Dubai World Cup Carnival | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Navy’ Conquerors the ‘Seas’ at Meydan

Before the gates flew, all of the attention was focused on Godolphin's Master Of The Seas, a winner of the G2 Superlative S. and fourth in the G1 National S. at two, however, his stablemate Naval Crown had other ideas and fended off that rival's late charge to win the Listed Meydan Classic over 1600 metres on Thursday.

Breaking better than his fellow Charlie Appleby yardmate, Naval Crown was content to make the running through the early going and opened up on the field before the far turn. Master Of The Seas, however, had been noticeably fired up and very keen from fifth. The son of Come Alive traveled beautifully at the head of affairs as Master Of The Seas still tugged in fourth entering the straight.

Saving all of the ground at the fence, Naval Crown had built up enough cushion that despite Master Of The Seas's best efforts once tipped out to make his run in midstretch, the final margin was 1 3/4 lengths. The latter's earlier exertions undoubtedly blunted his finishing punch. Yurman was a distant third, 9 3/4 lengths back.

“The horse was fit today and that's the reason he won,” said hoop Michael Barzalona. “Today we had a nice rhythm, and I think I was pretty well in front and the horse was confident, and it was better to be in front. I am sure Charlie will be able to drop the horse in trip, and the horse had done well today.”

“Naval Crown–we pitched him in at group level as a 2- year-old, and he was well-placed twice there,” said Appleby. “We were not planning to run him in the 2000 Guineas, but he was working nicely in the dirt and therefore we felt we would give him a chance, and he ran a very solid race. Returning to turf was always going to favour him. He came into the race race-fit with conditions to suit, and he has gone and done it nicely. Personally, I think the horse will come back in trip when we get back to Europe.”

Regarding the heavy favourite Master Of The Seas, “With Master of Seas–he is fresh and well, and he showed that this evening. William [Buick] said he will come on a bundle for that. At least he learnt something this evening, William got him into a rhythm, he was here to win his race, but he got tired down the straight, but I am happy we got him out. He is very much a work in progress for Europe.”

Third at second asking in the Listed Pat Eddery S. at Ascot last July, the colt saluted in a York maiden over seven furlongs and then improved further to take third in both the Sept. 6 G3 Prix la Rochette at ParisLongchamp and the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint-Cloud on Oct. 2. Shelved for the year, Naval Crown was third after tracking the pace in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas on Feb. 4.

With his victory, Naval Crown is the 197th black-type winner for his Darley sire, who now has five stakes winners-three at the group level–out of Dansili mares led by G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Nezwaah (GB). Come Alive, who scored her biggest win in the Listed Prix Amandine and was also second in the Listed Prix Lilas, threw Naval Crown as her first foal. Her latest produce is a Lope de Vega (Ire) filly. The daughter of Dansili is out of English listed winner Portrayal (Saint Ballado), who also filled the frame in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, G2 Prix d'Aumale and G3 Middleton S.

The extended family is flush with black-type winners, all tracing to fourth dam and G3 Prix de Royaumont conqueress Truly Special (Ire) (Caerleon). G1 Irish Oaks heron Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), as well as G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) are both among their number, as is boom G1 Australian Oaks victress Colette (Aus) (Hallowed Crown {Aus}) among many others.

MEYDAN CLASSIC (SPONSORED BY AGNC3)-Listed, $88,000, Meydan, 2-25, NH3yo & SH3yo, 1600mT, 1:36.52, gd.
1–NAVAL CROWN (GB), 121, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Come Alive (GB) (SW-Fr), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Portrayal, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: True Glory (Ire), by In The Wings (GB)
1ST-BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby;
J-Mickael Barzalona. $52,800. Lifetime Record: SP-Eng, MGSP-
Fr, GSP-UAE), 7-2-0-5, $116,231.
2–Master of the Seas (Ire), 121, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Firth of
Lorne (Ire), by Danehill. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie
Appleby. $17,600.
3–Yurman (Arg), 131, c, 3, Asiatic Boy (Arg)–Qilaada, by
Bernardini. O-Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum;
B-Phalaris SRL (ARG); T-Mike de Kock. $8,800.
Margins: 1 3/4, 8, 1 1/4.
Also Ran: Mayehaab (GB), Nibras Passion (GB), Sharp Spun (GB).
Click for the Racing Post chart or Video.

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Open Zabeel Anchors Carnival Card

The Dubai World Cup Carnival continues at Meydan on Thursday, and the seven-race card is loaded with six stakes races-five at group level-a little over two weeks in advance of the Mar. 6 Super Saturday card.

The G2 Zabeel Mile has been won the past two years by Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby. Per usual, the royal blue is well represented, and the 110-rated D'Bai (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) leads the foursome. The 2019 G2 Al Fahidi Fort victor was only three-quarters of a length back in second when defending his title on Jan. 21. Another Appleby runner is listed hero Art du Val (GB) (No Nay Never), who was a running-on fourth in the G2 Singspiel S. on Jan. 21. Saeed bin Suroor sends out the Jan. 28 course and distance winner Bedouin's Story (GB) (Farhh {GB}).

“D'Bai ran a very good race in the Al Fahidi Fort and the return to 1600m is not a concern as he won over the trip as a young horse,” said Appleby. “The 1800m looked slightly too far for Art Du Val in the Singspiel, so the drop back 200m should be in his favour.”

Said bin Suroor of Bedouin's Story, “This is a big step up in class, but we are looking forward to seeing how he copes with it.”

The MGSW Epic Hero (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is aiming to bounce back after a rough-passage third in a listed race at Newmarket on Halloween. The Simon Crisford runner was also third a start prior in the G3 Darley S. at HQ earlier that month.

Similarly to the Zabeel Mile, the 1800-metre G2 Balanchine on grass attracted another Godolphin quartet, led by Jan. 28 Cape Verdi heroine Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). If she salutes on Thursday, she will give her connections their third consecutive Balanchine. The roan, carrying three more pounds than her rivals, will also attempt to complete the Cape Verdi/Balanchine double for the third time in three years. Another from the same yard is Group 3 heroine Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who ran fifth in the Cape Verdi after setting the pace.

“We had slight doubts about the 1600m before the Cape Verdi, but she saw it out well,” said Appleby. “She now has an extra 200m, under a penalty, so that is a new question, but she is in great form. That was a bit disappointing from Summer Romance in the Cape Verdi, but she has worked well since and we will race her in a hood.”

Saeed bin Suroor's duo of 2020 UAE 1000 Guineas winner and MGSP Cape Verdi third Dubai Love (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) returns for another try against Althiqa. “Dubai Love is a tough filly with a touch of class as she displayed winning last year's UAE 1000 Guineas,” said bin Suroor. “The 1800m should really suit her and she is in great form.”

One of Althiqa's chief rivals is Cape Verdi second Stylistique (GB) (Dansili {GB}) for Roger Varian. An allowance winner at Deauville last November, the GSP filly has Andrea Atzeni in the irons. It will be just 11 days short of a year since G3 UAE Oaks victress Down on Da Bayou (Super Saver) ran off the board in the inaugural Saudi Derby, but she makes her long awaited 2021 and grass bow in the Balanchine. Mozzarella (Fr) (Power {GB}), MGSP in France last summer, was a last out fourth at listed level at ParisLongchamp in September.

The G2 Meydan Sprint kicks off the group action at Meydan on Thursday and MGSW A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) carries top weight of 134 pounds. The five-time group winner's most recent tally was in the G2 Sapphire S. at The Curragh in July, but he ran fourth in York's G1 Nunthorpe S. a month later and trailed home 14th in the G1 Flying Five S. on Sept. 13. Frankie Dettori has the call for Simon Crisford.

Last out Listed Dubai Dash victor Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) will not make A'Ali's task an easy one over the grassy 1000-metre trip; nor will Dubai Dash third and G3 World Trophy S. hero Lazuli (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) representing Godolphin.

Sheikh Hamdan's Waady (Ire) (Approve {Ire}), successful in this event in 2020, reported home second in the 1200-metre G3 Dubawi S. on dirt when last seen on Jan 21. “It's really good to be back on grass with him and he's definitely better on it, even though he ran great last out in the Dubawi,” said trainer Doug Watson. “He's in great form and everything about him at the moment is positive.”

Watson's Mnasek (Empire Maker) mauled her opposition by 6 3/4 lengths when unveiled over 1400 metres locally on Dec. 17, and she heads the field for the G3 UAE Oaks on Thursday. She lost her unbeaten tag after breaking poorly in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas to Godolphin's Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), but as that rival is contesting the Feb. 20 $1.5-million Saudi Derby in Riyadh instead, she looks to have a clear playing field.

“She's doing really well and we broke her out of the gate twice with Pat [Dobbs, jockey],” Watson said. “I'm happy with him being on her this time. She has a lot of talent and if you stay out of her mouth–because she's touchy with that–at the start, she will break a lot better. I think she and Super Chianti are in great shape for the run.”

Her winning stablemate Super Chianti (Super Saver) was several lengths back in third in the 1000 Guineas and gains blinkers. Godolphin's Last Sunset (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) played bridesmaid to Soft Whisper in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial at Meydan on Jan. 7, and Saeed bin Suroor sends her back into the fray with Frankie Dettori on board. She was second most recently in the Feb. 4 Meydan Classic Trial versus males on the grass.

Bin Suroor said, “The step up to 1900m should really suit her [Last Sunset] and she ran well on dirt in the trial for the UAE 1000 Guineas, so we have no qualms about the surface.”

American expat Gladiator King (Curlin) towers over his rivals on form in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint. A winner of both the G3 Dubawi S. and the 2020 Al Shindagha at Meydan last January, the GIII Hutcheson S. hero ran third in the first edition of the Saudia Sprint at Riyadh on Feb. 29. Warming up for a defense of his title in this contest, the 5-year-old entire tired to third in the 1200m Dubawi S. on Jan. 21.

“He's in great form,” said assistant trainer Bhupat Seemar. “He ran third in his first run against fitter horses. He's a big, strong horse and you can only do so much galloping with him to get him in shape enough to compete with those types, so he definitely needed the run. He's definitely tightened up and improved from then.”

Feb. 5 Listed Jebel Ali Sprint winner Al Tariq (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) returns, and he represents trainer Doug Watson. Second in a Jebel Ali handicap last March, he finished in midfield when reappearing in a Meydan handicap on Jan. 21. “That was very rewarding at Jebel Ali and this is the obvious next target,” said Watson. “We think he can at least be competitive in a strong renewal.”

The lightly raced SP The Perfect Crown (Ire) (Hallowed Crown {Aus}) tests the waters at Meydan and at group level for the first time. Third in a Chelmsford conditions affair in September and fourth over a 1500-metre Deauville trip on Dec. 12, he is now trained by Salem bin Ghadayer. Bin Ghadayer said, “We have only had The Perfect Crown about three weeks, so this is a learning mission with him.”

Also on the seven-race card is the 2000-metre Listed Curlin S. The lightly raced Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is one of three in the race for Godolphin. Hailing from the Saeed bin Suroor yard, the 4-year-old colt graduated at Chelmsford in October, and was second in a Meydan conditions head over 1900 metres on Dec. 17. He was third after an awkward break over the same distance in a handicap on Jan. 14. Charlie Appleby's two-time winner Desert Peace, by this stake's namesake, is making his first Meydan start after saluting in a Kempton synthetic test all the way back on June 21.

The ultra-consistent Tailor's Row (Street Cry {Ire}) enters off of a career-best runner-up finish in the Listed Jebel Ali S. on Jan. 5. A winner of three-straight two-turn handicaps prior to that run beginning last December, the Salem bin Ghadayer runner is joined by stablemate and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Mkfancy (Fr) (Makfi {GB}), ninth in that same Jebel Ali contest. Twelfthofneverland (Istan) has won two straight here for Satish Seemar-a 2000-metre handicap on Jan. 16 and another handicap, this time going a mile, on Jan. 30.

Click here for the group fields.

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Salute The Soldier Makes Noise In Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2

Thursday evening's fourth meeting of the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival was highlighted by the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2. Bahraini Fawzi Nass saddled the winner, Salute The Soldier, under a majestic ride from Adrie de Vries.

Capezzano and Mickael Barzalona set out to try and make every post a winning one, but with De Vries never too far away before closing to within hailing distance leaving the back straight.

A duel developed throughout the first part of the straight before Capezzano faltered, leaving Salute The Soldier with a clear advantage and one he was never likely to relinquish. Barzalona's mount was passed by eventual runner-up Thegreatcollection and was then denied third, in the final strides, by Ajuste Fiscal. That pair ran on from the back, but never looked likely to deny De Vries.

A 6-year-old gelded son of Sepoy, Nass' charge was registering a third carnival success after a pair last year, in a 1600m (one-mile) turf handicap and then, over the same trip but on dirt, Super Saturday's Group 3 Burj Nahaar.

De Vries said: “Things had not gone to plan in two runs so far this season so we decided to step him up in trip and it has worked perfectly.

“We went a good early pace but I was keen to pressure Mickael quite early and then my horse really picked up well. Perhaps we can look at the 2000m (1 1/4-mile) and Dubai World Cup.”

First contested in 1994, the 1900m (1 3/16 miles) feature, the only Thoroughbred dirt race on the card, has been won twice by subsequent Dubai World Cup winners, Moon Ballad in 2003 and Thunder Snow in 2018.

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Colts Line Up for UAE 2000 Guineas as Carnival Continues at Meydan

The 1800-metre G3 UAE 2000 Guineas is one of two group races on the third card of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, and drew a sextet of entries led by Godolphin's Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The 104-rated bay, tops for the field, has never been off the board in five starts. Listed-placed at second asking at Ascot in July, the Charlie Appleby trainee graduated by 4 1/2 lengths in a 1400-metre York maiden on Aug. 21. His final two runs of the season were both thirds-in the Sept. 6 G3 Prix la Rochette at ParisLongchamp and when tiring after setting the pace in Saint-Cloud's G3 Prix Thomas Byron on Oct. 2. The 2000 Guineas is his dirt bow.

If the colt won, it would be a third UAE 2000 Guineas for Appleby, who said, “He is a solid little horse and we debated whether to keep him to turf or try the dirt, but his work at home, on dirt, has been very good, so we thought it was worth a crack.”

Next on ratings is Mouheeb (Flatter) from the yard of Nicholas Bachalard at 95. A winner at first asking at Jebel Ali in December, he was runner-up in a one-mile conditions affair locally on Jan. 14, one better than dual Meydan winner Zhou Storm (GB) (Due Diligence).

Bachalard said, “He had a very hard race in the trial, but seems to have come out of that in great shape, so we hope, he has a live chance.”

Also on Thursday is the G3 Firebreak S., which marks the return of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's G1SW Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass). The 6-year-old entire has progressed steadily through the ranks, and, after running third in this race last year, he stretched out in trip to take the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 by daylight on the front end in March.

Meydan veteran Kimbear (Temple City) receives a slight class break after running eighth in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 on Jan. 21. The 7-year-old Doug Watson charge is a two-time group winner in the UAE after success in the 2018 G3 Burj Nahaar and 2020 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1, with the re-opposing Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) second both times.

Watson told the Meydan notes team, “He needed that first run, probably more than we realised, but is training very well and seems in great form. We have put a visor on him so, being drawn one, I guess we will have to be quite positive and go forward.”

The latter, who struck at the Group 3 level at Jebel Ali in January of 2019, reversed fortunes with Kimbear with a one-length score in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile in December of 2019. He is also a two-time Firebreak bridesmaid in 2019 and in 2020. Trained by Satish Seemar, the 8-year-old entire ran third in the G3 Jebel Ali Mile on Jan. 22.

Assistant trainer Bhupat Seemar said, “The Jebel Ali Mile was only 13 days ago, but he seems to have recovered well. Drawn widest of all in six is probably not ideal, but he has run well in this before and never has a bad race.”

The oversubscribed Listed Dubai Sprint is a six-furlong contest on turf, and Ekhtiyaar (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) represents the Doug Watson barn. Bearing the Shadwell colours, the gelding, a dual runner-up in the 2019/20 G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, returned to take fourth after a 320-day break in a handicap at Meydan on Jan. 21.

Richard Barnes's Could Be King (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) has been MSP at the listed level throughout his career and he added another runner-up effort in the Listed Testimonial S. at The Curragh in October. The gelding was a one-paced fifth, one behind GSP Silver Line (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and one better than MGSP Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Aus})-both of whom run for Godolphin–in the Jan. 21 G2 Al Fahidi Fort for trainer Ken Condon.

Godolphin fields the majority of the entrants in the Listed Meydan Cup over 2810 metres of sod, with seven entered. MGSW Ispolini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was off the board in the Jan. 21 Listed Dubai Racing Club Classic most recently and looks to rebound for Charlie Appleby. French Group 3 winner Moonlight Spirit (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and listed winner Ghostwatch (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) are also signed on for Appleby. GSP Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) ran second in a listed handicap here on Jan. 21 for Saeed bin Suroor, while Global Heat (Ire) (Toronado {Ire}) saluted for the same yard in a Jan. 14 handicap.

Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}), second in a German Group 1 this past fall for Mark Johnston, now races for Salem bin Ghadayer and bids to improve off a 12th in a listed handicap here on Jan. 21. MSP Chouain (Fr) (Rajsaman {Fr}) represents trainer Miroslav Rulec and won a Deauville contest on Dec. 27.

Click here to view the group fields.

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