Furia Cruzada excels on Meydan debut to win Al Maktoum Challenge in thrilling finish

Antonio Fresu on Furia Cruzada wins by a nose at Meydan racecourse on Thursday evening. Andrew Watkins / Dubai Racing Club

After a futile 18-month campaign in Europe, Furia Cruzada arrived in Dubai and became an instant hit.

The only mare in the nine-runner field in the Al Maktoum Round 2 put up a gutsy run under young Italian jockey Antonio Fresu to claim the Group 2 prize on her debut at the Meydan racecourse on Thursday night.

She was also returning to the dirt, a surface on which the five-year-old daughter of Newfoundland had won two of her three Group 1 prizes in her native South America, before being flown out for a campaign in Europe.

Arriving at Erwan Charpy’s Green Stables in Dubai in late December, Furia Cruzada seems to have enjoyed the sunshine and is ready for a new challenge in her new-found home.

Fresu had Furia Cruzada out of the gates quickly and raced behind Long River for most of the 1,900-metre trip.

The heat was on as the field approached the final bend, but Fresu got the first run on his mount to go clear on the home straight.

However, Furia Cruzada was tiring rapidly as the winning post loomed. Patrick Dobbs on Second Summer joined her as they flashed past the winning post but the mare just held on to win by a nose.

“We were a bit circumspect for but she showed what she can do. That was a very gutsy performance,” Charpy said.

“We will see how she has come out of the race and decide where she goes next. But for now, we are going to enjoy her victory.”

Charpy was completing a double after Jim Crowley, the British champion jockey, produced a late run to win the fourth race on Zamaam.

Cool Cowboy, returning to the 1,200-metre distance for the first time in more than a year, pipped the international favourite Muarrab to take the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint.

Dobbs on the Doug Watson-American bred chestnut son of Kodiak Kowboy joined Muarrab under Crowley on the home stretch as the two went clear of the rest in battle all the way to the wire.

Cool Cowboy got in front in the final 50 metres to win by a neck to register his seventh win in 21 career starts.

“I picked on him (Muarrab) pretty quick and once he got on his heels he started to get stronger,” Dobbs said.

Watson was also completing a double after Sam Hitchcock made every yard of the running to take the opener on Grand Argentier.

Cymric under William Buick took the next for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, and Christophe Soumillon steered Mike de Kock-trained Shanshaawes to victory in the penultimate race.

Christopher Hayes on the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained Speed Hawk got up in the last stride to pip Medicean Man on the post in the concluding race.

RESULTS: (Order: Horse, jockey, trainer)

6.30pm: EGA Bullets Trophy Handicap $60,000 (Dh220,000)

Winner: Grand Argentier, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

7.05pm: EGA Potlines Trophy Handicap $135,000

Winner: Cymric, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

7.40pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 $200,000

Winner: Cool Cowboy, Patrick Dobbs, Doug Watson

8.15pm: EGA Casthouse Trophy Handicap $160,000

Winner: Zamaam, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy

8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 2 $250,000

Winner: Furia Cruzada, Antonio Fresu, Erwan Charpy

9.25pm: EGA Jebel Ali Trophy Handicap $175,000

Winner: Shanshaawes, Christophe Soumillon, Mike de Kock

10pm: EGA Al Taweelah Trophy Handicap $160,000

Winner: Speed Hawk, Christopher Hayes, Dhruba Selvaratnam

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