Duke Wai (NZ) (Per Incanto)'s victory in the Devon H. at Sha Tin Sunday could trigger a start in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup undercard, trainer Pierre Ng confirmed following the race.
“If we get an invitation from Dubai, we'll go to Dubai. I would love to see him run in a straight 1200m race because, in the past, he's run very well in straight 1000m races here, but there's no straight 1200m races here,” Ng said of the 7-year-old, who took his career earnings to beyond HK$18 million with his ninth career win. “If he doesn't [go to Japan], we'll go through the motions again, going for the Group 2 and the Group 1 races here because he wasn't invited to Japan.”
In the Devon H. given an uncomplicated run from barrier one under Jerry Chau, Duke Wai claimed leader Nervous Witness (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) in the last 100m before fending off Courier Wonder (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) to win by half a length.
“He got the inside draw this time. Jerry knows him well. He just had to wake him up in the early stages and let him travel. Around the bend until the 300m, he was travelling quite strongly, and he finished off very well. After the race, Jerry told me Courier Wonder was never going to get past him,” Ng said.
In the Al Quoz Sprint, the veteran turf sprinter might clash with fellow Hong Kong speedsters Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) and Sight Success (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}).
Godolphin's Group 1 winner Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) has been removed from consideration for the $30.35-million Saudi Cup meeting after spiking a temperature, and will instead target the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai next month.
“Creative Force spiked a temperature earlier today and following unsatisfactory blood tests, it has been decided that he will not travel to Saudi Arabia,” Godolphin tweeted. “He will now be aimed at the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.”
Trained by Charlie Appleby, the 5-year-old gelding won the G1 British Champions Sprint S. in October of 2021. Last year he placed three times at that tier when second in the Platinum Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot in June second up, then ran fourth in the July S. His latest efforts were a pair of thirds–defending his title on QIPCO British Champions Day, and in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland in November.
Drawn widest of all in the 16-strong G1 Al Quoz field, Gary Devlin's A Case of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) gave Ireland a reason to celebrate with an emphatic victory in Meydan's 1200-metre marquee race for turf sprinters. Pinned to the outside rail but in close contention under regular pilot Ronan Whelan in the early going, the 4-year-old forged to the front in the final two furlongs, and found Man of Promise (Into Mischief), who ran on determinedly to his outside, difficult to shake. Undeterred, the entire inched clear of that rival late and was not for catching as British raider Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) gave her best effort, but having to settle for second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. Favoured Man of Promise finished a neck back in third.
“I was worried I might be getting there a bit early but he was going so well,” said Whelan. “His last furlong is always his strongest and he's such a tough and genuine horse. Five furlongs, six furlongs, soft ground, fast ground, it doesn't matter to him. I love him. He came on so much from the prep run on Super Saturday. Having that experience stood to him and he improved so much from it. It means the world to all the team. To win such a big race at Meydan, it's the stuff you dream of but don't think will happen.”
Happy Romance's jockey Sean Levey added, “She ran a blinder. I thought the draw [post 6] maybe cost me a length and I think she would have been bang there with a better draw. She's run a blinder and the year is young.”
Bred by Derek Iceton at Tara Stud, A Case Of You failed to attract the reserve price of €3,000 at the Goffs Sportsman's Sale as a yearling, and began his career with trainer John McConnell before selling privately to the McGuiness stable after winning the G3 Anglesey S. as a juvenile. In 2021, he won at Dundalk in the spring and later added a score in the G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. Given some time off following a lackluster finish in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, he returned to finish third in the G3 Phoenix Sprint S. followed by a runner-up finish in the G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five S. in September. Registering a career high win in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye at ParisLongchamp in October, he was given a crack at the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar the following month, finishing an even fifth. Coming into the Al Quoz, he had to play the bridesmaid to Man of Promise, beaten 4 3/4 lengths in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Sprint Mar. 5.
“I knew he had improved plenty from the [Nad Al Sheba Sprint],” said winning trainer Ado McGuinness. “Ronan Whelan gave him a great ride, he was super cool.”
He added, “Ian Brennan has looked after him [at Meydan] and has done a great job with him. He's a very, very good horse. We might get some credit now! People said it was a weak Abbaye he won, but one thing is for sure, it wasn't a weak race today. He's only four and he'll only get better. I think he'll win another Group 1 this year and the long-term target at the end of the year will be back at the Breeders' Cup.”
Pedigree Notes:
A Case of You is the fifth foal out of Karjera (Ire), a full-sister to MSW Akanti (Ire) and Lock And Key (Ire), Grade III/Group 3-placed in both Ireland and America. The dam of six foals, the 14-year-old Karjera also is responsible for a pair of winners, Loose Chippings (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Knight of Luck (Ire) (Mukhadram {GB}). Her latest produce is Ali Babes (Ire), a 3-year-old filly by Alhebayeb (Ire).
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai AL QUOZ SPRINT SPONSORED BY AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS-G1, $1,500,000, Meydan, 3-26, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:08.81, gd.
1–A CASE OF YOU (IRE), 126, c, 4, by Hot Streak (Ire) 1st Dam: Karjera (Ire), by Key of Luck 2nd Dam: Lock's Heath, by Topsider 3rd Dam: Lock's Dream, by Youth
(€3,000 RNA Ylg '19 GOFSPT). O-Gary Devlin; B-Limestone and
Tara Studs (IRE); T-Adrian McGuinness; J-Ronan Whelan.
€870,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SW-Fr,
14-7-2-2, $1,364,424. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Happy Romance (Ire), 121, f, 4, Dandy Man (Ire)–Rugged Up
(Ire), by Marju (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (£25,000 Ylg
'19 GOFFPR). O-The McMurray Family; B-Redpender Stud Ltd
(IRE); T-Richard Hannon. $300,000.
3–Man of Promise, 126, g, 5, Into Mischief–Involved, by Speightstown. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. ($170,000 Ylg '18
KEESEP). O-Godolphin; B-Betz/Magers/Coco
Equine/Kidder/Lamantial/Davidson (KY); T-Charlie Appleby.
$150,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, HF.
Also Ran: Naval Crown (GB), Casa Creed, Taxiwala (Ire), Khuzaam, Mutafawwig (GB), Lauda Sion (Jpn), Berneuil (Ire), Air De Valse (Fr), Entscheiden (Jpn), Suesa (Ire), Creative Force (Ire), Emaraaty Ana (GB), Get Smokin. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Stakes winner Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who is trained by Nigel Tinkler for MPS Racing and M B Spence, did not make the final field for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Mar. 26. He ran third in the 2021 edition, and was most recently seventh in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint on Super Saturday, Mar. 5. Tinkler is keeping the 4-year-old gelding's options open, and did not indicate a firm plan for Acklam Express's next start.
“We're obviously disappointed, but on the other hand it's a very hot race and there's a lot more runners than expected,” said Tinkler. “It's a shame that we got invited to go there and then Godolphin run four in the race which is a bit of a cross purpose, that's the only thing.
“It is a hot race this year and it might be a blessing in disguise, so with what is going on the world at the minute, it is a very small thing.
“There are three or four races in May he could run in back home and as yet I don't know which one he'll go to.”
