Blue Point set for Meydan Sprint
dubai — It will be a redemption of sorts for Blue Point when he returns to the Meydan Racecourse close to a year after being withdrawn on one of the biggest nights in horse racing — the Dubai World Cup.
Not that he seeks one as the fiveyear-old from the highly-acclaimed Shamardal has since had his connections Godolphin grinning from ear to ear following a stellar victory in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, his maiden Group 1 win, no less.
But it will go some way in erasing that disappoint of that World Cup night, when he lines up at Gate 1 for the Group 2 Meydan Sprint, the equivalent of the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint, in the seventh race meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Thursday night.
Back in March last year, Blue Point, an overwhelming race favourite in the Al Quoz Sprint, had a veterinary scratch at the gate. But as fate would have it, stablemate Jungle Cat strode to victory to give handler Charlie Appleby his first win on Dubai World Cup night.
Although he came up short on his return, finishing ninth in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize, Blue Point went on to knock Battaash by 1.75 lengths at Royal Ascot and placed seventh and third at Newmarket and Yorkshire, the latter in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.
This will mark Blue Point’s second run at the iconic Meydan since he second-place finish to Ertijaal on Carnival night last February.
And Appleby, who leads the Carnival standings with 10 winners, expressed his confidence of a good showing from his charge.
“Blue Point is coming back from a bit of a lay-off, having not run since August, but I have been pleased with his preparation,” said Appleby.
“He has done well from four to five and looks the finished article now. Our main aim has always been the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup Night, and therefore there should be some marked improvement on whatever he does this week. He is not coming up against a horse of the calibre of Ertijaal this time and should still be the one to beat.”