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Owners Head To Dubai To Cheer On Hot Rod Charlie In His Meydan Debut

Hot Rod Charlie will make his highly-anticipated UAE debut on Friday at Meydan Racecourse.

Voted the winner of the Vox Populi Award for 2021 by US racing fans, the Doug O'Neill-trained 4-year-old is the headline act in G2 Maktoum Challenge R2 [Presented by The Longines Record], the feature on Friday's seven-race card.

Third in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Belmont and the winner of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby, Hot Rod Charlie warmed up for his Dubai travels with a close second, beaten a nose, in the G2 San Vincente Stakes at Santa Anita, California, on Dec. 26.

He'll have a strong supporting party to cheer him on, with Patrick O'Neill of part-owners Boat Racing in town, as well as another co-owner, Bill Strauss.

“We sat down after the Breeders' Cup meeting in November and made a plan for the horse,” said Strauss. “We decided to target Dubai and then the best way of getting to the Dubai World Cup, which was to bring him here and give him a race over the track.”

Hot Rod Charlie faces stiff opposition in the feature, with emphatic local debut winner Everfast in for Doug Watson.

“We weren't sure where to go with him [after his local debut win in December],” said Watson. “We were thinking this race or the Firebreak, but then [owner] Frankie O'Connor came into town and that helped make up our minds.

“He was second in the Preakness over this trip, so I don't think it will be a problem.”

The other Group 2 on the card is the Balanchine [Presented by Longines Evidenza] for fillies and mares on turf, over 1800 meters (9 furlongs). It sees the French-trained Pevensey Bay bidding to follow up her victory in the Cape Verdi (G2) over 200metres shorter last time out. Waiting for her in the race is Charlie Appleby's Creative Flair, who was last seen finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks in New York in September.

“She has always had the Balanchine as her long-term target,” said the handler, who has won the last two editions of this race with Summer Romance and Magic Lily. “Her preparation has gone well.”

The third Thoroughbred race on the card is the G3 Firebreak Stakes [Presented by Longines Conquest] over 1600 meters (one mile) on dirt, which was won in 2021 by subsequent G2 Godolphin Mile winner Secret Ambition. It has a field of eight, with Bhupat Seemar's Tuz aiming to make it two from two this season, having won the Listed Dubai Creek Mile in December. Watson sends out Prince Eiji, an eye-catching short-head second to Kafoo on his local debut and first on dirt.

“We were thrilled and disappointed with his first run here,” said Watson of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Obaid Al Maktoum-owned 6-year-old. “He got a little leg-weary with it being his first try on dirt, but it still took a good one to beat him and it's always been the plan to run here.”

Godolphin are having another excellent Carnival and they are loaded in the turf races, in particular. Appleby's Listed winner New Science takes on Jumeirah Derby Trial winner Island Falcon in the Listed Jumeirah Classic [Presented by Longines Elegant] and the handler also runs Sovereign Prince, a winner here three weeks ago when he beat the re-opposing Sed Maarib.

Appleby has had the Carnival as the target for several months for New Science and said: “His form from the UK is rock solid but he was quick to be earmarked for a Dubai campaign and his preparation has gone well. [After this race] he'll head back to the UK for one of the Guineas Trials.”

The 3-year-olds also line up on dirt in the Al Bastakiya Trial [Presented by Longines St Imier] over 1900 meters (1 3/16 miles), in which the Watson-trained Violent Justice looks of interest following his emphatic Jebel Ali maiden win. Earlier on, a select field of six has been declared for the Oud Metha Stakes [Presented by Longines Master Collection] over 1200 meters (6 furlongs) on dirt. Leading the charge there is Rudy Trigger, a winner of three of his five starts in Argentina for trainer Maria Munoz.

The evening's action begins at 6pm with the G1 Maktoum Challenge R1 [Presented by Longines Dolce Vita] for Purebred Arabians, over 1900 meters. It welcomes back last year's winner, RB Frynchh Dude, as well as another Group 1 winner, Brraq.

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Carnival Action Heats Up in Dubai

Friday marks the second week of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan in Dubai, and three group races are slated to go ahead, as well as two G2 UAE Derby preps on the seven-race card.

Godolphin fields a typically strong hand in the 1800-metre G2 Al Rashidiya Presented By Riviera Beachfront By Azizi on grass, which is an early pointer to the G1 Dubai Turf at the end of March. Aiming for a sixth consecutive renewal, the royal blue silks will be carried by a quintet from trainers-Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor. Appleby's listed winner Art du Val (GB) (No Nay Never) has been rubbing shoulders near the top table in his last three starts. Fourth in the G2 Singspiel S. last January, he added a third in the Feb. 18 G2 Zabeel Mile and in his latest outing ran a solid fourth to the re-opposing Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) in the G1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday. Stablemate and listed winner Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), will be making his first start since a gelding operation in the autumn, as will the four-for-five Royal Fleet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“Art Du Val proved a consistent horse in Dubai last year and we gave him the summer off with another season at the Carnival in mind,” said Appleby. “He goes into this race in good order and will be very competitive if he brings his 'A-game.”

Last year's G3 Dubai Millennium S. second Bedouin's Story (GB) (Farhh {GB}) ran second in his most recent outing–the Oct. 9 G3 Darley S. after dwelling at the start.

Bin Suroor said, “He has been doing well out in Dubai and this looks like a good starting point for him this year.”

Charismatic grey battler Lord Glitters appears ageless, and his Jebel Hatta victory was accomplished at the age of eight. Now nine, the Geoff and Sandra Turnbull silksbearer scored a win in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy in late November for trainer David O'Meara.

The trainer said, “He's in good form and has obviously had a good winter so far after winning over in Bahrain. He seemed to get on very well in Dubai last year. He won the Singspiel and was third in this race under a penalty and then won the Jebel Hatta. Hopefully he can do something similar this year.”

Storming the 'Fort'ress

The 1400-metre G2 Al Fahidi Fort Presented By Mina By Azizi, also takes place on the grass. Saeed bin Suroor saddles the 2021 scorer, Land Of Legends (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), who ran out a handy winner exactly a year ago. Only fifth in the 1351 Turf Sprint on Feb. 20, the gelding has been benched since another fifth-place run in the G1 Dubai Turf on Mar. 27. The three-for-four Storm Damage (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) enters this test on the back of consecutive Newmarket wins in July and August.

“Land Of Legends has been improving with every piece of work,” said bin Suroor. “He won this race on his first start of the year last season and we are hoping for another good effort. Storm Damage ran well in the UK last season and I have been pleased with him in Dubai.”

Charlie Appleby's listed winner Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was fourth in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on May 1 and just failed to last in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot on June 19. The colt is aiming to improve off of an eighth-place finish in the July 11 G1 Prix Jean Prat. He is joined by the group placed La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who was gelded prior to running third in a Meydan conditions race on Jan. 7.

Appleby said, “Naval Crown showed good, solid form as a 3-year-old and has enjoyed a nice break ahead of the Carnival. He looks great and will obviously be very competitive if he runs up to his best form.”

Septet Signed on For Dubawi S.

The Doug Watson-trained duo of Group 3 winners Canvassed (Ire) (Shamardal) and Al Tariq (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) loom large in the G3 Dubawi S. sprinting 1200 metres over the Meydan main track. Victorious in the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal last March, Canvassed returned on Dubai World Cup night to take third after making a late run in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. His stablemate was first past the post in the Feb. 18 G3 Al Shindagha Sprint over this track and trip and, after running sixth in the Golden Shaheen, already sports a win this season. He eked out a win in a conditions race at Jebel Ali on Nov. 26.

Watson commented, “They're both in really good form. Obviously, Al Tariq has run already this year and Canvassed is having his first start since World Cup night, but has gotten stronger overall.”

Bhupat Seemar's Freedom Fighter (Violence) makes his desert debut on Friday. The 4-year-old was second in the GII San Vicente S. at Santa Anita last term and was most recently fifth in an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar on July 17.

UAE Classic Pointers

The 1400-metre UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Presented by Al Furjan By Azizi marks the 3-year-old return of Grade I victor Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Gelded after winning a Haydock novice last June, he rattled off another Haydock win in July and battled his way to a score in the Listed Stonehenge S. a month later. The Charlie Appleby-trained 3-year-old triumphed in the GI Summer S. at Woodbine on Sept. 19, but was scratched at the gate of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in November.

It will not necessarily be a cakewalk for Albahr, as he faces the unbeaten winners Kiefer (Brz) (Drosselmeyer), who is three-for-three in Uruguay including at the listed level, and the once-raced Mujeer (Violence), who won at Meydan on Dec. 2.

Second in the lineup on Friday is the Jumeirah Derby Trial Presented By Park Avenue By Azizi. Conducted over 1800 metres on turf, this new race attracted Listed Silver Tankard S. winner Mr Professor (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), the stable star of trainer Alice Haynes. Since that victory, the 3-year-old gelding finished with interest to take third when debuting at Meydan just seven days ago on Jan. 14, one spot behind Sed Maarib (American Pharoah). A trio of Godolphin winners are also slated to take part–Nader (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), Island Falcon (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and New Kingdom (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Click here to view the group fields.

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Golden Goal Up To The Challenge

Dale Brennan's Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) indicated he could be rounding into his best form at age seven last year with a second-place finish in the G2 Godolphin Mile. Making his second start since in Friday's G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1, he fulfilled that prophecy with a near gate-to-wire, 1 1/2-length victory.

Joining Doug Watson after winning twice in Britain at three for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, the £240,000 yearling Golden Goal made just two starts in both 2019 and 2020, winning once the former season and finishing second both times in the latter. Despite being a lightly raced 7-year-old, Golden Goal began to hint that he was coming into his own last season, winning at first asking going seven furlongs on the dirt before being beaten three lengths in fifth at the handicap level and 3 1/4 lengths when fourth in the G3 Burj Nahaar before his Godolphin Mile second. Golden Goal warmed up for this with a fourth-place finish in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile on Dec. 16.

Breaking on terms from the inside gate, Golden Goal gradually worked his way to the front under Sam Hitchcott. He briefly held the lead before Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) moved to poke his nose in front in the three path, the pair split by Marie's Diamond (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). With that rival prematurely packing it in, it was Secret Ambition who held a slightly advantage in the two path rounding the turn with Golden Goal hugging the fence. Golden Goal got his head in front upon straightening and though Secret Ambition remained a game rival through the lane, Golden Goal at last stole clear inside the final furlong, finding the wire 1 1/2 lengths the better of Secret Ambition with the previously unbeaten 4-year-old Kafoo (Curlin) making up ground late to be third.

Pedigree Notes

Golden Goal is a half-brother to three winners including the listed-placed Rosie's Premiere (Ire), now the dam of the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or winner and dual Group 3-placed Louliana (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and the listed-placed Rose Premium (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). His second dam, the listed-placed Kelsey Rose (GB) (Most Welcome {GB}), is the dam of another evergreen black-type-winning son of Dark Angel in Sovereign Debt (Ire) as well as the G3 Fred Darling S. winner Puff (Ire) (Camacho {GB}). It is the extended family of the G2 Mill Reef S. winner and sire Indian Rocket (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

Friday, Meydan, Britain
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R1 PRESENTED BY NAKHEEL-G2, $250,000, Meydan, 1-14, 3yo/up, 8f, 1:37.90, fs.
1–GOLDEN GOAL (IRE), 126, g, 8, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Golden Rosie (Ire), by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Kelsey Rose (GB), by Most Welcome (GB)
3rd Dam: Duxyana (Ire), by Cyrano de Bergerac (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£240,000 Ylg '15
DBSPRM). O-Dale Brennan; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Doug
Watson; J-Sam Hitchcott. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 16-6-3-1,
$431,234. *1/2 to Rosie's Premiere (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}),
SP-Eng. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk
Nick Rating: A+.
2–Secret Ambition (GB), 126, h, 9, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–
Inner Secret, by Singspiel (Ire). O-Nasir Askar; B-Darley (GB);
T-Bhupat Seemar. $50,000.
3–Kafoo, 126, c, 4, Curlin–Blind Luck, by Pollard's Vision.
($250,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa Al
Maktoum; B-Mark Dedomenico (KY); T-Bhupat Seemar.
$25,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3 1/4, 3/4. Also Ran: Thegreatcollection, Salute the Soldier (Ger), Imperial Empire (GB), Avant Garde, Kimbear, Eastern World (Ire), Midnight Sands, Marie's Diamond (Ire), Hypothetical (Ire), Capezzano, Syrtis (GB). Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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Curtain Rises on Dubai World Cup Carnival

The 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival lasts from Jan. 14-Mar. 5, Super Saturday and begins on Friday. The 19th edition of the DWCC features enhanced purses and a new group of turf races, the Jumeirah Series. Anchoring the first seven-race card-six Thoroughbred and one Arabian race–is the $250,000 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 Presented by Nakheel, which attracted a field of 14.

Meydan veterans abound in the 1600-metre dirt contest, with 2021 G2 Godolphin Mile hero Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) signed on, one of five for trainer Bhupat Seemar. Breaking from stall five, the 9-year-old entire hasn't been seen in action since his Dubai World Cup night heroics.

“Secret Ambition has a good draw [stall five], is fit, healthy, and good to go,” said Seemar, who also saddles dual Meydan winner Imperial Empire (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), 2020 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 victor Kimbear (Temple City), the two-for-two Kafoo (Curlin) and 2021 Godolphin Mile third Avant Garde (Tonalist). “Kafoo is drawn 10 but is unbeaten this season. He's doing everything right. I only hope inexperience doesn't catch him because he's definitely got the talent to be up there to compete against this class of horses.

“Imperial Empire is a Dubawi and is a half-brother to a Group 1 winner, so hopefully he should show up. Kimbear ran a good race on his debut for us but unfortunately he's drawn a bit on the outside [stall 11], while Avant Garde is doing really well. This is his minimum trip, he would rather go over a mile and quarter, but it's a good place to start him.”

Others signed on are last year's G1 Dubai World Cup fourth-place finisher Hypothetical (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and the 2021 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 and G1 Al Matoum Challenge Round 3 scorer Salute the Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}). The 2019 G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 winner Capezzano (Bernardini) is also back for more, as is four-time Meydan dirt lover and Doug Watson trainee Thegreatcollection (Saint Anddan).

Said Watson, who also sends out Midnight Sands (Speightstown) and Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), “They're all doing well at home. We were a bit disappointed with Midnight Sands last time [when unplaced in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile on Dec. 16] but it was his first run after a long lay-off. He's been training well since.

“Thegreatcollection and Golden Goal are both in great shape. They both ran well recently after being off for the track for eight to nine months. It looks like they've come on so we're hoping they all run well.”

The Grass is Greener

Just after the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 is the G2 Cape Verdi, also over a mile, for fillies and mares on grass. The royal blue silks of Godolphin have been carried to victory in the race nine times already, and trainer Saeed bin Suroor has a pair entered, among them Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas victress of last year. Although off the board in a Riyadh after her Guineas win in January, she failed to see out the 1900 metres of the G2 UAE Derby on dirt in March. Returned to the UK, she ran out a 1 3/4-length winner in the Listed Rosemary S. at Newmarket in September going this trip, but gave way and finished ninth in the 2000-metre G3 Pride S. there on Oct. 8.

“She ran well last year, here in Dubai and also when we took her back to England,” said bin Suroor. “She won listed races on both dirt and turf. This looks like it is the right race to start her four-year-old campaign as she has been pleasing us at home.”

Bearing the second-string white cap is Stunning Beauty (Ire) (Shamardal), who was third after briefly leading in a Goodwood conditions race in August.

“Stunning Beauty showed better form in the UK last season and has been going well at home, so I'm hoping for a nice performance over a trip that suits,” said Bin Suroor.

Fellow Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby also has a contender in the lightly raced Nov. 13 Wolverhampton synthetic conditions scorer Wedding Dance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Successful in the past three renewals, Appleby said, “Wedding Dance improved from her first to second run last season, winning nicely at Wolverhampton on the latter occasion.

“The plan was always to bring her out to Dubai afterwards and we have been pleased with the way she has been training out here. She will potentially come forward for this, but we feel that she is ready to have a run and should be competitive.”

Mnasek (Empire Maker) appears to be the main threat to shake up the Godolphin domination. Raced exclusively at Meydan for her five starts to date, she was a distant second to Soft Whisper after a slow break in the 1900m UAE 1000 Guineas, but thrived in the G3 UAE Oaks last February. Only ninth in the colts' equivalent on Dubai World Cup night, she returned on Nov. 18 to run second in a rated conditions heat, but this will be her turf bow.

Turf Classic Pointers

Billed as turf prep races for the new $300,000 1400-metre grassy Ras Al Khor on Super Saturday, Mar. 5, the Jumeirah Series also begins on Friday with the 1400-metre Jumeirah Classic Trial Presented by Palm Jumeirah. Saeed bin Suroor fields Home City (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) with Frankie Dettori in the irons with an eye to the European Classics. The colt ran second in a nursery handicap at Goodwod in October and is one of two in the race for Godolphin, with Charlie Appleby's Sovereign Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a winner over this trip at Epsom on Sept. 26. The highest rated horse in the eight-strong race is Alice Haynes's Mr Professor (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), who found soft going to his liking in the Listed Silver Tankard S. at Pontefract on Oct. 18.

Meydan also hosts the Listed Dubai Racing Club Classic Presented by the View at the Palm over 2410 metres on turf and Meydan's nightcap-the Listed Dubai Dash over the minimum trip, also on turf. Naturally, Godolphin holds a strong hand in the former, with bin Suroor's G1 Grosser Preis von Baden third Passion and Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Appleby's Listed Blue Riband Trial victor Wirko (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) subscribed among a quintet of royal blue representatives.

Leading on ratings in the turf sprint is Motafaawit (Ire) (Intikhab), one of five for the late Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell operation. The gelding was fifth most recently in the Mar. 27 G1 Al Quoz Sprint. He locks horns with Listed Dubai Sprint hero Man of Promise (Into Mischief) from the Appleby yard.

Click here to view the group fields.

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