Meydan | 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.

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Owners Head To Dubai To Cheer On Hot Rod Charlie In His Meydan Debut

Hot Rod Charlie will make his highly-anticipated UAE debut on Friday at Meydan Racecourse.

Voted the winner of the Vox Populi Award for 2021 by US racing fans, the Doug O'Neill-trained 4-year-old is the headline act in G2 Maktoum Challenge R2 [Presented by The Longines Record], the feature on Friday's seven-race card.

Third in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Belmont and the winner of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby, Hot Rod Charlie warmed up for his Dubai travels with a close second, beaten a nose, in the G2 San Vincente Stakes at Santa Anita, California, on Dec. 26.

He'll have a strong supporting party to cheer him on, with Patrick O'Neill of part-owners Boat Racing in town, as well as another co-owner, Bill Strauss.

“We sat down after the Breeders' Cup meeting in November and made a plan for the horse,” said Strauss. “We decided to target Dubai and then the best way of getting to the Dubai World Cup, which was to bring him here and give him a race over the track.”

Hot Rod Charlie faces stiff opposition in the feature, with emphatic local debut winner Everfast in for Doug Watson.

“We weren't sure where to go with him [after his local debut win in December],” said Watson. “We were thinking this race or the Firebreak, but then [owner] Frankie O'Connor came into town and that helped make up our minds.

“He was second in the Preakness over this trip, so I don't think it will be a problem.”

The other Group 2 on the card is the Balanchine [Presented by Longines Evidenza] for fillies and mares on turf, over 1800 meters (9 furlongs). It sees the French-trained Pevensey Bay bidding to follow up her victory in the Cape Verdi (G2) over 200metres shorter last time out. Waiting for her in the race is Charlie Appleby's Creative Flair, who was last seen finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks in New York in September.

“She has always had the Balanchine as her long-term target,” said the handler, who has won the last two editions of this race with Summer Romance and Magic Lily. “Her preparation has gone well.”

The third Thoroughbred race on the card is the G3 Firebreak Stakes [Presented by Longines Conquest] over 1600 meters (one mile) on dirt, which was won in 2021 by subsequent G2 Godolphin Mile winner Secret Ambition. It has a field of eight, with Bhupat Seemar's Tuz aiming to make it two from two this season, having won the Listed Dubai Creek Mile in December. Watson sends out Prince Eiji, an eye-catching short-head second to Kafoo on his local debut and first on dirt.

“We were thrilled and disappointed with his first run here,” said Watson of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Obaid Al Maktoum-owned 6-year-old. “He got a little leg-weary with it being his first try on dirt, but it still took a good one to beat him and it's always been the plan to run here.”

Godolphin are having another excellent Carnival and they are loaded in the turf races, in particular. Appleby's Listed winner New Science takes on Jumeirah Derby Trial winner Island Falcon in the Listed Jumeirah Classic [Presented by Longines Elegant] and the handler also runs Sovereign Prince, a winner here three weeks ago when he beat the re-opposing Sed Maarib.

Appleby has had the Carnival as the target for several months for New Science and said: “His form from the UK is rock solid but he was quick to be earmarked for a Dubai campaign and his preparation has gone well. [After this race] he'll head back to the UK for one of the Guineas Trials.”

The 3-year-olds also line up on dirt in the Al Bastakiya Trial [Presented by Longines St Imier] over 1900 meters (1 3/16 miles), in which the Watson-trained Violent Justice looks of interest following his emphatic Jebel Ali maiden win. Earlier on, a select field of six has been declared for the Oud Metha Stakes [Presented by Longines Master Collection] over 1200 meters (6 furlongs) on dirt. Leading the charge there is Rudy Trigger, a winner of three of his five starts in Argentina for trainer Maria Munoz.

The evening's action begins at 6pm with the G1 Maktoum Challenge R1 [Presented by Longines Dolce Vita] for Purebred Arabians, over 1900 meters. It welcomes back last year's winner, RB Frynchh Dude, as well as another Group 1 winner, Brraq.

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Real World Returns A Winner At Meydan

Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) enjoyed an unbeaten European summer campaign last year for Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor, and he made a seamless transition into his 4-year-old season on Friday with a comfortable win in Meydan's featured G2 Zabeel Mile.

A five-length debut winner at Chelmsford City at the back end of his 2-year-old season in 2020, Real World finished second in a Meydan conditions race just before the turn of the calendar before going on to run with credit at the carnival, finishing third at the handicap and listed levels before wrapping up that campaign with a fourth in a 2000-metre turf handicap.

Resurfacing at Royal Ascot, Real World won the one-mile Royal Hunt Cup and backed up four weeks later to take Newbury's Listed Steventon S. It was on to York for Real World after that to win the G3 Strensall S. over Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper), and the bay made it four on the bounce when beating Group 1 winner The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein over very soft ground at ParisLongchamp.

With Danny Tudhope deputizing for the Covid-stricken Frankie Dettori, Real World was swiftly away on the fence and soon took up a stalking position about a length and a half off the pacesetting Ajwad (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). Real World appeared poised while in a pocket as they rounded the bend, but Ajwad soon peeled off the rail as he began to tire passing the quarter pole, leaving Real World room to roll up to the lead. At last put to a drive by Tudhope, Real World sprinted clear and hit the line 2 1/2-lengths the best as Alfareeq (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and One Ruler (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) put in mild rallies late.

Bin Suroor said post-race, “we'll keep the options open for the Group 1 races,” but that doesn't necessarily mean Real World will stay on the turf.

“He was about 90% ready,” the trainer added. “He ran well and finished his race well and we'll see how he goes in the future. He's entered in Saudi, Super Saturday and Dubai World Cup night between the dirt and turf. The reason we ran him on turf tonight was just to make him ready for the dirt races coming. It's unfair sometimes to run a horse who is not ready and run him on dirt and he gets beat and they say 'oh, he is not a dirt horse.' Sheikh Mohammed will decide [which race to go for].”

Pedigree Notes

Real World is the lone stakes winner thus far from 15 foals bred on the Dark Angel over Dubawi cross, which is also responsible for the G2 Norfolk S. third Silver Line (Ire). Real World is out of Nafura (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a dual-winning half-sister to the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Prix du Moulin- winning sire Librettist (Danzig); the G1 Queen Anne S.-winning sire Dubai Destination (Kingmambo) and the multiple group winner Secret Number (GB) (Raven's Pass). It is the further family of G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere winner Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven's Pass) and multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Agnes World (Danzig). The Godolphin homebred Nafura is also the dam of last year's Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was placed in the prior year's G2 May Hill S. and G3 Sweet Solera S. Nafura's 3-year-old is the Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt Home City (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), who won last year and was second in a conditions race during last week's carnival card. Nafura's 2021 foal died.

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
ZABEEL MILE PRESENTED BY EMAAR BEACHFRONT-G2, $108,000, Meydan, 1-28, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:35.36, gd.
1–REAL WORLD (IRE), 130, h, 5, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Nafura (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mysterial, by Alleged
3rd Dam: Mysteries, by Seattle Slew
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Daniel Tudhope.
$108,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng & Fr, 10-6-1-2, $468,872.
*1/2 to Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), SW & MGSP-Eng,
$123,978. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2–Alfareeq (Ire), 126, g, 5, Dark Angel (Ire)–Urjuwaan (GB), by
Cape Cross (Ire). O-Shadwell; B-Shadwell Estate Co Ltd (IRE); T-
Musabbeh Al Mheiri. $36,000.
3–One Ruler (Ire), 126, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Fintry (Ire), by
Shamardal. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. $18,000.
Margins: 2HF, HD, 3. Also Ran: Path Of Thunder (Ire), Moqtarreb (GB), Bless Him (Ire), King David (Den), Velorum (Ire), Ajwad (GB), Telemaque, Hakeem (GB), Nordic Lights (GB), Mailshot.
Click for the Emirates Racing chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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Dettori Positive For Covid

Frankie Dettori has tested positive for Covid-19 and will therefore miss his rides at Meydan on Friday as he self isolates.

“I won't be riding this weekend, as I've tested positive for Covid,” the jockey said in a video posted to Twitter. “I'm restricted in my room for a few days. I'm feeling a bit under the weather, but I've had my vaccine so we should survive. I'll keep you posted, but I'm not going to be doing much anyway.”

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G2 Zabeel Mile was among the highlights of Dettori's rides at Friday's carnival meeting. Danny Tudhope has now been named on last year's G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein winner.

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