Janoobi shows guts to grab Jebel Hatta third
DE KOCK RUNNER BATTLES ALL THE WAY TO THE LINE IN GROUP 1 Whisky Baron flops but Al Sahem puts in a good run.
Mike de Kock-trained Janoobi finished gutsy third in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan on “Super Saturday” of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
The South African-bred son of Silvano started at 16-1 and was in contention until the last few metres.
Under British jockey Jim Crowley, Janoobi tracked the pacemakers for most of the 1800m trip. Then, after rounding the bend, about 300m out, he surged to the lead. But that advantage was short-lived as Blair House (also 16-1) ranged up alongside and put his head in front.
Janoobi refused to give up and battled all the way down the turf track straight, but couldn’t peg back Blair House under James Doyle, who was wearing the blue silks of Godolphin for trainer Charlie Appleby.
On the line, Janoobi was pipped for second by even-money favourite Benbatl.
The other South African interest in the 1800m contest, Sun Met 2017 winner Whisky Baron (16-1), who’d been quietly fancied after a recent fourth place in his Meydan pipe-opener, never got beyond mid-division and faded out after a rough passage around the bend. He finished eighth of the 11 runners.
Appleby, who won the 2016 Jebel Hatta with Tryster, said: “We knew this horse arrived here in good form and it looked a wideopen race, as it transpired to be. I am sure we will have to come back with him in three weeks in what will be a stronger race but he owes us nothing now.”
Doyle added: “We won a bit too easily last time, so we had to step him up in class as there was no handicap opportunity for him. It has actually worked out very well in the end, because he is a Group 1 winner now!”
The other South African interest on the night was De Kocktrained Al Sahem who improved on his recent form and ran on well from the back of the field to finish fifth out of 14 in the final race of the night, the Dubai City of Gold over 2400m.
The race turned into a battle in the final 300m between stablemates Frontiersman and his well-fancied Group 1-winning stablemate Hawkbill, with the latter lowering the course record to 2:26.85 under William Buick.
“They fought it out well and it was a good race,” Buick said. “I had quite a tough trip and the horse did really well, having to cover a bit of ground. It was a really good performance and he’s an exciting horse, who seems to get better with age.” -
“Super Saturday” was the final fixture of the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival and lived up to its billing with both Group 1 features producing memorable winning efforts.
Introduced in 2003 as a dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup card three weeks later, all seven races are mirror images of a race to be contested on that ultravaluable occasion when $30 million will be distributed in prize money.
Three horses have won the Group 1 US$400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 sponsored by Emirates Airline, over 2000m on dirt, before following up in the $10-million Dubai World Cup and North America will try and emulate them after a smooth success, making all under Richard Mullen, riding for Ramzan Kadyrov and Satish Seemar.
Drawn six in a field of 12, Mullen’s mount was well away and ridden positively to get to the lead. Two-time Group 1 winner Thunder Snow, last year’s UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) and UAE Derby (G2) winner, was among those tracking him throughout and challenged as the two turned for home, ultimately failing to close in on his rival. In the end, North America was a 5.25-lengths winner, turning the tables on his aforementioned rival. Multiple G1-winning mare Furia Cruzada finished a game third, 3.75 lengths further back.
“Last time, when second to Thunder Snow (in Round 2), was probably a career-best and he has built on that again tonight. I just wanted to get him into a rhythm; not necessarily to lead, but we broke so well, I was able to get to the front and he was then always happy. I am just very lucky to be part of a big team with Satish at Zabeel Stables. Everyone works so hard and it is great on occasions like this for everyone. Obviously, the Dubai World Cup is going to be a stronger race, but he deserves his chance.” – Dubai Racing Club