Tag: Jebel Hatta

Shadwell’s Alfareeq Goes Back To Back In Jebel Hatta

Dismissed at rough odds with a sea of blue for Godolphin signed on for Saturday's $350,000 G1 Jebel Hatta Sponsored by emirates.com, defending champion Alfareeq (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) raced prominently throughout and–unlike many of his chief rivals–enjoyed a clean passage, then ran down pacesetting El Drama (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) to cause the upset and win by a neck.

The 6-year-old hit the ground running and was forwardly placed and out of trouble through the early stages. When El Drama crossed all the way down to the inside from his high draw, Dane O'Neill seized upon the opportunity, asked Alfareeq to follow the move and the duo chased from second. Positions remained largely unchanged for the run around the turn, and El Drama still held the call as the Jebel Hatta field hit the straight. Asked to kick by David Egan, El Drama responded gamely and clung to a narrow advantage with time ticking away, but O'Neill was able to conjure up one final effort from Alfareeq, who dove across the line narrowly best following a final 400 metres in :23.01.

“[El Drama] took a bit of passing but my lad is nothing if not tough,” said O'Neill, enjoying one of his best seasons to date in the UAE. “He's been second on every start this season and he deserved that, but he dug deep for it.”

Of the beaten brigade, Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), sent off the international favourite from barrier two, raced in a significant amount of traffic and in the slipstream of the comebacking and headstrong Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) down the backstretch, was steered to the outside once produced in upper stretch by William Buick and rattled home to be a very good third. Real World was one-paced through the final 200 metres, while the commonly owned Valiant Prince (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) did him no favours by pulling fiercely beneath James Doyle after First Winter (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) bore out into him nearing midway. Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a latest winner of the H H The Amir Trophy in Qatar two weeks ago, lingered at the back of the field and also attacked the line to be in a photo for fifth in what was meant as a prep for the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic on Mar. 25.

Seventh to the dead-heating Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in last year's G1 Dubai Turf–the final race of a five-race prep–Alfareeq resumed with a runner-up effort in listed company over a mile at Abu Dhabi

Dec. 4 and filled the same spot behind Saturday's impressive Ras Al Khor conditions winner Al Suhail (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the 1400-metre G2 Al Fahidi Fort Jan. 6. The gray was most recently outbobbed by Valiant Prince in the course-and-distance

G2 Singspiel S. Feb. 3.

 

Pedigree Notes

Alfareeq is out of a winning daughter of Listed Poker Star S. heroine Sudoor, the dam of the late G3 Prix Noailles winner Raseed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Third dam Wissal was a full-sister to Bahhare and a half-sister to Bahri and was herself responsible for the listed-winning and Group 3-placed Mudaaraah (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

Urjuwaan is also the dam of a yearling Ribchester (Ire) filly that fetched €28,000 at last year's Goffs November Sale.

Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
JEBEL HATTA (SPONSORED BY EMIRATES.COM)-G1, $350,000, Meydan, 3-4, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:48.19, gd.
1–ALFAREEQ (IRE), 126, g, 6, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Urjuwaan (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sudoor (GB), by Fantastic Light
3rd Dam: Wissal, by Woodman
O-Shadwell; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE);
T-Musabbeh Al Mheiri; J-Dane O'Neill. $210,000. Lifetime
Record: SP-Fr, 22-5-6-3, $685,234. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–El Drama (Ire), 126, h, 5, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Victoire Finale
(GB), by Peintre Celebre. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE.
(425,000gns ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al
Maktoum; B-Farm Cove Thoroughbreds (IRE); T-Roger Varian.
$70,000.
3–Master Of The Seas (Ire), 126, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Firth Of
Lorne (Ire), by Danehill. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie
Appleby. $35,000.
Margins: NK, NK, 1 3/4.
Also Ran: Erzindjan (Ire), Russian Emperor (Ire), Valiant Prince (Ire), Shelir (Ire), Aegean Finale, I Am Superman (Ire), Real World (Ire), Aeonian (Ire), Maydanny (Ire), First Winter (Ire), Hawa Bilady. Scratched: Land Of Legends (Ire). VIDEO.

 

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Saturday’s Previews: Super Saturday At Meydan

Glitters To Shine On Super Saturday

Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) may be a former G1 Queen Anne S. winner, but at age nine he has revamped himself as a Middle Eastern star, and he lines up as one of the highlight horses of Super Saturday in the G1 Jebel Hatta S. It has been almost three years since the grey visited a winner's enclosure in Europe, but in the meantime Lord Glitters has won four black-type races in the Gulf region, including last year's edition of this race, the G3 Bahrain International Trophy in November and the G2 Singspiel S. on Feb. 11.

The horse who finished second to Lord Glitters in the Bahrain International Trophy was another Royal Ascot Group 1 veteran, Charlie Appleby's 8-year-old Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}). Gelded and sent to Charlie Appleby after proving infertile, Barney Roy won this race two years ago before adding a pair of German Group 1s in the summer of 2020. He has something to prove, however, having run just twice at the back end of last season, and it could be meaningful that William Buick instead rides the same stable's Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal), who won the Listed Marshall S. at Newmarket at the end of October and was third behind Lord Glitters in the Singspiel. Zakouski also won the G2 Al Rashidiya S. over this course and distance last carnival.

Different O'Neill, Same Result in Round 3?

The $450,000 G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 is missing Grade I winner and G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), who is bound directly for the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup on Mar. 26, but 15 horses still line up in this traditional pointer to that 2000-metre main-track affair. In the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2, the Doug O'Neill-trained 4-year-old blitzed the field by 5 1/4 lengths, and the third- and fourth-place finishers that day, Everfast (Take Charge Indy) and For The Top (Arg) (Equal Stripes {Arg}), return over an additional 100 metres.

O'Neill does send his 'B Team' in on Saturday, as the 6-year-old gelding Appreciated (Acclamation), a veteran of the American circuit, hopes to build off of his narrow track-and-trip win in the Listed Curlin S. on Feb. 11.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Hypothetical (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) will aim to go one better after finishing 1 3/4 lengths behind Salute The Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}) in the 2021 edition, while last year's third-place finisher Roman Rosso (Arg) (Roman Ruler) breaks from gate 11. Fourth in the Dubai World Cup last year, Hypothetical was unplaced in the Jan. 14 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1. In charge from the front when wheeled back in the one-mile G3 Firebreak S. on Feb. 4, the result was much different, with the 5-year-old entire delivering a 3 1/4-length win.

Dubai City of Gold Hukum's El Dorado?

The 2410-metre G2 Dubai City Of Gold features a field of 14 led by the Owen Burrows-trained Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Prior to 2021, the Shadwell homebred was a Group 3 winner, however the full-brother to undefeated Group 1-winning miler Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) enjoyed his best season last year with a trio of Group 3 wins at 2400 metres or longer, and he was last seen in action with a 6 1/2-length victory in the Oct. 2 G3 Cumberland Lodge S. at Ascot. Saturday marks his first start outside the UK, and the bay breaks widest of all in gate 14 with Shadwell's retained jockey Jim Crowley in the irons.

It is not purely a one-horse show in the City of Gold, and Niels Petersen saddles Square De Luynes (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}), a seven-for-nine multiple Group 3 winner based in Sweden. He is aiming for his fourth-straight score after taking the Sept. 19 G3 Stockholm Cup International. Ex-Aidan O'Brien trainee Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is also making his first foray in the desert, and the G2 Curragh Cup winner will carry the colours of Mariano Commercial Ltd. and Partners after being knocked down for 78,000gns during the Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale.

Simon and Ed Crisford's Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who races for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, enters on the back of a Newmarket listed victory, and the top Godolphin chance, Feb. 11 course-and-distance winner Global Storm (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), is signed on as well.

Group 1 Winners Face Off In Turf Sprint

The most intriguing race on the card is probably the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, where last-season Group 1 winners Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) and A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) face off against Meydan specialist Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and last-out course and distance listed winner Man Of Promise (Into Mischief).

Kevin Ryan's Emaraaty Ana and Ado McGuinnesses A Case Of You ran in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, behind Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). Emaraaty Ana, who won last year's G1 Sprint Cup S. over this six furlong trip, makes his first start since Del Mar, while A Case Of You returned a 3 1/2-length winner going six furlongs at Dundalk on Feb. 11. He won last year's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye going five furlongs.

Though he has never won at Meydan, Nigel Tinkler's Acklam Express has displayed a definite liking for the course; he finished second in last year's G2 Meydan Sprint and third in this race as well as the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. Off the board in two European starts last summer, he was second in the latest edition of the Meydan Sprint, renamed the Blue Point Sprint, on Feb. 18.

Watson Pair Loom Large In Burj Nahaar

The father/son training team of Simon and Ed Crisford send out three runners from their Dubai string on Super Saturday, and their best chance could be Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G3 Burj Nahaar going a mile on the dirt. The 5-year-old, who was twice Group 3 placed in France last summer, was a winner last out over that surface and distance in the G3 Jebel Ali Mile on Feb. 12.

Algiers will face stiff opposition, however, from the Doug Watson pair of Mubakker (Speightstown) and Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Shadwell's 6-year-old Mubakker goes the furthest he has in his career and comes into this off wins going six and seven furlongs on Dec. 9 and Jan. 28. Dale Brennan's 8-year-old Golden Goal was second in last year's G2 Godolphin Mile on World Cup night and won the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 when last seen on Jan. 14, and will be tough returning to that course and distance.

Watson, perennially one of the most powerful local stables, also has a strong chance to close out the card with a win, with Al Tariq among the favourites for the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal going six furlongs on the dirt. The 6-year-old gelding won the G3 Dubawi S. over course and distance on Jan. 21 and was third last out in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint on Feb. 11.

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‘Horse Of A Lifetime’ Lord Glitters Ready To Shine On Dubai World Cup Night

When Elwick Stud's Lord Glitters came roaring back to form winning the G1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday at Meydan, it embodied why trainer David O'Meara has called the ghostly son of Whipper 'the horse of a lifetime' in interviews. Indeed, it seems the globetrotting fan favorite has been around for a lifetime–or at least two or three standard Thoroughbred careers–while competing at the top level and holding his own impressively.

A nine-time winner from 35 starts, the earner of $2,220,544 is in his sixth season of racing and has competed in 13 Group or Grade 1 affairs, winning twice and placing four times. Saturday's triumph added to an eye-catching victory in the 2019 Queen Anne Stakes (G1) and was his second win from four starts over the Dubai turf course.

“I'm over the moon,” O'Meara said. “It was a great ride by Danny (Tudhope) and a fantastic job done by (assistant/rider) Matt Ennis, who's looking after him out there. It's great for the Turnbull family. Geoff obviously passed away last summer and he'll be looking down smiling, I suspect. Nick, who (runs the stable) now is doing a great job. All systems go, now, for the Dubai Turf. Hopefully we can get there fit and well.”

Geoff Turnbull, who along with wife Sandra ran in name and as Elwick Stud, passed at age 74 in mid-July. The pair's dark blue and pink colors have competed at the top level across the world, including winning the Woodbine Mile (G1) and Arlington Million (G1) with Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) runner-up Mondialiste–who competed in UK, France, America, Canada, Hong Kong and Dubai–and in the past few years by his heir apparent Lord Glitters.

Since being purchased at Arqana for $322,659, following four wins from nine runs in France for Christophe Lotoux, the leggy Lord Glitters has gone on to eclipse Mondialiste's earnings mark, while competing against the best milers and middle-distance horses in the world. His brilliant third-place finish to one of history's great fillies, Almond Eye, in the 2019 Dubai Turf (G1) turned out to be a bit of magic foreshadowing, as he has returned to the UAE for the Dubai World Cup Carnival this year and thrice flourished over the same 1800m (nine-furlong) trip. In addition to the Jebel Hatta, he won the Singspiel (G2) and was an unlucky second in the Al Rashidiya (G2).

The focus now is on the next battle for the ageless warrior: a return to the $4 million Dubai Turf–one without Almond Eye and in which he figures as one of the favorites. A secondary focal point will be keeping the high-energy, massive athlete calm and collected as he faces the very best the globe can throw at him. Such appears to be a labor of love for connections who continue to admire his infinite fervor for competition.

“He's nearly been the same since the day he walked in the yard,” O'Meara said. “He hasn't lost any of his enthusiasm and his exuberant ways. He's a joy to have around the place.

“He's come out of the race okay and swam for a few days and had an easy time of it ahead of building him back up for world cup night,” O'Meara concluded. “We don't need to work him too hard. He's always very generous in his work. A lot of times, it's just keeping a lid on him. On race day, he can get a little warm, but we know him well, now, and how to manage his ways.”

Lord Glitters will surely shine as brightly as he can on Dubai World Cup day.

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Lord Glitters Shines In Jebel Hatta

The 2019 G1 Queen Anne S. winner Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) continued his resurgence at Meydan on Saturday with a come-from-behind victory in the G1 Jebel Hatta. 

Sitting near the rear of the pack and on the outside while Godolphin's highly regarded Al Suhail (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was tucked in between horses, Lord Glitters began to wind up on the outside upon turning for home, but it appeared briefly as if Al Suhail had got first run. Godolphin's bay, however, drifted out and shortened stride at the same time as Lord Glitters began to kick into high gear under a driving ride from Danny Tudhope, and the grey hit the lead in the dying strides to win by a length.

“I think the way the race developed early on didn't suit him,” said Tudhope, who missed out on the horse's win in the G2 Singspiel S on Jan. 21 while he was still in England. Ongoing Covid travel restrictions meant that neither his trainer nor owner have made the trip to Dubai.

“He doesn't like it when they go that steady. I had William [Buick, on Al Suhail] in front of me and when he came out and started to make his move that's when [Lord Glitters] started to pick up and motor,” Tudhope continued. “He likes to come through gaps, he's that sort of horse, so in the end it suited him. It just shows you what a classy horse he is. He's got the ability but I think when he comes up against proper Group 1 horses these days it is hard for him with younger horses coming through. He ran some solid races the whole year last year and didn't have a hard campaign, so he came out here fairly fresh.”

The never-say-die run from the popular 8-year-old gave Yorkshire-based David O'Meara his first Meydan Group 1 victory. Lord Glitters races in the colours of Sandra Turnbull, whose husband Geoff died last July at the age of 74. The Turnbull family own Elwick Stud near Hartlepool, which is now home to their dual Grade 1 winner Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has first 2-year-old runners this year.

Tudhope added, “It's just amazing really for the owners to get another Group 1 to their name. A big thank you to the owners who have given me plenty of chances. I'm glad I could deliver for them.”

Lord Glitters won four times in his native France before being sold for €270,000 at the 2017 Arqana Arc Sale. Since joining the O'Meara stable, he has added another five wins to his record from 35 runs in total. His next start in Dubai, which will be his fourth at Meydan this winter, will be in the G1 Dubai Turf on World Cup night in three weeks' time.

Pedigree notes
Lord Glitters was bred in Normandy by the Lepeudry family's Elevage de Tourgeville in partnership with Hilary Erculiani. His dam, the listed-placed Lady Glitters (Fr) (Homme De Loi {Fr}), produced eight winners from her 13 foals, including Pivoline (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), the dam of G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron winner Petit Chevalier (Fr) (High Chaparral {Ire}). Lady Glitters is a half-sister to the listed-winning duo of Grey Glitters (Fr) (Grey Risk [Fr})) and Loupy Glitters (Fr) (Loup Solitaire).

Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
JEBEL HATTA (SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE)-G1, $260,000, Meydan, 3-6, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:48.44, gd.
1–LORD GLITTERS (FR), 126, g, 8, by Whipper
1st Dam: Lady Glitters (Fr) (MSP-Fr), by Homme de Loi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Marie Glitters, by Crystal Glitters
3rd Dam: Marie de Vez (Fr), by Crystal Palace (Fr)
(€25,000 Ylg '14 AROOCT; €270,000 HRA '17 ARQJUL).
O-Geoff & Sandra Turnbull; B-SCA Elevage de Tourgeville &
Mme Hilary Erculiani (FR); T-David O'Meara; J-Daniel Tudhope.
$156,000. Lifetime Record: SP-Fr, G1SW-Eng, 35-9-9-5,
$2,220,544. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
   Werk Nick Rating: A++.
2–Eqtiraan (Ire), 126, g, 7, Helmet (Aus)–Miranda Frost (Ire), by
Cape Cross (Ire). (92,000gns Wlg '14 TATNOV; 250,000gns Ylg
'15 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum;
B-Victor Stud Bloodstock & Brendan Cummins (IRE); T-Ali
Rashid Al Rayhi. $52,000.
3–Al Suhail (GB), 126, c, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Shirocco Star (GB), by
Shirocco (Ger). (1,100,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Godolphin;
B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. $26,000.
Margins: HF, SHD, SHD.
Also Ran: Art Du Val (GB), Court House (Ire), Zainhom, First Contact (Ire), Royal Marine (Ire), Moqtarreb (GB), Lucius Tiberius (Ire), Boerhan (GB).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.

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