Charlie Appleby has the UAE Arabian Derby as his next target for Gold Town following another successful outing last night that saw him win the UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan Racecourse.
The gelded son of the 2002 Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry was more impressive on his second local start than his victory in the Trial race three weeks ago.
William Buick had him quickly out of Gate 4 to settle him in front. He quickened and went clear on the home stretch and was even able to ease off as they approached the finishing line to win by more than four lengths.
The Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Gotti under Antonio Fresu chased him home ahead of Last Voyage, Appleby’s second runner.
“He was fantastic in the Trial and this was straightforward,” said Appleby as he his second UAE 2000 Guineas success and Godolphin’s 10th since the prize was instituted in 2000.
“He’ll probably go straight to the UAE Derby [on the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 31].
“He has two dirt races under his belt now and we have to just freshen him up for the Derby which is farther (1,900m) than his two runs so far.”
“He’s one of the few horses that can handle both the turf and the dirt equally well. He also has a good turn of foot and that’s very pleasing to see for me. He’s a horse that had a nice level of form in the UK.”
Saeed bin Suroor claimed the first two prizes for the thoroughbreds with Best Solution taking the second race under Pat Cosgrave and Christophe Soumillon making all the running on Don’t Give Up 35 minutes later to complete a treble of victories on the night for Godolphin.
The French-based Godolphin jockey Mickael Barzalona took the next, a sprint over 1,200m on turf, on board the Salem bin Ghadayer-trained High On Life.
It was the seven-year-old’s second win for the season as he continues to bounce back from a disappointing effort at last year’s Group 1 Golden Shaheen on the Dubai World Cup meeting last March when he was unplaced.
“He needs six furlongs on the turf,” said Bin Ghadayer of High on Life.
“We have tried him twice over five furlongs on the turf and he wasn’t beaten too far both times. This trip was a bit hard for him.
“I don’t know if he would get another opportunity to run him in the Dubai World Cup meeting but we’ll see how he’s come out of this race and decide where he goes next, perhaps the Jebel Ali Sprint in just over a week.”
James Doyle, another Godolphin jockey, steered the Charlie Fellowes-trained Prince Of Arran to victory in the sixth race.
Paddy’s Day registered his second win in three starts at Meydan by claiming the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah, the solitary prize for the Purebred Arabians in the seven-race card.
Pat Dobbs, his rider, had him settled in the rear before making smooth progress approaching the final bend to move into the lead on the final 50m to win from the Silvestre De Sousa-ridden Cakouet De Bozouls by a length-and-a-quarter.
The final race of the evening was won by Hors De Combat, who was ridden by Oisin Murphy and trained by Denis Coakley.
