely on turf since her California debut at Del Mar on Aug. 1, she was third last time out in the Blue Norther S. at Santa Anita, finishing just behind next out winner, Manhattan Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}). Her barn collected a savory win last Friday with Tall Boy (Lookin At Lucky) in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas.

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Broadway Girls Steals The Show In Blue Norther

Fresh off her gate-to-wire maiden-breaking score in her third career start at Del Mar Nov. 13, Broadway Girls, given an unconvincing 16-1 chance for her stakes debut, showed a similar burst of speed to wire the field in Friday's Blue Norther S. Ridden hard to the front from her middle gate by jockey Edwin Maldonado, Broadway Girls was joined on her outside by Pleasant Wave (More Than Ready) into the first turn before assuming solo command through an opening quarter set in :22.79. Going easily on lead while chased by a pair of rivals just behind her, she held control as the field surged around her past the quarter pole. Challenged by a wall of closers led by 2-1 favorite Manhattan Jungle, Broadway Girls kept finding more and refused to cede the lead for the convincing win.

“She's got a lot of speed and so does Ami Please,” said winning trainer Doug O'Neill. “We knew they were fast fillies and credit to Glenn (owner, Sorgenstein, of Ami Please), he said, 'We can't both win on the lead, one (of these) horse(s) is going to be in front,' so we asked Frankie (Dettori, aboard Ami Please) to try to take off the pace to see if we could pick 'em up late and by doing that, it gave Broadway Girls a big chance.”

The fifth black-type winner for her freshman sire (by Friesan Fire), Broadway Girls has a yearling half-sister by Street Boss and a weanling half-brother by West Coast. Her dam visited Higher Power for 2023. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

BLUE NORTHER S., $103,000, Santa Anita, 12-30, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:36.01, gd.
1–BROADWAY GIRLS, 120, f, 2, by Army Mule
                1st Dam: Fond Hope, by Midnight Lute
                2nd Dam: Fondness, by Elusive Quality
                3rd Dam: Shining Through, by Deputy Minister
($9,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $60,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN).
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-ERJ Racing, LLC, Pappas Horse Racing,
Corp & Neil A. Haymes; B-Trackside Farm & Tenlane Farm (KY);
T-Doug F. O'Neill; J-Edwin A. Maldonado. $60,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-2-0-0, $108,020.
2–Manhattan Jungle (Ire), 118, f, 2, Bungle Inthejungle
(GB)–Skylight (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (€20,000 Ylg '21
GOFSPT). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Patrick Headon
(IRE); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $20,000.
3–Ami Please, 120, f, 2, Goldencents–Bellezza Rosso, by Tapit.
O-Glenn Sorgenstein WC Racing Inc. & Wonderland Racing
Stables, LLC; B-Glenn Sorgenstein (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill.
$12,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, NK. Odds: 16.90, 2.30, 9.70.
Also Ran: Tea N Conversation, Thebestisyettobe (Ire), Naughty Lottie, Spanning the Globe, Decorated My Life (Ire), Pleasant Wave, Ragtime Rose, G Laurie. Scratched: Showgirl Lynne B.

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