Boys in Blue chasing more Carnival glory BIN SUROUR AND APPLEBY HAVE STRONG CLAIMS IN FEATURE RACES AT DISTRICT ONE-SPONSORED DAY
odolphin handlers Saeed Bin Surour and Charlie Appleby continue their doublehanded assault on the Dubai World Cup Carnival’s riches boasting leading chances in the majority of the seven races today.
Having outscored all and sundry to date, with 22 wins from seven meetings, the Boys in Blue look set for another profitable evening at Meydan, where District One — Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City, are the overall sponsors.
The eighth of 11 Carnival race meetings that lead up to the Dubai World Cup on March 31, this weekend’s card is highlighted by three Group contests including an exciting pair of Group 2s — the $200,000 (Dh735,000) Meydan Sprint over 1,000 metres and the $250,000 Zabeel Mile over a mile (1.6km).
Bin Surour and Appleby, who together saddle up 13 runs across the card, are well-represented in the Mile, a race that they have both won twice each.
On this occasion, Appleby appears to have the edge on his Godolphin workmate with Bay of Poets, who was second to Bin Surour’s brilliant Benbatl in the Group 2 Al Rashidiya over 1,800m three weeks ago.
Bin Surour relies on Dream Castle, a close third in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort over 1,400m on that same card.
Ahmad Bin Harmash’s Championship won the Zabeel Mile 12 months ago but did not look like he was carrying on that winning form when he was an uninspiring eighth of nine in the Al Fahidi Fort.
South African handler Mike de Kock has the best record in the Mile with three wins since the race was first run in 2007, and is two-handed with Al Fahidi Fort runner-up Janoobi and the highly-regarded Noah From Goa.
The Zabeel Mile trophy has a strong South African representation with Group 1 winning Whisky Baron representing Zimbabwean-born and South African-based trainer 1. Pirate’s Cover, 2. Galvanize. 1. Kimbear, 2. Raven’s Corner. 1. Leshlaa, 2. Folkswood. 1. Bay Of Poets, 2. Janoobi. 1. Drafted, 2. Classic Emperor. 1. Gold Star, 2. Walton Street. Leshlaa
Day’s Best:
Brett Crawford. Commenting on Bay of Poet’s chances Appleby said: “He’s a horse who always travels well through his races and we are hoping that a strongly-run mile will play to his strengths,”
Hopes on Blue Point
The meeting opens with the Meydan Sprint a race that has the makings of a thriller with the likes of Ertijaal, the top rated sprinter in the UAE and Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes sensation, Blue Point, among a classy field of six horses in contention.
Racing out of former UAE champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s stables, Ertijaal will bid to retain the title he won last season.
Beaten just once on the Meydan turf, Ertijaal can lay down a strong marker for another shot at the 1,200m sprint on the Dubai World Cup Card.
Blue Point, a dual winner at Ascot last season, is a horse that Appleby has a lot of hope in as he makes his debut as a progressive four-year-old. Appleby said: “He has been training very well and we are delighted with him.”
Ireland’s Hit The Bid was a first Meydan winner for trainer Darren Bunyan who backs up his sprinter following an impressive romp over course and distance a fortnight ago.
The third feature of the evening is the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes over 2,000m on turf. Ten runners are declared headed by Bin Surour’s Leshlaa, an easy winner on his last start over course and distance.
Appleby sends out Folkswood, runner-up in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday last year.and a brilliant third to Australian wonder mare Winx in the Group 1 Cox Plate.