dubai | Horse Racing Free Tips

Charlie Heats Up Carnival

GISW Hot Rod Charlie Preps For The Dubai World Cup
Doug O'Neill's Grade I winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), one of five runners for the GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer on Meydan's Dubai World Cup Carnival Friday card, is easily the highest-rated horse to compete on the day, and he gains the services of William Buick, Godolphin being without a runner in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2. After finishing second at 100-1 in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Hot Rod Charlie franked that form to be one of last year's most consistent and talented American 3-year-olds, albeit one of the most unlucky, too. Third in the GI Kentucky Derby, he set a burning pace in the GI Belmont S. only to be caught late on by Essential Quality, and though he crossed the wire first in the GI Haskell Invitational, he was disqualified and placed last, having changed paths too close to a rival in the stretch, causing the rival to clip heels and lose his rider. Hot Rod Charlie at last got his Grade I win in the Pennsylvania Derby, and was fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and second by a nose when last seen in the GII San Antonio S. on Boxing Day. His ultimate goal for the carnival is the G1 Dubai World Cup at the end of March.

3-Year-Old Milers Face Off In Jumeirah Classic
Friday's third race at Meydan, the Listed Jumeirah Classic, could produce runners that make an impact during the European flat season. Godolphin's New Science (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) beat the subsequent dual Group 1 winner Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) when winning the Listed Pat Eddery S. at Ascot in July, and was last seen finishing fourth, beaten two lengths, in the G3 Prix la Rochette. The Charlie Appleby trainee locks horns with stablemate Sovereign Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who broke his maiden at Epsom in September and enters off a win in the Jan. 14 1400-metre Jumeirah Classic Trial, with KHK Racing's Sed Maarib (American Pharoah) and Amo Racing's listed winner Mr Professor (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) second and third that day. That duo were fourth and fifth to another Godolphin luminary in the lightly raced Island Falcon (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) from Saeed bin Suroor's stable, who took the Jumeirah Derby Trial over 1800 metres of turf on Jan. 21 in his third start.

Could Secret Image Be The Next Dark Angel Dirt Star?
Dark Angel (Ire) progeny have gotten off to a strong start this carnival, with Golden Goal (Ire) and Real World (Ire) winning pattern races within the first three weeks of the carnival. Golden Goal is one of 13 black-type winners for Dark Angel on the dirt, and with trainer Saeed bin Suroor keeping options open on both surfaces for Real World, it is very likely that Dark Angel could have two serious contenders for the Gulf region's most important dirt races this season. Another could emerge on Friday in Godolphin's Goodwood maiden winner Secret Image (Ire), who lines up in a weak renewal of the Al Bastakiya Trial on the G2 UAE Derby trail. Secret Image tries the dirt for the first time in his fourth start. His half-brother Gold Town (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}) won the 2018 G3 UAE 2000 Guineas, while his dam, the stakes winner and group-placed Pimpernel (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), was second in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas in 2012. He will have William Buick in the irons for Charlie Appleby and leaves from gate 13.

Talented Creative Flair Seeks First Pattern Win
Creative Flair (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a listed winner at Newbury last June, aims for her first win at the group level in the G2 Balanchine at Meydan. The Charlie Appleby trainee and great granddaughter of blue hen Arc heroine Urban Sea (Miswaki) led for most of the G3 Prix Chloe, but tired to be third in July, and was not beaten far in a pair of American outings to wrap up her 3-year-old campaign when third in the G3 Saratoga Oaks and fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational. Creative Flair returns against some stiff competition in the 1800-metre affair. Another Godolphin chance, Saeed bin Suroor charge Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), put her stamp on the 2021 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas, while Al Rashid Stables' Mnasek (Empire Maker) is also looking for redemption, with her last win in the Feb. 18 G3 UAE Oaks. The pair were defeated in the G2 Cape Verdi by Pevensey Bay (Ger) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) for Hiroo Shimizu.

Click here for the group fields.

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Michelle Lovell ‘Just Might’ Take Her Shot In Dubai

After crossing the finish line first in the Kenner Stakes at the Fair Grounds last weekend, Just Might's trainer Michelle Lovell is considering shipping him to Dubai for the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint on the March 26 Dubai World Cup undercard.

Impressively taking over early and winning the turf sprint by 2 ¾ lengths geared down late, Just Might was disqualified and placed 8th after the stewards ruled his move to the rail as impeding a foe's ability to get out of harm's way. Winning or finishing 1st in 7 out of his last 8 starts, his lone miss came in the Phoenix (G2) when he grabbed his quarter.

“People don't send me horses that could to go to Dubai,” Lovell said. “I had to raise one, which is crazy. I got to make every call in this horse's career and it makes me feel good that we got this far.

“Yeah, Dubai,” Lovell mused and spoke to Just Might in his stall. “It's a big step, Pappa. I think they have to give an official invite, too–they've asked me a few times to nominate. I think they want me to nominate.”

“It's a straight six furlongs,” Lovell continued. “We have nowhere to practice, but you know he probably will be okay. He runs his turns pretty good and he does make his little move right there sometimes. But he leans out in the turns so maybe he will be a little better going in a straight line. He leans out in every race just because he is going pretty fast and the turns on the turf are just sharper. He just runs.”

“He has really matured a lot this past year,” Lovell said. “I think one of his best races maturing in his brain as a race horse, not just raw talent but figuring it out, was when he ran and beat Johnny Ortiz' horse, Mucho, at Colonial. It was on the dirt which was a little scary for me, six furlongs which was stretching him out more. He actually dug in and won that race. And he lost his shoe somewhere in the race, too. He never took a bad step, he never tore his foot up but he did run the race with his left shoe off. And he dug in really hard–that day he grew up, really fighting that nice horse that Johnny has. And he broke the track record, which they don't really say a new track record because they didn't run a lot of races on the dirt there. He ran a 1:07 and change.”

The post Michelle Lovell ‘Just Might’ Take Her Shot In Dubai appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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New York-Bred Rawy Impresses In UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial

Team Godolphin was expected to clean up on week two of the 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival and boy did they, winning five of the seven races on a classy night's action at Meydan Racecourse on Friday.

While Godolphin runners may have ruled supreme, it was trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer's American acquisition Rawy who conceivably delivered the performance of the day when outclassing his six rivals to win the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial in breathtaking fashion.

A $240,000 purchase from the Ocala March sale, the fleet-footed 3-year-old son of Grade 1 winning Darley stallion Frosted broke well under French ace Mickael Barzalona and quickly assumed control of the contest.

At no point did he look like relenting, pulling clear at the 500-meter mark before excelling himself to cross the line two lengths clear of Uruguay's last-outing Meydan scorer, Quality Boone. Kiefer, previously unbeaten in Uruguay, ran an eye-catching race in third on his local debut.

Bin Ghadayer was delighted with the performance and the fact that he now had a potential Classic contender on his hands, saying: “Since we bought him from the United States he showed ability. To continue to think about the 2000 Guineas we knew we must run him tonight to see where we are. He proved he has class today, we are happy.

“I don't think the mile (in the Guineas) will be too much of an issue. He has speed but he also has the stamina to make the mile, he's a horse with a good temperament. He's very lovely Everything goes easy with him.”

Bred in New York by Mike and Natanya McMahon's Spruce Lane Farm and partners, Rawy is the second foal out of the winning Tiznow mare Graceful Rage.

The post New York-Bred Rawy Impresses In UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Naval Crown Asserts His Class in Al Fahidi Fort

by Alan Carasso

Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) provided his all-conquering sire his third winner in the last four runnings of the G2 Al Fahidi Fort S. and 143rd worldwide scorer at graded/group stakes level with a deceptively easy success in the seven-furlong test Friday at Meydan.

Away alertly from a low barrier, the athletic bay found himself forwardly placed and was locked away at the fence as the veteran Ajwad (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) was ridden for speed from gate 13 and came across the field to lead at a good gallop. Quietly ridden on the bend by William Buick while holding his position, Naval Crown was waited with in upper stretch, muscled his way into the clear with about two furlongs to race, hit the front going well at the 200-metre peg and remained comfortably in front as Story of Light (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) chased him home in vain. Shadwell's Zainhom (Street Cry {Ire}) rallied from near the tail of the field to grab third.

Multiple Group 3-placed in France at two, Naval Crown was a creditable third in a single try on the dirt in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas last February before bouncing back to take the Listed Meydan Classic going a mile over the local turf three weeks hence. Beaten less than three lengths into fourth by Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) as a 50-1 chance in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in May, Naval Crown backed up to this trip to be runner-up in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot June 19 and was last seen struggling home eighth in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville July 11.

In a post-race interview, winning trainer Charlie Appleby said he'd be inclined to pass the upcoming stc1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia next month, a race won last year by Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and instead take in the 1400-metre $300,000 Ras Al Khor conditions race on Super Saturday Mar. 5 as a steppingstone to his 4-year-old season in Europe.

Pedigree Notes:

Naval Crown is the first foal from his dam, winner of the Listed Prix Amandine for Andre Fabre at Maisons-Laffitte in 2016 before visiting Dubawi for her first cover the following spring. Come Alive is one of five winners from eight to the races for her dam Portrayal, a listed winner and Group 3-placed in England and twice place at group level in France, including a third to the once-beaten, dual Classic winner Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) in the G2 Prix Robert Papin in 2004. Come Alive is represented by a 2-year-old Lope de Vega (Ire) filly and a yearling filly by Shamardal.

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
AL FAHIDI FORT PRESENTED BY MINA BY AZIZI-G2, $180,000, Meydan, 1-21, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:22.02, gd.
1–NAVAL CROWN (GB), 126, c, 4, 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 GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. $108,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, MGSP-Fr, 12-3-2-5, $287,402. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Story of Light (Ire), 126, g, 5, Dark Angel (Ire)–Beautiful Ending (GB), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE. O-Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Ahmad bin Harmash. $36,000.
3–Zainhom, 126, g, 8, Street Cry (Ire)–Kaseema, by Storm Cat. O-Shadwell Stable; B-Shadwell Farm LLC (KY); T-Musabbeh Al Mheiri. $18,000.
Margins: 1, SHD, NK.
Also Ran: Storm Damage (GB), Manjeer (Ire), Spirit of Light (Ire), Sanary (GB), Could Be King (GB), Land of Legends (Ire), Alkaamel (GB), Ajwad (GB), Garrulous (SAf), Ventura Rebel (GB), La Barrosa (Ire). Click for the Emirates Racing chart and the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

WATCH: Naval Crown proves too classy in Al Fahidi Fort

The post Naval Crown Asserts His Class in Al Fahidi Fort appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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