DUBAI // Variety Club became the first UAE runner for South African trainer Joey Ramsden and left all challengers behind in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes over 1,600 metres on Tapeta, one of three features at Meydan on Thursday night.
Taken straight to the front by jockey Anton Marcus, the pair never saw a rival, and the multiple Group 1 winner ran out a convincing winner to the delight of Marcus.
“I won the 2008 Dubai Duty Free on my only previous visit to Dubai in 2008 and this fellow is as good,” he said.
“It would be lovely to think he is Dubai World Cup contender and he has clearly relished the Tapeta.”
The 1,600m Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas, on Tapeta, provided the perfect opportunity for last year’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner, Long John, to make a winning start to his UAE career for trainer Charlie Appleby,
Ridden by stable jockey Mickael Barzalona, who also rode the winner in 2011 and 2012, Long John tracked the early pace before being sent for home almost 600m out.
Barzalona’s mount quickened well, opening up a decisive advantage that he never relinquished.
“That was impressive,” Barzalona said. “His Australian form is top notch and he has shown great acceleration and good stamina here. It was impressive.”
The third Group 3 on Tapeta, the 1,200m Al Shindagha Sprint, went to Ireland with Russian Soul, trained by Mick Halford, running on too strongly for fellow Irish challenger Jamesie.
Shane Foley was on the winner, a third at the 2014 Carnival for both he and Halford.
The jockey could be seen travelling particularly well at the halfway mark, and when a gap appeared, they shot through to lead 300m out.
“All our horses have run well and it has been a great Carnival so far,” Foley said. “I assume we will be back on Super Saturday with him, and then, hopefully, on Dubai World Cup night.
“This is a good sprinter.”
The opening 2,000m Tapeta handicap was won smoothly by Sanshaawes, ridden by Belgian Christophe Soumillon for South African Mike De Kock.
Soumillon settled his mount in midfield before making smooth progress turning for home. They led 300m out and won nicely.
“He ran well first time and had worked well on Tapeta,” Soumillon said. “It was his first race on it, but he loved it and can improve again.”
Trainer and jockey later combined to win the 1,800m turf handicap with local debutant Vercingetorix maintaining his unbeaten record. He has now won all five career starts.
“It is the first time I have ridden him in a race, and he is a lazy work horse at home, so I was pleasantly surprised,” Soumillon said. “All being well, he is a Dubai Duty Free horse for World Cup night.”
The concluding 2,435m turf handicap went to Songcraft, ridden by Silvestre De Sousa for Saeed bin Suroor, and a second Godolphin winner on the evening.
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