DUBAI // The Godolphin team dominated on Super Saturday at Meydan Racecourse, combining to win both the Thoroughbred Group 1 contests on the eight-race card after landing the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold with Sky Hunter.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor saddled first and second in the featured Group 1 third and final round of the Al Maktoum Challenge, over the same 2,000-metre dirt course as the US$10 million (Dh36.7m) Dubai World Cup, the richest horse race on the planet.
Winner of last year’s Dubai World Cup on tapeta, African Story failed to fire on his dirt debut in the middle round of the Challenge but was ridden more positively last night, bursting from the stalls to lead early on.
Sam Hitchcott on Henry Clay was determined to lead, though, so James Doyle was forced to settle in behind him on African Story, whose stable companion, Prince Bishop, the winner of this race last season, was settled at the rear by William Buick.
At the top of the straight, Hitchcott kicked for home, opening up a decent lead and Doyle had to ask his mount to dig deep.
Even though he still seemed to struggle on the surface, African Story’s class and grit won the day, and the race, with Prince Bishop storming home to take second.
“We were keen to race more handily this time and he has handled the kickback better this time and will hopefully improve on the surface again,” Doyle said. “He has a touch of class and a very willing attitude.
“He has needed both today.”
It was an 11th victory in the race for Bin Suroor whose previous winners Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry (2002) and Electrocutionist (2006) all followed up in the Dubai World Cup.
The evening was to get better for Godolphin with Hunter’s Light turning the concluding Group 1 Jebel Hatta, over 1,800m on turf, into a cakewalk.
Again Doyle was happy to track the early pace, set by Anaerobio, one of six in the field for South African trainer Mike de Kock.
As Anaerobio started to falter at the top of the straight, Doyle found himself with plenty of room to challenge on his outside.
His mount responded in style, quickening clear of the toiling leader and putting daylight between himself and his 11 opponents.
The six-and-a-half lengths victory was the horse’s third at Group-1 level, his previous success achieved on this card two years ago in the Al Maktoum Challenge.
It was also his third Carnival win of the year.
“This horse has been in great form all year and we really wanted another Group 1 win with him,” Bin Suroor said.
“We have achieved that and will look for a fourth in the Dubai Turf in three weeks.”
VERSAC PY WINS AT KAHAYLA’S DISTANCE
It was third time lucky for Versac PY in the Group 1 final round of the Al Maktoum Challenge for Purebred Arabians over the same 2,000-metre dirt course as the Kahayla Classic on Dubai World Cup night.
Trained by Erwan Charpy, Versac PY was second in the previous two renewals but won in style this year under Paul Hanagan.
“He has been second in this in each of the last two years and deserved that,” Charpy said.
Versac PY is owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, as is 1,200m Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal winner Shaishee, who denied Speed Hawk in a close finish. The Group 1 Golden Shaheen in three weeks is his target.
The owner completed a dirt treble with the smooth success of Tamarkuz in the Group 3 Burh Nahaar over 1,600m.
The Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold, over 2,400m on turf, gave Godolphin’s Sky Hunter the chance for a winning local debut.
With James Doyle, riding for Saeed bin Suroor, in the saddle they had the race in the bag at the 200m.
Mubtaahij was impressive in the Listed Al Bastakiya, the 1,900m dirt prep for the UAE Derby and a fifth win in the race for South African Mike de Kock.
UK trainer Ian Williams had not had a runner in the UAE before this Carnival and arrived with one horse, Sir Maximilian, who opened their accounts in the 1,000m Group 3 Meydan Sprint.
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