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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Double For Godolphin, As Naval Power Takes Listed Jumeirah Classic

Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) added another tick in the win column with a stalk-and-pounce triumph in Meydan's Listed Jumeirah Classic Presented By Longines on Friday.

Punching the breeze from his wide draw, he was content to let One Nation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) take the lead for the opening quarter mile. Eventually steered back through the field to get some cover, the hooded bay revved back up by the 500-metre mark and arrived with his run at the 300-metre pole. It took him until the 50-metre mark to collar One Nation, but once he was in the clear, he motored home a facile winner. One Nation was 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Highbank (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in third to give Charlie Appleby and Godolphin the trifecta.

“That was lovely in a competitive race, as the second and third set a good standard,” said William Buick. “He'll be a better horse on better ground.”

A winner of his first four starts, including to at listed level in England, Naval Power's flawless record ended with a sixth in the G1 Dewhurst S. in October. The Jumeirah was his 3-year-old bow.

Emirates Rewards did her best running at three where she accrued three victories. At stud, she has three winners from four runners, a Harry Angel (Ire) juvenile filly and a yearling filly by Raven's Pass. Her dam is GI Spinster S. heroine Asi Siempre (El Prado {Ire}), who also foaled GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero and sire Outstrip (GB). Click for the VIDEO.

JUMEIRAH CLASSIC-Listed, $150,000, Meydan, 1-27, 3yo, 9fT, 1:52.64, sf.
1–NAVAL POWER (GB), 121, c, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Emirates Rewards (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Asi Siempre, by El Prado (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Siempre Asi, by Silver Hawk
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick.
$90,000. Lifetime Record: MSW-Eng, 6-5-0-0, $167,112.
2–One Nation (GB), 121, g, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Lacey's Lane (GB),
by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (GB);
T-Charlie Appleby. $30,000.
3–Highbank (Ire), 121, g, 3, Kingman (GB)–Bristol Bay (Ire), by
Montjeu (Ire). (750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Godolphin; B-Lynch Bages & Camas Park Stud (GB); T-Charlie
Appleby. $15,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3 1/4, 1HF.
Also Ran: Legend Of Cannes, Slava Ukraini (Den), Long Kiss (Brz), Nopoli (GB), Bay Of Plenty (Ire), Al Hajaj  (Ire).

 

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Exceed And Excel’s Mawj Rebounds In The Desert With Conditions Success

4th-Meydan, Cond, $100,000, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:26.21, sf.
MAWJ (IRE) (f, 3, Exceed And Excel {Aus}–Modern Ideals {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}), named a 'TDN Rising Star' after winning her May 14 Newmarket novice by 4 3/4 lengths, went on to take the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. two starts later and ended her juvenile season with a third in the G1 Cheveley Park S. in her fifth start. Perched out wide in an ideal stalking position, she tackled longtime leader Alseyoob (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) at the quarter pole and appeared home free. However, fellow Godolphin colourbearer Dream Of Love (Ire) (Shamardal) was rocketing home up the outside and cut the margin down to a short head at the line. “To be honest I got racing too far out and I wasn't really going too well at the 600 metres,” said winning jockey Pat Cosgrave. “She's an Exceed And Excel and she doesn't really want this ground. It was tight at the line but class got her through.” Although Epitome never placed, she has made a large impact on the breed, as she is already the dam of three stakes winners including the winner. Modern News (GB) (Shamardal) won at listed level in England and was also placed in a pair of Group 3s there, while her fourth foal was recently crowned Eclipse Champion Turf Male Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the GI Breeders' Cup Mile and GI Woodbine Mile S. to go along with his Classic scorein the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Epitome's latest foal is a juvenile filly by Mastercraftsman (Ire). Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, $213,910. Click for the VIDEO.
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor.

 

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‘Superman’ Aiming For Victory In Zabeel Mile

The G2 Zabeel Mile Presented By ARN is the showpiece during Friday's Dubai World Cup Carnival card at Meydan. The $180,000 1600-metre event has attracted a field of eight, five of which carry the Godolphin blue. However, the most intriguing runner is Michael O'Callaghan's dual group winner I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}).

Back from a successful sojourn Down Under where he landed the G2 Shannon S. in 2020 and the G2 Ajax S. in 2021 for Peter & Paul Snowden, the 7-year-old is hoping to tally a win in his third individual country. A three-time scorer in his native land and third in the G3 Desmond S. in 2019, I Am Superman was second in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield when last seen on Sept. 17.

“We're delighted with I Am Superman since arriving in Dubai,” said O'Callaghan. “He's in really good form ahead of Friday and Colin Keane is over to ride both him and Fastnet Crown (Ire) (Hallowed Crown {Aus}) [in the Dubai Eye 103.8 H.].”

Bearing the coveted blue cap among the Godolphin quintet is 2021 G1 2000 Guineas runner-up and dual group hero Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby. He was last in action at HQ taking the G3 Earl Of Sefton S. in April.

Appleby, who is gunning for a sixth edition of the Zabeel Mile, said, “Master Of The Seas has settled in well in Dubai, but we are very much working back from Dubai World Cup night and Super Saturday. There will be some natural improvement from whatever he does here.”

Among trainer Saeed bin Suroor's three-pronged attack is Land Of Legends (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), whose biggest triumph was the 2021 G2 Al Fahidi Fort.

“This looks a tough race for the three of them,” said the trainer, who also saddles 2022 G2 Al Rashidiya winner Desert Fire (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Laser Show (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).

 

Fillies To The Fore In Guineas Hunt

A select field of seven fillies vie for the first Classic crown of the season in Friday's $150,000 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas Presented By ARN. The 1600-metre dirt test is anchored by Harry Eustace's Cite D'Or (Fr) (Galiway {GB}). Already a two-time winner in the UK, the sixth-place finisher in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last October is the first runner for her Haras de Colleville-based sire in Dubai and is making her dirt bow.

“She travelled out to Meydan on Dec. 29,” said majority owner Nick Bradley. “She's done everything right to date but the dirt is an unknown. She'll go from here to the [G3] UAE Oaks which has been her target since November.”

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Mimi Kakushi (City Of Light) makes her first run back since storming home a two-length winner over Asawer (Nyquist) and Awasef (Cairo Prince) in a local 1400-metre conditions race at third asking on Dec. 23.

“Both fillies are in top form,” said Bin Ghadayer. “They are facing the same fillies they ran against before. :”I'm happy with Mimi Kakushi, even with the extra furlong from her last race,” said trainer Salem bin Ghadayer.

 

Al Khail Trophy Attracts Classic Hero

Bennett Racing's Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) steps up in trip to 2810 metres over the Meydan turf in the Listed Al Khail Trophy Presented By ARN, the third and final black-type race of the day. The 2022 G2 Italian Derby hero, formerly trained by Markus Klug, was placed in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in August. His final run of the year was a fourth in Belmont Park's GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. over 1 1/2 miles on Sept. 17.

“Ardakan joined us after his run in the US,” said Lucia Botti, overseeing the team in Dubai. “He's a lovely big, imposing, young horse whose plan is to run hopefully in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup. He has settled into his daily routine nicely here and we are all very excited to see him racing for us, up in distance, on Friday.”

Click here for the AmWager PPs.

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