One Ruler Returns In Dubai

One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), once considered a leading Classic contender for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, looks to get his career back on track when he steps out in Friday's Zabeel Trophy, a one-mile conditions race on the turf, at Meydan.

One Ruler, a homebred out of the former Andre Fabre-trained triple group-winning miler Fintry (Ire) (Shamardal), won the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket in 2020 and was three-quarters of a length second to Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. He managed only sixth, however, in the following spring's G1 2000 Guineas, and filled the same position behind stablemate Adayar (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Derby. One Ruler finished third when dropped down to 2000 metres for the G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot, and fared better when given further distance and class relief, finishing third in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. and fourth, beaten a length, in the Listed Prix de Tourgeville, both over a mile. One Ruler races for the first time as a gelding on Friday, and is partnered by William Buick.

Appleby saddles three in the Zabeel Trophy, and another 4-year-old looking to get his career back on track after a gelding operation is La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The 750,000gns yearling won the G3 Tattersalls S. at two, but his best finish in three starts last year was a second in the G3 Craven S. He is partnered by James Doyle, while Richard Mullen takes the ride on Appleby's 5-year-old Path Of Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who won a mile Newmarket July meeting handicap but hasn't been seen since finishing down the field in a Glorious Goodwood handicap.

Musabbeh Al Mheri sends out Alfareeq (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won at Abu Dhabi last out on Dec. 19 and is rated 107, and the trainer said, “He's had one run at Abu Dhabi after a long break and has been training well. He faces a tougher task this time but he's got the ability and the mile is his best trip. We are hoping he runs well.”

Erwan Charpy sends out another last-out Abu Dhabi winner in Shadwell's Moqtarreb (GB) (Kingman {GB}), winner of the Listed National Day Cup over a mile on Dec. 5.

“It's a different class of race and it's going to be tough and competitive,” said Charpy. “He has a good enough draw and has been doing well and we remain hopeful of his chances.”

Bhupat Seemar has started off well since temporarily taking over the reins from his uncle Satish Seemar at Zabeel Stables, and he sends out Nordic Lights (GB) (Intello {Ger}) among his 20 runners on Friday's nine-race card for his first run off a near three-year layoff since being purchased from Godolphin.

“He hasn't run for a while and his true distance is perhaps longer, but this looks like a good place to start him and we'll see how he goes,” Seemar said.

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One Ruler Pleases Appleby In Racecourse Gallop

Godolphin's One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was seen in action on the Rowley Mile on Wednesday, not in a formal Classic trial but in a racecourse gallop with stable-mate Well Of Wisdom (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

The winner of the G3 Emirates Autumn S. and runner-up to Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the G1 Vertem Futurity, One Ruler was ridden by former champion jockey Kieren Fallon. He is generally around 10/1 for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas on May 1 and also holds entries for the Cazoo Derby and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

One Ruler's trainer Charlie Appleby said after the workout, in which he breezed clear of the 106-rated Well Of Wisdom with two furlongs left to run, “I was very pleased with that. He has been to Chelmsford and it was very kind of Newmarket to let us do this. He wasn't going to go for a trial as he has got enough experience already on his CV and he has justified himself to turn up straight to a Guineas.”

 He continued, “We have now got a nice piece into him and that puts us where we need to be. He hasn't missed a beat all winter and we will now just go through his normal routine until the Guineas. Kieren explained that he handles that dip flawlessly and he already has the experience of being a course and distance winner, so he ticks a lot of boxes.”

One Ruler is out of the Shamardal mare Fintry (Ire), who beat dual Classic heroine Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) to win the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil over a mile the season after winning the G2 Prix de Sandringham. Appleby said that he feels that her son, too, may be suited to shorter distances than the Derby. 

 He added, “On the back of winning the Autumn Stakes people start talking about the Derby but the first thing we are looking at is the Guineas and that's the target. 

 “I don't think he is a stayer as he has got stronger over the winter. I'm very pleased with the way he has done physically. He was a little bit slow coming to hand but I think we have had a hard winter. I couldn't be happier with what I've seen over the last six weeks or so. He has stepped up his work and he has answered every question that we have put to him so far.”

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