Charlie Appleby, runaway leading trainer this season at Meydan by both earnings ($8,915,500) and percentage of wins (40%) amongst those conditioners with more than a handful of runners at the meet, got his third winner on the Super Saturday card with LEGEND OF TIME (GB) (c, 3, Sea The Stars {Ire}-Kissable {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the Listed Jumeirah Classic sponsored by Arabian Adventures. His earlier wins on the evening came with Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the G2 Dubai City of Gold and with Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) in the Listed Jumeirah Guineas. All three of the winners are Godolphin homebreds.
Perfect in his three starts at Meydan, Legend Of Time emerged from the early scrum in an eager third and had to be hard held by jockey William Buick. Quickly settling into a comfortable spot against the rail with cover just behind the leading duo of Athan (Arg) (Orpen) and Musical Act (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Buick bided his time with a clearly loaded mount until the straight loomed. With little visible effort, Legend Of Time tipped out and around Athan as Musical Act floated wide. Legend Of Time already found the front before Buick encouraged him with hands and heels and was a facile winner despite Musical Act finding more and briefly looking for a battle until Legend Of Time kicked clear by 4 3/4 lengths. Like the winner, Musical Act is a Godolphin homebred trained by Appleby. Athan held for third as none of the others factored at the finish. The final time for the 1800 metres was 1:49.83.
Legend Of Time has been steadily building his CV, having won his debut at Haydock last fall. Off the board when trying the G3 Tattersalls S. at Newmarket three weeks later, he was put away before reemerging in Dubai to win conditions events Jan. 5 and Feb. 2, going 1400 meters and 1600 meters, respectively.
“He's won the series now and probably 1800 metres is more to his liking,” said Buick. “He's an exciting horse for the rest of the season. The American Turf Derby series over there might suit him.”
Appleby's exacta in the Jumeirah Classic mirrored his success in the race in 2023, when he sent Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), One Nation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and Highbank (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) to fill out the trifecta. He only had the two entrants this year.
Legend Of Time is the 117th black-type winner worldwide for Gilltown Stud's all-conquering Sea The Stars (Ire). With the Jumeirah Classic winner, the remarkable sire of 70 group winners now has two stakes winners out of daughters of Danehill Dancer and an additional two out of daughters of that one's sire, Danehill. The late Danehill Dancer has 168 stakes winners as a broodmare sire.
Kissable (Ire), dam of Legend Of Time and herself a listed American stakes winner who also placed in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., is the dam of G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu winner Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and additional American stakes winner and Grade I stakes-placed Amandine (GB) (Shamardal). Her 2022 Pinatubo (Ire) colt died as a yearling and she produced a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly last year. Her granddam, high class English runner Eva Luna (Alleged), produced multiple Group 1 winner Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells), global multiple group winner and multiple top-level placer Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), and the unraced Soviet Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), dam of G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe/G1 Espom Derby winner Workforce (GB) (King's Best). Click for the ERA chart and video.
JUMEIRAH CLASSIC SPONSORED BY ARABIAN ADVENTURES-Listed, AED800,000, Meydan, 3-2, 3yo, 9fT, 1:49.83, gd.
1–LEGEND OF TIME (GB), 121, c, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire) 1st Dam: Kissable (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 2nd Dam: Kitty O'Shea (GB), by Sadler's Wells 3rd Dam: Eva Luna, by Alleged 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Godolphin (GB); B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. AED480,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, AED795,989.
2–Musical Act (Ire), 121, g, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Poetic Charm (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. AED160,000.
3–Athan (Arg), 131, c, 3, Orpen–Athania (Arg), by Pure Prize(GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Gulf Racing Club LLC; B-Carampangue (ARG); T-Fawzi Nass. AED80,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 2 1/4, 1.
Also Ran: Quartier (Uru), Whathappensinvegas (Ire), Tohoku, Acclaim To Royalty (Ire). Scratched: Drink Dry (Ire).
CINDERELLA'S DREAM (GB) (f, 3, Shamardal–Espadrille {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) ran out a 5 1/2-length winner of the 1600-metre AED800,000 Listed Jumeirah 1000 Guineas, despite having her saddle slip approaching the far turn. Jockey William Buick kicked free of his irons and rode the rest of the race in what he described as a “bit of a rodeo show”, with the duo keeping straight and true to the line, despite being at least four wide off the fence. Godolphin claimed this contest last year when it was only a conditions race with subsequent G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Geologist (GB) (Territories {Ire}) was second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Yamamah (Ire) (Masar {Ire}). The final time for the race over good turf was 1:37.62.
From the bell, the eventual winner, and 169th stakes winner for her late sire, appeared a touch keen, but raced just off the leaders as Nadalia (Fr) (Spanish Moon) led. However, when the field entered the turn, the filly's saddle slipped, not once but twice, and the quick-thinking Buick steered her to the outside of her rivals just past half-way. Drawing even by the 700-metre mark, the dark bay responded to Buick's direction despite the unconventional tactics and they motored home to win as they pleased.
Already a winner at both Lingfield on debut in May and Thirsk in September, Cinderella's Dream defeated Charlie Appleby stablemate Beautiful Love (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the Jumeirah Fillies' Classic on Feb. 2.
Out of the dual winner Espadrille, Cinderella's Dream has a 2-year-old Farhh (GB) half-sister. Her second dam is the G3 St. Simon S. winner High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who was third in both the 2009 G1 Oaks and 2010 G1 Coronation Cup. This is also the extended family of crack distaffer Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who won a brace of top-level races including the 2013 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas.
JUMEIRAH 1000 GUINEAS SPONSORED BY EMIRATES SKYCARGO-Listed, AED800,000, Meydan, 3-2, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:37.62, gd.
1–CINDERELLA'S DREAM (GB), 126, f, 3, by Shamardal 1st Dam: Espadrille (GB), by Dubawi (Ire) 2nd Dam: High Heeled (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire) 3rd Dam: Uncharted Haven (GB), by Turtle Island (Ire) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby;
J-William Buick. AED480,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0,
AED852,444.
2–Geologist (GB), 126, f, 3, Territories (Ire)–Parknasilla (Ire), by
Dutch Art (GB). (35,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners; B-Janis Macpherson (GB); T-Amy
Murphy. AED160,000.
3–Yamamah (Ire), 126, f, 3, Masar (Ire)–Bumptious (GB), by
Acclamation (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/T-Ismail Mohammed;
B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE). AED80,000.
Margins: 5HF, 1HF, 1.
Also Ran: Lightning Paradise, Nadelia (Fr), Kibo Misaki, Onigiri (GB). Click for the ERA chart and video.
Did that just happen?
William Buick lost his irons a long way from home aboard '
Godolphin's globetrotting Rebel's Romance (Ire) (g, 6, Dubawi {Ire}–Minidress {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) entered Saturday's $2.5-million G3 H.H. The Amir Trophy as one of three Group 1 winners in the field of 11, yet still had something to prove.
Winless since causing a mild surprise in the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, the homebred failed–for a variety of reasons–in two tries in America last summer, but hinted at a return to his best with an eye-catching victory at Kempton in December. He was a somewhat unexpected entry for this newly upgraded race, but his class was on full display as he dispatched of the best field ever assembled in Qatar with complete authority.
Drawn gate 10, Rebel's Romance was ridden positively by William Buick and sat three deep outside Japan's North Bridge (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) and Satono Glanz (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}) passing the stands for the first time and was allowed to edge in front with a circuit to travel. Bowling along, ears straight-forward, turning down the back of the track at Al Rayyan, Rebel's Romance dropped anchor, and things got a bit messy behind him as a result, with North Bridge hard on the bridle for Yasunari Iwata, and Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) also firing up from midfield.
Rebel's Romance was holding firm on the run around the second bend, but Joao Moreira began to feel for Zeffiro (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) 600 metres out and he looped the field, appearing a real threat. The G1 Hong Kong Vase runner-up had dead aim on the front-runner a furlong and a half from home, but drifted badly towards the stands, and Rebel's Romance ran out a comfortable winner. Satono Glanz outfinished North Bridge for third, while defending champion Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) finished off his race soundly to be fifth.
“He really enjoyed it,” Buick said. “It wasn't plan A, but Charlie was keen to go forward from stall 10. He relaxed lovely in front. It wasn't so long ago he won a Breeders' Cup Turf, so he seems to be back to his best and it's great to come to Qatar and ride a winner. It's a big festival and I'm absolutely delighted. That was a good race, with Japanese horses, Irish and English. He had to be somewhere near his best and I'm pretty sure he was.”
Added Appleby: “We were delighted with Rebel's Romance. It was a great ride by William, and we felt the horse was back to his best heading here following a confidence-boosting win at Kempton Park.
“This is an event that is growing with importance every year and the strength of today's field showed how its status is increasing on the international stage. We are very proud to be able to support these big races on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and team Godolphin.
“I would imagine that we will look towards the Dubai Sheema Classic for Rebel's Romance, and then possibly head back out to America for the summer.”
The only treble Group 1 winner in the field, Rebel's Romance had gone winless since the Breeders' Cup. A minor issue dictated that he raced in last year's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic without a prep and he was duly beaten into a distant seventh by world champion Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) at Meydan last March. Sent to America over the summer, he clipped heels in the GII Bowling Green S. at Saratoga in July, throwing Richard Mullen heavily to the turf, and caught unsuitably easy ground during an abnormally wet period in New York when fourth at odds-on in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in October. Forced to regroup with a Breeders' Cup bid now out of play, he returned to action with a visually impressive victory in the Listed Wild Flower S. over the Kempton all-weather in December. From here, all roads lead back to Meydan in six weeks' time where the competition could include Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Japanese Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), among others.
Pedigree Notes:
Rebel's Romance is one of two potential starters on World Cup night for his stakes-placed dam, whose exciting son Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) took out this year's G1 Jebel Hatta, customarily a pointer to the G1 Dubai Turf.
Second dam Short Skirt was a leading member of her generation in 2006, defeating hot favourite Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in the the G3 Musidora S. at York for Sir Michael Stoute before finishing third to that foe in the G1 Epsom Oaks. Short Skirt was subsequently second to Alexandrova in that year's G1 Yorkshire Oaks and was purchased by John Ferguson for 1.4 million guineas at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale a few months later. Short Skirt produced five winners from eight to race, including G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy hero Volcanic Sky (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}) and the dam of Japanese listed winner and Group 3-placed Due Process (GB) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).
There is a further connection to Japan under the third dam, as Much Too Risky's champion daughter and G1 St Leger third Whitewater Affair (GB) (Machiavellian) produced Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), a two-time champion who famously won the G1 Dubai World Cup only weeks after the devastating Japanese earthquake of 2011. Victoire Pisa's half-brother Asakusa Den'en (Jpn) (Singspiel {Ire}) won the G1 Yasuda Kinen in 2005.
Minidress is represented by a yearling full-brother to Rebel's Romance.
Saturday, Al Rayyan (Doha), Qatar H.H. THE AMIR TROPHY (Sponsored by Longines)-G3, $2,500,000, Al Rayyan, 2-17, 4yo/up, 2400mT, 2:28.84, gd.
1–REBEL'S ROMANCE (IRE), 128, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Minidress (GB) (SP-Eng), by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Short Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB) 3rd Dam: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB)
O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick; $1,425,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-UAE at 9.5-11f, MG1SW-Ger, GISW-US, GSW-UAE & Eng, 17-11-0-0, $4,485,232. *1/2 to Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), G1SW-UAE, SP-Eng, $479,650. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zeffiro (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Wild Wind (Ger), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Shadai Race Horse Co Ltd; B-Shadai Farm; T-Yasutoshi Ikee; J-Joao Moreira; $550,000.
3–Satono Glanz (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Satono Diamond (Jpn)–Cherry Collect (Ire), by Oratorio (Ire). (¥105,000,000 Ylg '21 JHRAJUL). O-Hajime Satomi; B-Northern Racing; T-Yasuo Tomomichi; J-Yuga Kawada; $275,000.
Margins: 3, 1 3/4, HF.
Also Ran: North Bridge (Jpn), Russian Emperor (Ire), Simca Mille (Ire), Haunted Dream (Ire), Jeff Koons (Ire), Israr (GB), Passion And Glory (Ire), Point Lonsdale (Ire).
Brave Emperor Hong Kong Bound Following ITM Cup
Overseas runners captured two of the three supporting features held Saturday in Doha.
In the opening event of the program, Middleham Park Racing's Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation) raced prominently throughout and managed to stave off a stinging late rally down the centre of the course from Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) to take the $500,000 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup for Archie Watson and Luke Morris. According to a report from the South China Morning Post, the 4-year-old is set to take on Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 FWD Champions Mile in late April.
IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING CUP (Qat-G2, NBT), $500,000, Al Rayyan, 2-17, 4yo/up, 1600mT, 1:35.10, gd.
1–BRAVE EMPEROR (IRE), 128, g, 4, Sioux Nation–Roman Gal (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). (£19,000 Ylg '21 GOFAUG). O-Middleham Park Racing; B-Caroline Hanly & Sean Ronan; T-Archie Watson; J-Luke Morris; $285,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Ity & Ger at 7-9.5f, MGSW-Ger, GSW-Fr & Ity, GSP-Swe, 16-10-3-1, $676,757.
2–Cairo (Ire), 128, c, 4, Quality Road–Cuff (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Coolmore; T-Ryan Moore; J-Aidan O'Brien; $110,000.
3–Real World (Ire), 128, g, 7, Dark Angel (Ire)–Nafura (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin; T-Saeed Bin Suroor; J-Oisin Murphy; $55,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, NK.
Oddyssey Causes Minor Upset In Al Rayyan Mile
Al Shaqab Racing's G3 Horris Hill S. winner Orne (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) was expected to be a tough nut to crack in the $400,000 Al Rayyan Mile for John and Thady Gosden, but the Gassim Ghazali-conditioned Oddyssey (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) more than covered his 80,000gns pricetag from last fall's Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale when driving home by two lengths in a time quicker than the older horses posted in the ITM Cup.
AL RAYYAN MILE (Qat-G2, NBT), $400,000, Al Rayyan, 2-17, 3yo, 1600mT, 1:34.84, gd.
1–ODDYSSEY (GB), 128, c, 3, Ulysses (Ire)–Last Echo (Ire), by Whipper. (10,500gns Wlg '22 TATDEF; 80,000gns HRA '23 TATAUT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Salman M Al-Thani; B-Culworth Grounds Farm; T-Gassim Ghazali; J-Maxime Guyon; $228,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 8-3-0-3, $279,073.
2–Orne (Ire), 128, c, 3, Acclamation (GB)–Pellucid (GB), by Excelebration (Ire). (120,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Rahtbarry Stud; T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Robert Havlin; $88,000.
3–Soldier's Gold (Ire), 128, c, 3, Soldier's Call (GB)–Copperbeech (Ire), by Red Ransom. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Bernard & Eugene Heary; T-Alban de Mieulle; J-Mickael Barzalona; $44,000.
Margins: 2, HF, NK.
Team Osborne Back At It In Qatar
Less than 24 hours after making history as the first female rider to win a race at Meydan, Saffie Osborne repeated the dose–again for her father Jamie–in Saturday's $400,000 Dukhan Sprint, Sponsored By Breeders' Cup, getting home aboard Group 1 winner Emaraaty Ana (GB) just ahead of the locally based Monsieur Noir (Ire). Remarkably, each of the top two finishers is an 8-year-old gelding by Shamardal. Godolphin's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was a good third and could accompany his stablemate back to the States later in the year.
“We will probably travel out to America for the summer as we know he likes the tracks and style of racing out there,” Appleby said.
DUKHAN SPRINT (Sponsored by Breeders' Cup) (Qat-G3, NBT), $400,000, Al Rayyan, 2-17, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:09.19, gd.
1–EMARAATY ANA (GB), 128, g, 8, Shamardal–Spirit of Dubai (Ire) (SW-Eng), by Cape Cross (Ire). (160,000gns HRA '23 TATAUT). O-Barratt Racing; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited; T-Jamie Osborne; J-Saffie Osborne; $228,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, GISP-US, 34-7-5-7, $1,265,929.
2–Monsieur Noir (Ire), 128, g, 8, Shamardal–Night Frolic (GB), by Night Shift. (500,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT; 75,000gns HRA '19 TATAUT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Highclere Stud & Floors Farming; T-Alban de Mieulle; J-Oisin Murphy; $88,000.
3–Mischief Magic (Ire), 128, c, 4, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Veil of Silence (Ire), by Elusive Quality. O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick; $44,000.
Margins: HD, HF, NK.
8th-Meydan, AED500,000, Cond., 2-2, NH & SH 3yo, 1600mT, 1:36.11, gd.
Godolphin celebrated their fourth winner of the day bearing the royal blue, as LEGEND OF TIME (GB) (c, 3, Sea The Stars {Ire})–Kissable {Ire} {G1SP-Ire, SW & GSP-US, $225,919}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) drew off to win the Jumeirah Guineas Presented by Lincoln Nautilus by two lengths on Friday. The penultimate race of the day over 1600 metres on turf, the race marked the third win in four starts for the Charlie Appleby trainee. Content to track the first flight glued to the inside, the bay dropped a few lengths behind on the backstretch as a withering pace was set up front by Azna (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) and Musical Act (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) while shadowed by Shamrock Glitter (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}). Shifting gears and with dead aim on the leading trio by halfway, Legend Of Time edged steadily closer with 500 metres to run. Swung out to produce his bid as Musical Act and Shamrock Glitter traded blows in the straight, the winner surged quickly past all comers to win easily. Athan (Arg) (Orpen) rallied strongly to take second with Shamrock Glitter hanging on for third, 4 1/4 lengths back. “He's a horse who has only improved,” said William Buick. “We always thought he would improve for stepping up to a mile and I think he'll be even more comfortable over 10 furlongs [2000metres]. Let's hope he can make all those necessary steps to put himself in that [Derby] picture. That's what these horses are there to do.” A winner at Haydock in September, he was fifth in the G3 Tattersalls S. later that month and made his 3-year-old bow a winning one when defeating Shamrock Glitter locally on Jan. 5. A half-brother to stakes winner and GI American Oaks third Amandine (GB) (Shamardal) and the G1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Legend Of Time has a yearling half-sister by Night Of Thunder (Ire) still to come. G1 St Leger/G1 Racing Post Trophy winner and sire Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells) is under the third dam, the G3 Park Hill S. victress Eva Luna (Alleged). Sales history: 150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, AED512,002. Click for the ERA chart and video.
O-Godolphin. B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding, Inc. (GB). T-Charlie Appleby.
The 3yo son of Dubawi doubles up at Meydan with a rousing success in the Jumeirah Guineas Presented by Lincoln Nautilus
