DUBAI // Excellent Result kicked off a Super Saturday double for the trainer-jockey combination of Saeed bin Suroor and Kieren Fallon with victory in the Group 3 Dubai City Of Gold, a 2,410 metres turf race in which they denied stable companion Songcraft close to home.
A winner over 2,810m on his previous outing, Fallon’s mount coped well with the drop in trip to hit the front in the final 50m in the dress rehearsal for the Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup Night on March 29.
“He could actually mature into a nice staying type as he is only four and has not had much racing,” Fallon said. “He is certainly improving and that was a good performance as he is probably better over further.”
That victory was the second of three consecutive successes for Bin Suroor, who had already saddled Shuruq to land the Group 3 Burj Nahaar – a warm-up for the Godolphin Mile – over 1,600m on the Tapeta. Winner of last year’s UAE Oaks, she also won Al Maktoum Challenge I this year and seemingly loves the Tapeta.
Bin Suroor and Fallon then combined to lead Prince Bishop home in the Al Maktoum Challenge, the night's penultimate race.
South African trainer Mike de Kock was in double form, highlighted by the victory of Vercingetorix in the concluding Group 1 Jebel Hatta, over the same 1,800m turf course and distance as the Dubai Duty Free in three weeks' time.
De Kock’s charge has won all six career starts and hit the front here about 200m out under Christophe Soumillon, who had to keep his mount up to his work but never looked likely to be caught.
De Kock said: “This is a proper horse. We have always known that, but just how good he is I am not sure because he is lazy and thinks he has done enough when he hits the front. He was not a well horse when he arrived, so this is particularly pleasing.”
Earlier, just as he had done 12 months ago, Shea Shea landed the Group 3 Meydan Sprint with Soumillon in the saddle for De Kock. The South African sprinter will now defend his crown in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint over the same 1,000m turf course and distance.
De Kock said: “The plan was always to return in this, run World Cup night and to go back to Royal Ascot with him. So far, so good.”
The meeting opened with the Group 1 Purebred Arabian version of the Al Maktoum Challenge III, over 2,000m on Tapeta. Raaziq, trained by Majed Al Jahouri for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, led in the last strides to land the spoils under Olivier Peslier, denying Versac PY in the process.
Peslier, who came in for the ride when Silvestre De Sousa failed to get the suspension he incurred last week overturned, held his mount up well off the steady pace, whereas Versac PY was always prominent before leading 500m out.
“They did not go particularly quick but I knew my horse stays well and would find plenty,” Peslier said. “He responded gallantly when I asked him and I thought we were going to get there from about 200m out.”
Asmar, previously a maiden, was the comfortable winner of the Listed Al Bastakiya, over 1,900m on Tapeta and the trial for the UAE Derby. Owned and trained by Fawzi Nass, from Bahrain, he received a very positive ride by UK champion jockey Richard Hughes.
The pair led from about 1,400m out. “Stamina is this horse’s strength so we had to make sure it did not develop into a sprint. He will be back in three weeks for the UAE Derby,” Nass said.
Hong Kong was celebrating after the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal, over the same 1,200m as the Group 1 Golden Shaheen, with the smooth success of Rich Tapestry, ridden by Olivier Doleuze for Michael Chang.
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