(MENAFN-Khaleej Times) Triple delight for Godolphin?s Suroor as Prince Bishop emerges winner in feature event
Shaikh Mohammed with the fifth race winner Shuruq; and horses in action during the sixth race at the Meydan racecourse on Saturday. — KT photo by Grace Guino
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor enjoyed the thrill of the Super Saturday with a superb performance to claim the main three events of the night, including the highlight of the eight-race card. Leading Irish jockey Kieren Fallon was in the saddle again to steer Prince Bishop to his second straight success in the Emirates Airline Al Maktoum Challenge R-3 Group-1, the feature of the Super Saturday at Meydan on Thursday.
The race was attended by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
With retained jockey Silvestre De Souza serving one race suspension, Saeed bin Suroor secured the services of William Buick to ride favourite African Story amid wide expectations that the extended distance will suit the Dubai World Cup Group-1 entrant. But, the run of the race proved to the contrary and Prince Bishop made his mark for the second time to establish himself a strong candidate to land the big race on the big night.
Sanshaawes, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, ran a cracking race to take second and Surfer delighted the connections with a third-place finish. Meanwhile, Prince Bishop had to fight for a passage in the crucial stages and luckily he was able to work his way through the gap to beat the leading pair in the final 150 yards. Meydan Sprint Gr-3
The excitement of the Super Saturday has started from the third race from which the popular pick-six competition begins, Meydan Sprint Group-3 (turf), sponsored by Arabian Adventure and contested over five furlongs with full field of 14 runners going to post. The big crowd which has backed international favourite Shea Shea to get the job done went crazy as Ahtoug made a forward move to lead in the final furlong before Shea Shea rallied under a strong drive of Christophe Soumillon to win by a head on the line.
“I was a little bit worried because of the long layoff,” said the South African trainer Mike De Kock later. “We have been working with him for the last few weeks, but he needs to improve ahead of the big challenge on the big night,” he added.
French jockey Mickael who rode Ahtoug to miss in the dying strides watched the replay from the screen and shook his head before he advanced to the weighing room.
Soumillon was delighted and commented: “I had to follow the rails if there’s no horse to follow and my mount responded well. Barzalona gave Ahtoug a good ride, but it was my horse who has put his head first.”
The race started early in the evening with the Arabian version of the 2,000m Al Maktoum Challenge R-3 Group-1 sponsored by Emirates Airline. A field of 11 runners was declared for the race and Meydan debutant Raaziq came with a late run under Olivier Peslier to pip the mount of Paul Hanagan, Versac PY near home. Richard Hughes partnered Asmar to a six-length victory for trainer Fawzi Nass in the 1,900m Al Bastakiya Listed the second event on the card.Mahab Al Shimal
Hong Kong-based trainer Michael Chang was over the moon to see his horse Rich Tapes Try travelling easily to win the 1,200m Mahab Al Shimaal Group-3 (tapeta) sponsored by Emirates Skywards, the fourth race on the card.
“This is his style,” a delighted trainer said. “He always love to attack from behind when it matters. I think the obvious target is the 1,200m Dubai Golden Shaheen Group-1 on the Dubai World Cup night.
Ironically, the horse has touched down in Dubai on Monday and had only three days to get ready for the tough test. “Yes, he had a comfortable trip, but he lost some weight in tramsit. We managed to keep him ready and I think he has enjoyed the trip and the surface suited him.”
The good news for the horse connections that they have beat the title holder of the Dubai Golden Shaheen, Reynaldothewizard in the process. But, Satish Seemar who trains the Wizard at Zabeel Stables and his retained jockey Richard Mullen had a different view.
“I’m not upset at all,” Seemar said. “Reynaldothewizard ran well and he will improve for the main challenge,” he added.
Likewise was the stand of the connections of Soft Falling Rain who has received his first UAE defeat after having enjoyed an exceptional season last year winning all his three starts including the 1,600m Godolphin Mile Group-2 before heading for Europe. Jockey Paul Hanagan said he was wide drawn in stall 14, and he will improve for the next race whatsoever the target is, being the Dubai Golden Shaheen or Godolphin Mile.Jebel Hatta Group-1
Mike De Kock completed a double after Christophe Soumillion steered Vercingetorix home in the Emirates Airlie Jebel Hatta Group-1 (turf), the final race on the card. Having won a handicap contest over course and distance on UAE debut, the well-bred son of Silvano raced keenly behind the early speed which was set by stables companion Anerobio, ridden by Patrick Cosgrave.
“The horse was quite nervous today but finally he jumped out of the stalls quite well. He was going easily and I have realised that he would win the race because he was going better,” the winning jockey said.
Unbeaten in all six starts, it’s apparent that the next target for Vercingetorix would be the 1800m Dubai Duty Free Group-1 in the big night.Burj Nahar Group-3
Mickael Barzalona gave Shuruq every assist to beat the twice South Africa Horse Of The Year Variety Club in the Emirates Holidays Burj Nahar Group-3.
“She will go for the Godolphin Mile on the Dubai World Cup,” Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor said in a post-race chat. “The directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,” bin Suroor confirmed. “This is the plan for the short run, but in the long run she will head for the US to race on the dirt,” he added.
However, the win was very crucial for the champion trainer Saeed bin Suroor in his title defence campaign against the South African trainer Mike De Kock. The win put the UAE trainer three lengths clear while Barzalona have sealed his 9th winner and settled three points behind suspended stables companion Silvestre De Souza and one point behind Christophe Soumillon.
Shurug was perfectly poised in the middle of the field as Tadhg O’Shea took Capital Attraction to deny Variety Club the early lead, and in the process, both horses as the pack turned for home. Barzalona appraised the situation and managed to take advantage of the obvious opportunity. “She settled nicely and was always going well,” Barzalona said. “She won well and should improve further,” he added.Dubai City of Gold (Group-2)
Saeed bin Suroor saddled a 1-2 in the subsequent race Dubai City of Gold Group-2 (turf) sponsored by Emirates Skycargo, which was contested over a mile and a half. Veteran Irish jockey Kieren Fallon was on board Excellent Result who lived up to his name and raced against the fences to land his second straight victory. Songcraft, ridden by William Buick was a length and three quarters back in second and Mount Athos finished on the heels of the Godolphin pair under Jamie Spencer.
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