Friday’s fourth meeting of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse was officially highlighted by the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes, over the same 1600m on dirt as the Godolphin Mile, dominated this year by the three runners sent out by Doug Watson. Having stalked the early speed, Sam Hitchcott committed Prince Eiji for home about halfway up the straight and never looked likely to be reeled in by Pat Dobbs aboard stablemate Everfast.
Adrie de Vries and stable companion Thegreatcollection ran on to take third. Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Obaid Al Maktoum, the winner, a 7yo Dubawi gelding was impressive winning on his seasonal debut, over this course and distance, in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile on the first day of December.
He was then, however, under the same conditions, seemingly disappointing in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1. The eight-race card kicked off with the Festival City Stakes, a conditions contest for 3yos over 1900m on the dirt, contested in driving rain and turned into a procession by Naser Askar’s Lahresh under Antonio Fresu, the pair storming clear about 700m out.
The Iffraaj colt, saddled by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, was making it third time lucky, on his first start of 2023, and now has form figures of 321. Over 1200m on turf, the Listed Dubai Sprint was won in dramatic fashion by Coachello, seemingly held by hot favourite Man Of Promise before thrusting his head in front near the line under Pat Dobbs, the 5yo Dunkerque gelding providing both Gordon Elliott, better known as an Irish National Hunt trainer, and owner Alymer Stud maiden UAE victories.
Tadhg O’Shea and Bhupat Seemar combined to land a 1900m dirt handicap with Franz Strauss, previously unraced on the surface, for Greg Bryce. The 4yo Golden Horn colt was having just his second UAE outing. Jockey and trainer were back in the winner’s enclosure after the finale, a 1400m dirt handicap, this time combining with Al Rashid Stables whose silks were carried to victory aboard Western Symphony.
Class prevailed in the Jumeirah Classic, a turf Listed race over 1800m for 3yos, Godolphin’s Naval Power, with an official rating of 110, landing the spoils for Charlie Appleby and William Buick, catching stablemate One Nation close home, but seemingly always in control, with the third Appleby runner, Highbank completing the placings in third.
A homebred Teofilo colt, he has suffered just one defeat after six outings, well beaten but reportedly with excuses, in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, his previous outing, in early October, and was ridden with supreme confidence here. Buick said: “That ground was quite testing and it was a decent race as we know the second and third are good horses so we have to be very pleased.
"He will be better on when getting back on faster ground.” The judge was required to sort out the winner of a conditions race on turf for 3yo fillies, the 1400m Jumeirah Fillies Classic, with Godolphin pair Dream Of Love, flying home under William Buick for Charlie Appleby, just failing to catch Pat Cosgrave and Mawj, saddled by Saeed bin Suroor.
HOMEBRED DAUGHTER
A homebred daughter of Exceed And Excel, it was a third career success for the filly, winner of the 1200m Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes in July last year. She was also not beaten far, on her most recent start, in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, like all her five previous starts, over 1200m.
Cosgrave said: “I started to ask for an effort too early, especially on that ground, but she has a touch of class which has saved the day.” Bin Suroor added: “This is the first time Mawj has raced over seven furlongs and on softer ground, which was a question mark before the race but we thought we would give her a chance.
She is an improving filly and has grown a little since coming out to Dubai but she still needs time. Last year she raced over six furlongs, tonight was seven, and next she will go up to a mile for the Jumeirah Fillies Guineas. A 2000m turf handicap, the Zabeel Turf, was won in similar fashion, this time Bin Suroor’s White Wolf hitting top gear just too late to deny Good Fortune, representing Denmark, trained by Soren Jensen for Havemanns and Stald Skaker with Theo Bachelot in the saddle.
RESULTS
1. Lahresh
2. Coachello
3. Franz Strauss
4. Mawj
5. Good Fortune
6. Prince Eiji
7. Naval Power
8. Western Symphony
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