DUBAI STABLE CONTINUE TO DOMINATE EVENT WITH QUARTET OF WINS ON WEEK FOUR
Jungle Cats was ridden prominently by Doyle for most of the trip tracking early leader and South African raider Janoobi, before being asked for his effort with three furlongs to run. Within a matter of strides, the son of Darley stallion Iffraaj had the race win.
Third in the Coventry and second in the Group 2 July Stakes when campaigned as a sprinter in the UK, Jungle Cat finished a respectable fourth in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup day last year.
“This horse is something of a Carnival veteran now and never runs a bad race,” Appleby said. “He was fourth in the Al Quoz Sprint in March, but we tried him over this 1400m in England and he stays it well.
“We now have to decide whether to try him over 1600m or drop back to 1200m because there is nothing else for him at this trip.
“I am delighted to give James his first Carnival winner this year because he is a big part of the team.”
Doyle added: “It’s hard not to love him, he’s an absolute start and has a big following a Meydan where he has become a regular, so this is a great result and let’s hope there’s a few more. He’s had a couple of seasons out here where he’s absolutely excelled. I don’t know that it actually is but he must like the sun on his back.”
Doyle emphasised Jungle Cat’s sprinting prowess, which might encourage Appleby to drop him to 1200m en route to another shot at the Al Quoz Sprint at the end of March.
Doyle finished second on five occasions aboard Bay Of Pets, Baccarat, Bravo Zolo, Emotionless and Prince of Arran, at this year’s Carnival, from ten rides.
Jungle Cat was crowing another very successful night for Team Godolphin at the Carnival taking their tally of wins to 14.
Appleby completed a double when Boynton won The Mina Rashid Handicap while Saeed Bin Surour also took home a pair of trophies following the second of Benbatl in the Group 2 Al Rashidiya and Gold Star won the concluding Hamdan Bin Mohammad Cruise Terminal, a 2410 metre turf handicap.