Tag: dubai world cup

Country Grammer Leads North American Charge Into DWC Night

WinStar Farm, Commonwealth Thoroughbreds and Zedan Racing's defending G1 Dubai World Cup champion Country Grammer (Tonalist) tops a dozen North American entries for the Dubai World Cup program at Meydan Racecourse Saturday, Mar. 25. The prospective fields were revealed overnight by the Dubai Racing Club.

The 6-year-old is one of 13 in the field for the $12-million centerpiece of the meeting, including no fewer than eight runners from Japan topped by Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who registered a half-length defeat of Country Grammer in the G1 Saudi Cup last month. Emblem Road (Quality Road), who upset Country Grammer in the 2022 Saudi Cup, is set to make the trip over from Riyadh.

In terms of numbers, the U.S. supplies five of the 13 likely starters the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, whose defending American-bred champion Switzerland (Speightstown) is also engaged. Gunite (Gun Runner) gave an excellent account of himself when making his seasonal debut in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint, finishing runner-up to champion Elite Power (Curlin), while the in-form Sibelius (Not This Time) ships in for Midlantic-based conditioner Jerry O'Dwyer and will be ridden by Ryan Moore. Hopkins (Quality Road), a latest winner of the GIII Palos Verdes S., also represents the Bob Baffert barn, while C Z Rocket (City Zip) was a late addition to the field. Super Ocho (Chi) (Dubai Sky) is one of two World Cup night entries for trainer Amador Sanchez, who also sends out Gulfstream allowance winner Super Corinto (Arg) (Super Saver) in the G2 Godolphin Mile.

The G2 UAE Derby is the first race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby that offers the winner 100 points, and three American-based sophomores are in the mix. Two of those wintered in Dubai for Doug O'Neill, namely Tall Boy (Lookin At Lucky), fourth to Practical Move (Practical Joke) in last year's GII Los Alamitos Futurity, who handed Charles Fipke's Shirl's Bee (Bee Jersey) a one-length loss in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas over a mile Feb. 10. Ah Jeez, a son of 2018 UAE Derby romper Mendelssohn, earned his way into the field with a 2 1/4-length allowance victory going seven furlongs at Meydan Feb. 24. Worcester (Empire Maker) is a third World Cup night runner for Baffert and most recently rounded out the trifecta in the Feb. 4 GIII Robert B. Lewis S.

Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid) won the 2021 G1 Al Quoz Sprint for Brendan Walsh and the conditioner is represented in this year's running by 'TDN Rising Star' Cazadero (Street Sense).

The last of the North American-based entries is Fipke's Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown), who runs in the G1 Dubai Turf after finishing ninth behind Golden Shaheen entrant Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) in the G1 February S. on the dirt at Tokyo Feb. 19.

 

 

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World Pool Sees Super Saturday Increases

Dubai's Super Saturday meeting at Meydan Racecourse saw World Pool's globally commingled turnover increase over 2022's figure by HK$18.9m (approx. $2.4m) to HK$224,802,517 (approx. $28.6m) across the eight races. The Ras Al Khor conditions race, which was won by Godolphin's Al Suhail (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}], saw the highest jump to HK$33,518,763 (approx. $4.3m) in total monies bet on the contest.

Both Group 1 races on the card saw figures surpassing HK$30m, with the G1 Jebel Hatta raking in HK$33,366,784 (approx. $4.3m) and the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 drawing HK$31,560,463 (approx. $4m).

“World Pool continues to grow year-on-year and we couldn't be happier to exceed 2022's Super Saturday turnover total,” Sam Nati, Head of Commingling at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said. “Having runners from Hong Kong engaged at the meeting really added to the international flavour that is World Pool.

“We continue to see unbelievable comparative value and deep liquidity wherever World Pool goes.”

Salute The Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}] won the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 for a second time and in doing so, the Bhupat Seemar-trained 8-year-old became 2023's fourth World Pool Moment of the Day winner, with his groom taking home a cheque for HK$40,000 as well as entry into the World Pool Moment of the Year competition.

World Pool will be back in operation for the Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday, Mar. 25.

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‘Soldiering’ On

'Victorious' in the 2021 G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 ahead of a fifth-place effort behind Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) in the G1 Dubai World Cup, 8-year-old Salute the Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}) sat a four-wide trip while punching the breeze and showed his superiour late stamina to best a game Bendoog (Gun Runner) in the $450,000 2023 edition sponsored By Emirates Airline Saturday evening at Meydan Racecourse to earn a return ticket to the $12-million feature in three weeks' time.

The veteran galloper, a disappointing fifth behind World Cup market leader Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal) and Bendoog in Round 2 of the challenge Feb. 3, was a half-step slow from a wide barrier but mustered some speed and was in fifth position as First Constitution (Chi) (Constitution) showed the way into the first corner. Steered out into about the four path with about 1300 metres to traverse, Salute the Soldier always traveled sweetly for Adrie de Vries just off the flank of Bendoog. He appeared to be going well as the field neared the straight, claimed First Constitution with three-sixteenths of a mile and went for home. But Salute the Soldier, who always figured the better stayer between the two, struck to the lead 150 metres out and went on to score by a comfortable margin. First Constitution held for third ahead of Law of Peace (GB) (Shamardal), who ran on for fourth while no menace to the winner. Salute the Soldier was completing a race-to-race double for his owner and trainer, who took out the Listed Al Bastakiya S. for the 3-year-olds one race previously.

“He lost form last year for some reason, but there was some optimism this year. We know he's got the ability,” said winning trainer Fawzi Nass, who would not fully commit to a start in the World Cup.

Added de Vries, “We went fast and I was happy with my draw on the outside. I followed James [Doyle, on Bendoog] as he had, in my opinion, the horse to beat. I gave him a nice breather on the turn and it took him a while to pick up, but he seems to have a lot more stamina now and he made it look easy at the end.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Salute the Soldier is the product of a G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning sire raced by Godolphin, who finished well down the field behind the Fawzi Nass-trained Krypton Factor (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in the 2012 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Dam sire Street Cry (Ire) needs little introduction, as he won this race–when contested at Group 2 level in 2002–and doubled up with a towering 4 1/4-length tally in the big race.

Street Fire is also the dam of the 3-year-old filly Fox Flame (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), the 2-year-old filly Smouldering (Ire) (Profitable {GB}) and a yearling filly by Profitable.

Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R3 (SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE)-G1, $450,000, Meydan, 3-4, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 2000m, 2:04.52, ft.
1–SALUTE THE SOLDIER (GER), 126, g, 8, by Sepoy (Aus)
1st Dam: Street Fire (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Firedrake, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: Danzante, by Danzig
(380,000gns HRA '19 TATOCT). O-Victorious; B-Alan Spence
(GER); T-Fawzi Nass; J-Adrie de Vries. $270,000. Lifetime
Record: SP-Eng, 28-10-5-3, $1,650,618. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bendoog, 126, c, 4, Gun Runner–Nellie Cashman, by
Mineshaft. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Mohammed Khaleel
Ahmed; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Bhupat Seemar. $90,000.
3–First Constitution (Chi), 126, h, 5, Constitution–Antic (Chi), by
Kitten's Joy. ($430,000 HRA '22 FTKJUL). O-RRR Racing;
B-Haras Don Alberto (CHI); T-Salem bin Ghadayer. $45,000.
Margins: 2, 1HF, SHD.
Also Ran: Law Of Peace (GB), Ajuste Fiscal (Uru), Marshall Plan (GB), Sanad Libya, Atletico El Culano (Uru), Injazati (Ire), Kafoo, Military Law (GB), Sifting Sands (GB), Quality Humor, Ides Of August. Scratched: Hypothetical (Ire). VIDEO.

 

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Feb. 26 Insights: Albaugh Family Stables Send Out ‘Mischief’ Firster

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

6th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 2:39p.m. ET
Against a field where several have high-profile connections and purple catalog pages, the Albaugh Family Stables look to be counted present with MILAN MISCHIEF (Into Mischief), their $440,000 KEESEP daughter of America's four-time reigning champion general sire. Hailing from the female line of Irish Mare of the Year, several time European/Irish champion, and four-time High-weight runner MG1SW Kooyonga (Ire) (Persian Bold {Ire}), the Dale Romans trainee is a full-sister to SW Little Menace. Their dam is herself a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Balance the Books (Lemon Drop Kid) as well as seven-time winner, SP Photo Shoot (Giant's Causeway). This is also the extended female family of G1SP Princess Sinead (Ire) (jeremy); MGSW & G1SP Mondragon (Brz); South African Champion 3-year-old filly, GISW Kundalini (El Gran Senor); and G1SP Jaljuli (Ire) (Jalmood). TJCIS PPs

7th-FG, $50k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 5:15p.m. ET
Godolphin's royal blue silks are carried to post here on the back of HECKLED (Hard Spun), a homebred half-sister to MGSW Pixelate (City Zip). Out of SP Speckled (Street Cry {Ire}), herself half to MGSW Skylighter (Sky Mesa)–granddam of Wet Paint (Blame)–as well as SW Cave Hill (Frosted) and the dam of GSP Meru (Sky Mesa), Heckled claims three other winning half-siblings. Michael Stidham sends her to post with a steady string of works and one off the rail for this unveiling. This is the female line of MGISW Nastique (Naskra), herself responsible for 11-time winner, Japanese multi-millionaire Nobo True (Broad Brush) and GSW Thunder Kitten (Storm Cat), dam of five Graded/Group performers including MG1SP Michita (Dynaformer) and GI Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup-placed Cat O'Mountain (Street Cry {Ire}); among others. TJCIS PPs

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