Charlie Appleby upbeat as Magic Lily shines at Dubai World Cup Carnival

Godolphin trainer sets Group One Jebel Hatta as the next target

Magic Lily ridden by William Buick wins the Balanchine during Dubai World Cup Carnival Week 7 at Meydan. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has the Group One Jebel Hatta as Magic Lily’s next target after she won the Group Two Balanchine at the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan on Thursday.

William Buick helped produce a well-timed run to claim the $250,000 (Dh918,000) prize from the French raider Nisreen by a length and-a-quarter over the 1,800-metre distance on turf.

It was Magic Lily’s second success in four weeks over the same opponent, but this time it was more convincing than the short head triumph when they first met over the 1,600m trip.

“What I liked about her this evening is she seems to be growing up,” Appleby said of the five-year-old daughter of the 2008 Epsom Derby winner New Approach.

“She only had four runs in her career before coming to Meydan. She’s behaved herself and got into a lovely rhythm and I was always confident going into the straight that she would hit the line strong.

“Stepping up in trip, we were always confident. It wasn’t our intention to win the Cape Verdi, because the mile was a bit sharp for her, but she won and we were confident coming into today.

“Perhaps we could fall into something like the (Group One) Jebel Hatta (on Super Saturday, March 7). We have Barney Roy and a couple others and one other meeting to have a look at it. We will appreciate this evening and look forward to the future with her.”

Appleby went on to complete a hattrick. He took the opening thoroughbred prize with Ya Hayati under Buick and Eynhallow took the concluding handicap with Mickael Barzalona atop.

Buick, who was on the saddle when she won the Cape Verdi, said he was confident Magic Lily would appreciate the longer trip.

“She was always going to appreciate the extra furlong in trip,” Buick said. “She came on from the Cape Verdi (Group Two over 1,600m) and I thought that was a good performance today.

“In typical fashion, she hits the front in the straight and just grinds it out. She travels well and wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a good fighter.”

Rasi, ridden by Harry Bentley, wins the Mazrat Al Ruwayah during the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Salem bin Ghadayer’s Capezzano, under Mickael Barzalona, won the Group Three Firebreak Stakes.

Earlier, Omani trainer Sulaiman Al Ghunaimi made a winning debut at Meydan when Rasi, under Harry Bentley, took the Group Two Mazrat Al Ruwayah for the Purebred Arabians.

“It’s his first appearance and my first runner at Meydan, and I couldn’t have wished for a better result,” the winning trainer said after the nine-year-old’s win over Eric Lemartinel’s RB Lam Tara by two and three-quarter lengths.

“I have had this horse for two years and he’s improved so much on his second season. He’s strong and won very well tonight.

“He arrived with a rating of 105 and I wish his rating will improve significantly after this result, and hopefully get an invite for the Dubai Kahayla Classic on the Dubai World Cup night.”