Tag: dubai

Firebreak Goes To Dubawi’s Prince Eiji

Dubawi sired his second new group winner in two weeks and 163rd overall when Prince Eiji (GB) got the job done over a sloppy main track in the 1600-metre $150,000 G3 Firebreak S. Presented By Longines. The first three home were all from the Doug Watson barn, as Everfast (Take Charge Indy) was 1 1/4 lengths back in second, a half-length to the good of Thegreatcollection (Saint Anddan) in third.

Several lengths off the pace in second as Ever Given (Kodi Bear {Ire}) opened up leaving the chute, Prince Eiji raced well off the fence to avoid the kickback over the sealed surface. He took dead aim on that foe at the half-way point and Sam Hitchcott let he loose leaving the bend. In front 300 metres out, he glided to the wire an easy winner, as Everfast and Thegreatcollection both made up ground in behind.

“Fantastic result,” said trainer Doug Watson, winning this race for the second time. “I'm very happy for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid [Al Maktoum, owner] to see Prince Eiji come back like that. I thought Sam [Hitchcott] sat in the perfect position all the way around as you just don't know how conditions like that are going to suit them.”

“He showed what he's capable of there,” added Hitchcott. “It was a difficult decision for Pat [Dobbs] to ride Everfast but I learned a lot from riding this horse last time. He's an athlete; he's very natural when it comes to switching his leads, which is what you need on the dirt.”

A winner of his Ascot debut all the way back in 2018, Prince Eiji made just three starts in 2022, but his yearly finale was a victory in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile at the beginning of December. The 7-year-old ran fifth in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 on the opening day of the Dubai World Cup Carnival earlier this month.

 

Pedigree Notes

Part of a legion of 249 stakes winners for Dubawi, Prince Eiji is the fourth group winner bred on the Dubawi/Pivotal cross with his victory on Friday. G2 Queen's Vase scorer Kemari (GB), G3 Prix de Flore victress Intimation (GB) and Desert Wisdom (GB), successful in the G3 Burj Nahaar, were earlier representatives. His dam, Classic-placed in the 2011 G1 Oaks, would go onto greater things as a 4-year-old, taking both the G1 Prix Jean Romanet and G1 Pretty Polly S. At stud, Izzi Top's second foal was the 1.9m gns Tattersalls October yearling turned stakes-placed Willie John (GB) (Dansili {GB}), with Prince Eiji her third, a 2.6m gns sale darling also during Book 1 in 2017. Her record currently stands at eight foals, with five to race and five winners. Her gelding of 2018, Zagato (GB) (Frankel {GB}), collected his black-type win in Bahrain. In 2021, she foaled an Invincible Spirit (Ire) filly, and her latest produce is a colt by Frankel (GB), born on Apr. 14, 2022.

Izzi Top is a half-sister to Grade III winner Emaraaty (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and G2 Prix de la Nonette heroine Jazzi Top (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who ran second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera. Their dam is the high class Group 1 winner Zee Zee Top (GB) (Zafonic), herself a daughter of the G1 Irish Oaks-winning blue hen Colorspin (Fr) (High Top {Ire}).

 

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
FIREBREAK S. PRESENTED BY LONGINES-G3, $150,000, Meydan, 1-27, NH4yo/up & SH 3yo/up, 8f, 1:39.06, sy.
1–PRINCE EIJI (GB), 126, g, 7, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Izzi Top (GB) (G1SW-Fr & Ire, MGSW &
                                G1SP-Eng, $734,076), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Zee Zee Top (GB), by Zafonic
3rd Dam: Colorspin (Fr), by High Top (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. (2,600,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Sheikh
Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB);
T-Doug Watson; J-Sam Hitchcott. $90,000. Lifetime Record:
MGSP-Eng, 19-3-3-2, $181,927. *1/2 to Willie John (GB)
(Dansili {GB}), SP-Eng; and Zagato (GB) (Frankel {GB}), SW-Bah,
$187,508. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Everfast, 126, g, 7, Take Charge Indy–Awesome Surprise, by
Awesome Again. ($47,000 Ylg '17 KEEJAN). O-Kildare Stud –
Frankie O'Connor; B-Extern Developments (KY); T-Doug
Watson. $30,000.
3–Thegreatcollection, 126, g, 9, Saint Anddan–Cactus Cadillac,
by Cactus Ridge. O-Zaur Sekrekov; B-Kathleen Amaya,
Alexandro Centofanti & Raffaele Centofanti (FL); T-Doug
Watson. $15,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 2 1/4.
Also Ran: Ever Given (Ire), Law Of Peace (GB), Discovery Island (GB), Imperial Empire (GB), Mister Saint Paul (Fr). Click for the VIDEO.

 

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City of Light’s Mimi Kakushi Too Strong in UAE 1000 Guineas

Having celebrated a maiden-breaking victory in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs Dec. 23, MIMI KAKUSHI (f, 3, City of Light–Rite Moment, by Vicar) ran out a convincing 4 1/2-length winner of Friday's $150,000 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas at Meydan. The bay, fourth in her first two trips to the races over sprint distances in November and early December, jumped well enough for Mickael Barzalona, but was beaten for speed by Awasef (Cairo Prince) to the outside and was ultimately eased back and into the two path to chase from second. Shadowing the pacesetter into the final 700 meters, Mimi Kakushi was roused to the front with a quarter-mile to travel and put the race to bed while striding readily clear. Awasef held second ahead of the one-start maiden Unjokable (Practical Joke).

“She was happy to be on the pace and the extra furlong was a help as well,” said Barzalona, winning this race for the second time after Nashmiah in 2017. “I think she will run a good race in the [1900m] UAE Oaks too.”

Bin Ghadayer added, “We have four weeks until the Oaks which is enough time for a rest; she will just need one breeze before the race. She is the best filly I've trained.”

A $180,000 purchase out of the 2021 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale, Mimi Kakushi was hammered down for $250,000 at that same auction house's Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale after breezing a furlong in :10 1/5 over the Timonium dirt track. A fourth stakes winner for her sire (by Quality Road), Mimi Kakushi is a half-sister to dual black-type winner Moment Is Right (Medaglia d'Oro) and SW Laudation (Congrats). Rite Moment is also the dam of a yearling filly by Cajun Breeze and is due to Khozan this term.

Friday's Results:
UAE 1000 GUINEAS PRESENTED BY ARN-Listed, $150,000, Meydan, 1-20, 3yo, f, 8f, 1:39.48, fs.
1–MIMI KAKUSHI, 126, f, 3, by City Of Light
1st Dam: Rite Moment (MGSW-US, $399,303), by Vicar
2nd Dam: Moments Of Joy, by Lost Code
3rd Dam: Valiant Sweetheart, by Danzig
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($180,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $250,000 2yo
'22 FTIMAY). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum;
B-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Salem bin Ghadayer;
J-Mickael Barzalona. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0,
$122,701. *1/2 to Moment Is Right (Medaglia d'Oro),
MSW-US, $228,445; and Laudation (Congrats), SW-US,
$100,840.
2–Awasef, 126, f, 3, Cairo Prince–Darling Sky, by Sky Mesa.
1ST BLACK TYPE. ($100,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Al Rashid
Stables LLC; B-Namcook Stables, Paul Braverman & Tim Pinch
(KY); T-Doug Watson. $30,000.
3–Unjokable, 126, f, 3, Practical Joke–Willowbern, by
Bernardini. 1ST BLACK TYPE. ($100,000 2yo '22 FTIMAY).
O-Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Haymarket Farm LLC
(KY); T-Ahmad bin Harmash. $15,000.
Margins: 4HF, 5, 2 3/4.
Also Ran: Asawer, Nafas, Cite d'Or (Fr). Scratched: Here We Are.
MEY4: VIDEO.

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Dubai Future Intrigues In Friday’s G2 Al Rashidiya S.

by J.N. Campbell & Heather Anderson

The pulse intensifies week-to-week at Meydan Racecourse, as it's almost a fortnight into the Dubai World Cup Carnival. A seven-race card this Friday sports the 1800-metre G2 Al Rashidiya Presented By Azizi, and a well-matched field of 11 will vie for group honours over the Meydan turf.

That distance might be a touch long for Godolphin-bred, Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). He is poised to make a splash in what is his 7-year-old debut for trainer Saeed bin Suroor as he points towards what could be his third consecutive appearance in the G1 Sheema Classic come March. It should be noted that he bested stablemate Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who also reappears here, in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy at Sakhir Racecourse on Nov. 18.

“He [Dubai Future] hasn't had a run for two months but he's been back in full training a while now, he's working well and I'm happy with him,” said Bin Suroor. “The Bahrain Trophy was obviously a good result and this is the best race for him before World Cup night.

“We will see how he runs here before deciding where he ends up. He's a tough horse, a fighter, and we'll just have to see how he runs before the World Cup meeting.

“Passion And Glory has also been training well since Dubai and I expect him to run well as well.”

As expected, more royal blue will be present in the form of a pair of lightly-raced Charlie Appleby runners–namely, Newmarket listed hero Ottoman Fleet (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Valiant Prince (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The former gained valuable experience when fourth in the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot last summer, and he was also runner-up two starts later in the G3 Darley S. at HQ. The latter won a pair of handicaps over the winter at Meydan in 2022, and earned a career-best black-type score in the Listed Ganton S. at York in June. This old fashioned 'horse-for-the-course' angle from his winter exploits could offer a clue as to what is expected from this sharp-looking  5-year-old gelding.

One other runner that warrants a look is the Doug Watson-trained San Donato (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). An ultra-consistent performer against listed-types, this 7-year-old competed more often as a miler for Roger Varian's barn. Gelded last April, he came to his new outfit and won a listed tune-up by two lengths at Abu Dhabi on Dec. 4.

 

Classic Pointer On The Undercard

Besides the stakes action later on in the evening, race three is the purview of colts with potential Classic aspirations, with an octet signed on for the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Presented By Azizi over 1400 metres on the main track. The most accomplished runners in this conditions heat hail from South America, with the three-for-four Loreley (Brz) (Kentuckian) amply supported by fellow dual listed winner Es-Unico (Brz) (War Secretary), and Group 3 victor Eye On The Prize (Arg) (Il Campione {Chi}).

Godolphin also holds a strong hand in the Ipi Tombe S. Presented By Azizi, as a quartet of runners represent bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby, split two apiece. 2021 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas heroine Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) squares off with stablemate White Moonlight (Medaglia d'Oro). Appleby's duo of Grade I winner Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Light Of Peace (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also step out in this conditions heat over 1400 metres on the Meydan lawn.

“Soft Whisper is working well and likes it in Dubai, I'm really happy with her, she worked really well last week,” said bin Suroor. “She's in the right race over the right trip [seven furlongs], so we'll see how she goes.

“White Moonlight had three years off but she still shows me something on a morning, the problem is she is unsound.

“Every time she got close to a run she'd get another problem. I've given her lots of time, but I know she still has class. She's better than she showed last time. What I see on the morning is very good. We just thought we'd give her a chance out here in Dubai before deciding on her future.”

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Fasig-Tipton To Sponsor Best Turned Out Award At Meydan This Season

The Best Turned Out Award at Meydan Racecourse will be sponsored by Fasig-Tipton in 2023, the Dubai Racing Club announced on Friday morning. There will be a cash prize presented to the groom of each award winner prior to each race as well as other merchandise throughout the season. Graduates of the American sales company to find success in Dubai include G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Switzerland (Speightstown), as well as dual Golden Shaheen winner Mind Your Biscuits (Posse).

“Fasig-Tipton are hugely influential across the world of Thoroughbred sales and racing,” said Major General Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, General Manager of Dubai Racing Club. “We are delighted to have them on board to sponsor the Best Turned Out at Meydan Racecourse, an accolade which means so much to the grooms and stable staff who do so much to prepare our horses for racing.”

Boyd Browning, President & Chief Executive of Fasig-Tipton, added, “We are very pleased to work with the Dubai Racing Club to present the Best Turned Out award this season, highlighted by the Dubai World Cup Carnival, as well as one of international racing's great meetings, the Dubai World Cup, on Mar. 25.

“It will be exciting to see many of the world's top racehorses compete at Meydan and to reward those who take such great care of them.”

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