Buick backs Comicas to step up to Group 1 after bagging Dubawi Stakes
The Godolphin jockey William Buick said Comicas has the potential to win a Group 1 prize after his victory in the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes, Race 5 in the Dubai World Cup Carnival’s second meeting at Meydan yesterday.
Comicas reversed the result over his conqueror Muarrab at the same course and 1,200-metre distance four weeks ago.
“He came home real good,” said Buick, who angled his run from outside the front three to win by a length-and-a-quarter from Jim Crowley’s mount.
Reynaldothewizard, the three-time winner of the race, finished third after a slow start.
“Halfway up the straight I was really hopeful, yet it was hard to judge in a race,” Buick said. “He was second in the Golden Shaheen [on the Dubai World Cup card] last year and ran a good third on soft ground in the Duke Of York Stakes [at York].
“It would be lovely to see him back in the Golden Shaheen this year and we think he’s a Group 1 sprinter. The great thing about him is he has lots of ability, a big heart and tries hard.”
Satish Seemar was all praise for the 12-year-old Reynaldothewizard and hopes to run him again in the Golden Shaheen on the World Cup night in March.
“He had to come from a long way behind and he did well to come close to two very strong runners,” the Zabeel Stables trainer said. “He’s not done with his racing. He’s on his swansong year as horses above 12 [years old] are not legally permitted to race on the flat. We’ll see how he has come out of this race in the next week, and perhaps even run him on Super Saturday” on March 3.
Godolphin’s Winter Lightning stayed on course for a crack at the UAE 2,000 Guineas with victory on his first local start.
The Shamardal filly was flown in to Dubai after just one career start in which she finished runner-up in a strong maiden at Newmarket last October, prevailed in a photo-finish from Rayya in the Trial race.
“She’s still learning and obviously will improve from this run,” winning rider Pat Cosgrave said. “The other horse had the benefit of a run and found another gear after we got in front. But at the end my one hung in gamely and deservedly, too. She should be better for her next run.”
British champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa came from the back of the field to take Race 2 on the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Janszoon.
It was the first of two wins on the night in the silks of Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid.
The Doug Watson-trained Kimbear, under Dobbs, completed the double for the owner 35 minutes later with an impressive five-length victory over stable companion Layl and Rodaini in Race 3.
Light The Lights under Christophe Soumillon got the better of the Godolphin pair Blair House and Leshlaa in Race 4 to provide South African trainer Mike de Kock with his first Carnival winner this season.
Soumillon had to work from the back of the eight-runner field over the 2,000m distance and held on to win by a neck with the third horse threeand-a-half lengths behind.
“The pace was steady at the beginning and then it became a normal pace which was crazy,” the Belgian jockey said.
“There were not too many runners in the race so I was happy in that position and I could come out at the right time. My horse gave me a last turn of foot to win nicely.”
Reynaldothewizard, the three-time winner of the race, finished third after a slow start