YORK, ENGLAND // Mandaean could not justify his pre-race billing in the Dante Stakes as Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's Ektihaam flew the flag for the UAE on the Knavesmire yesterday by pushing the eventual winner Bonfire all the way to the line.
Mandaean lined up unbeaten in the most significant trial for next month's English Derby after two runs in France for Andre Fabre, but in his first outing for Mahmoud Al Zarooni he found nothing and trailed in last under Mickael Barzalona.
It leaves Godolphin without a serious runner in next month's Epsom Classic, despite over 20 colts entered. The Dubai-based organisation could, of course, ask Fabre to send to Newmarket Masterstroke, who was second in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart at Longchamp five days ago for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, but it is an almost impossible scenario.
"Nothing happened. Mandaean was simply not good enough," Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager, said. "There was nothing wrong with him."
Joseph O'Brien set a fair pace on Ernest Hemmingway with Barzalona tracking Bonfire. As the field swung into the straight Tadhg O'Shea was in last place on Ektihaam. Barzalona started to rouse his mount with an increasing lack of success as the pair were swamped by Ektihaam and Adam Kirby, aboard Dream Tune, owned by Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa.
Two furlongs from home Ektihaam had reached Bonfire and the pair settled down to break the heart of Fencing, ridden by William Buick.
With a furlong to ride, it looked as if Ektihaam might go past but Bonfire held on to win by three-quarters of a length. Fencing was third, four lengths back, while Dream Tune was fourth.
O'Shea was delighted with the run. "Both the winner and him will turn out to be very smart," the jockey said. "They both have a bright future and hopefully my colt will have his own big day."
Roger Varian, the trainer, suggested that Ektihaam's day would come in the French Derby over 10 furlongs at Chantilly on June 3 as the son of Invincible Spirit is not entered at Epsom, which stages the Derby a day before.
"We're competitors and you're always a bit annoyed when you don't win, but I'm thrilled with how he ran," Varian said.
"He travelled into the race really well and I'm delighted that he's shown he's up to this level.
"He's a horse with the physique to improve through the year.
"I'll speak to the owner before we make any definite plans but it's nice to be going home knowing we've got a really good one on our hands.
"He's not in at Epsom and I think 10 furlongs is as far as he wants at this stage. Just 25 yards from the line the winner was finishing better than we were."
For Bonfire, Epsom awaits and for Andrew Balding, the trainer, it will be his first runner in the colt's Classic.
"We've only got just over a fortnight, but as long as he comes out of this well, we've got to give Epsom serious consideration," he said.
sports@thenational.ae
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
More coverage from the Future Forum
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
