Racing Weekly Issue 6

ISSUE 6 • 7 DECEMBER 2018

YOUR RACING DESTINATION

MENDELSSOHN RETIRED TO STAND AT ASHFORD STUD

DRAFTED WINS THE THRILLING GARHOUD SPRINT

RIO TIGRE BANKS JEBEL ALI FEATURE

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SHAIKH HAMDAN BIN RASHID SPRINTERS TO THE FORE AT MEYDAN

MEYDAN GARHOUD SPRINT DRAFTED DENIES IBN MALIK IN THRILLING GARHOUD SPRINT

BAHRAIN BAPCO CUP BALTIC KNIGHT WINS BAPCO CUP IN STUNNING FASHION

JEBEL ALI SHADWELL CUP RIO TIGRE BANKS JEBEL ALI FEATURE; BIN HARMASH LANDS TREBLE

WORLD CUP 2019 Meydan Group Announces 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnvial Accepted Invitees

SPRINTERS TO THE FORE AT MEYDAN HAMDAN-OWNED HORSES HAVE IMPRESSIVE RECORD IN RACE THAT POINTS TO DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN GULF NEWS Dubai: Meydan Racecourse hosts the first notable

The race is an early pointer to the major sprint

‘blink and you’ll miss it’ contest in the form of the

contests leading up to the Golden Shaheen and has

Listed Garhoud Sprint, sponsored by Al Tayer

understandably attracted some high-quality

Motors, the feature race of an interesting seven-

speedballs, including six winners from the 2018

race programme.

Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Run over the same distance at the $2.5 million

Almanaara won this race in 2016 and looks the one

Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf

to beat. Watson also saddles Drafted, a bargain

News, the race has attracted a strong field of ten

purchase at the 2017 Racing in Dubai Sale, and the

runners headed by Almanaara, an imperious 7 ½-

promising Kimbear.

length winner over the course and distance in

“All three are in very good shape and working well

March. Trained by champion trainer Doug Watson,

at home,” the trainer said. “Almanaara has the best

the exciting son of Shamardal represents Shaikh

draw of the trio over what is probably his ideal

Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of

trip, but, hopefully, the other two will be staying

Dubai and Minister of Finance, whose horses have

on. It is four weeks until the Dubai World Cup

won four of the first five editions of the race since

Carnival and this looks an ideal opportunity to get

its inauguration in 2013.

them back on the track.”

On his third UAE outing, Kimbear chased home the

Al Mheiri has saddled the winner of this sprint

Satish Seemar-trained Raven’s Corner, who set

three times and is represented by dirt debutant

record over 1,400 metres on the Meydan dirt.

Ibn Malik, the mount of Ben Curtis.

Trained by Seemar, the five-year-old will be having

A winner twice in Great Britain when trained by

his first start of the campaign. He is joined in the

Charlie Hills, he has often run well in the face of a

field by stable companion Circle Dream, the mount

stiff task, having contested races won by the likes

of Tadhg O’Shea.

of subsequent Group 1 winners Jungle Cat,

Bhupat Seemar, assistant trainer to Satish, said:

Ribchester and The Tin Man.

“Raven’s Corner is in very good form, but has been

Besides the feature, Thursday’s card also features

done no favours by the draw (post 9) and should

the 1,400-metre Lincoln Continental, and Lincoln

improve for his first run back. Circle Dream is a 3-

Navigator over 2,000 metres.

year-old taking on the older horses, which is never

Another race to look forward to is the Lincoln, a

easy, but he is doing well at home.”

1,600-metre conditions race for which a dozen

Fazza Stables’ Sandeep Jadhav also runs two, with

two-year-olds have been declared. Heading the

stable jockey Royston Ffrench opting to partner

weights are the two previous winners and thus

Jebel Ali Racecourse scorer High on Life and Xavier

penalised, Walking Thunder and Superior.

Ziani aboard Sutter County.

Both are trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash for the

“High on Life did not run as well as we hoped he

Phoenix Ladies Syndicate, a new entity who were

would last time,” Jadhav said. “He has a great draw

celebrating victories with both their first ever

and we are very hopeful. Sutter County has been

runners. Stable jockey Connor Beasley, aboard for

working well since his first run, but the draw was

both the wins, sticks with Walking Thunder, while

not helpful for him.” Emirati handler Musabbeh

Antonio Fresu picks up Superior.

MENDELSSOHN RETIRED FROM RACING, TO STAND AT ASHFORD STUD IN 2019 HORSE RACING NATION Coolmore announced Sunday that Grade 1 winner

Coolmore America manager Dermot Ryan said in a

Mendelssohn has been retired from racing and will

statement. “Being by our own Scat Daddy and a

stand at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., for the

half-brother to Into Mischief and Beholder, you

2019 breeding season. The announcement came a

couldn’t ask for a better pedigree and he showed

day after Mendelssohn finished fourth in the Cigar

real brilliance when wining the Breeders’ Cup

Mile (G1). His will stand for a fee of $35,000.

Juvenile Turf at Del Mar and the UAE Derby by a

The global operation went to $3 million to

street, recording a new track record. He also ran

purchase the son of Scat Daddy at the 2016

some excellent races in defeat this fall, notably in

Keeneland September Yearling Sale. In addition to

the Travers and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. We

being sired by the late Coolmore stallion,

have already had a huge number of (inquiries)

Mendelssohn is out of Leslie's Lady, who produced

about him and I have no doubt that he will prove

champion race mare Beholder and successful

extremely popular.” Mendelssohn won the UAE

Spendthrift Farm stallion Into Mischief.

Derby by 18 1/2 lengths before running last in the

“All of our team loved Mendelssohn from the first

Kentucky Derby. He returned to run third in the

time we saw him as a yearling and he has

one-mile Dwyer (G3) before stretching back out to

developed into a magnificent looking horse,”

1 1/4 miles in three consecutive Grade 1 races.

He was runner-up to Catholic Boy in the Travers Stakes before holding for third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup after contesting a hot pace just off Diversify. He then held for fifth after setting the pace in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Mendelssohn was also being considered for the Pegasus World Cup Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.

He was listed on Ashford's 2019 stallion roster when it was first released, then removed as news came out he could point to the Cigar Mile.

DRAFTED DENIES IBN MALIK IN THRILLING GARHOUD SPRINT

owner Misty Hollow Farm its third win from its last

ERA

so we decided to take the visor off and he has

DUBAI (December 6, 2018)—Thursday’s Racing at

broken much better today. Sam has given him a

Meydan card was an action-packed evening of

great ride and timed his challenge perfectly.

racing highlighted by the featured Garhoud Sprint

Drafted has probably tired in the final stages, but

(Listed), sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, which

hung on gamely. Kimbear has also run very well

featured a thrilling finish as Doug Watson-trained

over this shorter trip and that should put him spot

Drafted ran down dirt-debuting Ibn Malik in the

on for the first round of the Maktoum Challenge in

final yards of the 1200m affair. The win was the

five weeks. Drafted will go on to the Dubawi.”

second on the evening for the combination of said

As for Powderhouse’s maiden-breaking victory—a

trainer and jockey Sam Hitchcott, who teamed up

race that was delayed when J Be Space broke

to win the opener—the Lincoln MKZ Trophy

through the gate and lost his saddle and jockey

handicap over 2000m—with locally debuting

(Richard Mullen) en route to being withdrawn

Powderhouse. Finishing up in a solid time of

—Hitchcott was pleased with his hard-closing

1:11.86, the bargain Racing in Dubai Sale AED

effort, saying: “Having been off the track since

40,000 purchase won by a measured nose over his

August last year, hopefully he can build on that,

Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained runner-up, giving

both in terms of fitness and experience.”

five Meydan starts with the Canadian-bred son of Field Commission. The three arguably highest regarded in the field—Group 3 winner Kimbear, track record-setting Raven’s Corner and the fleetfooted frontrunner High on Life—filled out the following three spots in what was a fitting Dubai World Cup Carnival prep for both the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes on Jan. 3 and Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 on Jan. 10. Watson, who also saddled Kimbear and seventh-place Almanaara, said: “He was missing the break a bit last season,

Mutawahed Team, the 5-year-old gelded son of Discreet Cat was doubling his local tally and registering a third career success having scored once for Mark Johnston when trained in Britain.

“To be honest, making the running was probably not the plan, but nobody else seemed to want to lead, so I was then happy to,” Mullen said. “We went quite quick initially, but I was able to get a breather into him and then he has really battled all the way to the line.” The trainer completed a double with the remarkable victory of Cachao in the1600m handicap, the Lincoln MKX, which attracted a full field of 16. Under a stealthy ride by Tadhg O’Shea, the son of New Approach closed resolutely up the rail, tipped out to pass frontrunner Pirate’s Cove and ultimately outbattled fellow late-runner Big Brown Bear.

Eleven juveniles contested the Lincoln, a 1600m

“I ride this horse regularly at home and he is

conditions race that was won by the heavily

basically a lazy type, but a fast 1600m like this

favoured Phoenix Ladies Syndicate’s Walking

evening does suit him,” O’Shea said. “After I rode

Thunder, the only previous winner in the field.

him over 1400m last time, I told Satish and the

Despite a less than ideal trip, the son of Violence

owner (Ali Muktar) back over 1600m he would run

thrashed his opponents in the final throws under

a big race. Luckily, it all worked out well.” The

Connor Beasley for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash.

Lincoln Navigator, a 2000m handicap, looked

“Over 1400m the first time, I was keen to be

competitive on paper but ultimately proved a fairly

positive and teach him. Today was a further

straightforward task for Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid

education about seeing out the 1600m,” Beasley

Al Nuaimi’s Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained New Bid,

said. “It all went to plan. For an inexperienced

who picked up stylishly in the lane to outrun

youngster, he has a remarkably professionally

Welford for the win under Fernando Jara. That pair

attitude and he strikes as a smart horse. Stepping

was comfortably clear of Albernathy in third,

up in class next year, we will hope he can build

making for a 1-2-3 finish for sire Dubawi. The

on this ” A run in either the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial

Lincoln Navigator, a 2000m handicap, looked

on Jan. 10 or UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) on Feb. 7 is

competitive on paper but ultimately proved a fairly

expected to be next for the well-regarded charge.

straightforward task for Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid

Both are over the same 1600m. The longest race on

Al Nuaimi’s Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained New Bid,

the card, the 2200m Lincoln MKC handicap only

who picked up stylishly in the lane to outrun

witnessed one leader with Heraldic soon in front

Welford for the win under Fernando Jara. That pair

under Richard Mullen and staying there

was comfortably clear of Albernathy in third,

throughout. Trained by Satish Seemar for Al Bait

making for a 1-2-3 finish for sire Dubawi.

BALTIC KNIGHT WINS BAPCO CUP IN STUNNING FASHION GDN

BALTIC Knight was the biggest winner at yesterday’s horse racing at Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in Sakhir, causing the only upset on a day when favourites won six of the seven races, including four of the five feature events. Baltic Knight, owned by Al-Afoo Racing Stable, trained by Hussain Aldailami and ridden by P Convertino, stunned favourite Laidback Romeo by half-a-length to win the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco Cup) for imported horses carrying a cash prize of BD5,000 Bazaruto was third and Sir Viktor fourth.

Favourites won the remaining races, including two support races.

Al Hamdany 1697 owned by Safra, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Gerald Mosse, beat Kuheilaan Aafas 1708 by three-fourth-length to win the Bahrain Olympic Committee Cup for Arabian horse carrying a cash prize of BD5,000 Al Hamdanieh 1637 was third and Al Hamdaany 1680 fourth. Another favourite Caped Crusader, owned by Victorious, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Gerald Mosse, followed suit beating Shamikh by half-a-length to win the Bapco Cup for locally bred horses carrying a cash prize of BD3,000 Riyada was third and Mohaayedah fourth Run Cutlass, owned by Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Gerald Mosse, continued the good run for the favourites edging out Al Barea by a neck to win the Credimax Cup carrying cash prize of BD2,000 Jayyash was third and Lazzam fourth.

Harbour Rock, owned by Al-Afoo Racing Stable, trained by Hussain Aldailami and ridden by P Convertino, beat Balestra by a length to win the Bapco Cup carrying a cash prize of BD2,000.

Midhmaar was third and Excuse To Linger fourth.

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The day began well for the favourites as Nibras Bounty, owned by Abbas Ahmed Yousif, trained

by Jaffar Marzooq and ridden by Husain Makki, won the first of the two support races carrying a cash prize of BD2,000, beating Millers Wharf by three-fourth-length. Northern Thunder was third and Fehaydi fourth. Dushanbe, owned by Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor and ridden by Andrew Elliott, beat Hamama by nine lengths to win the second support race which also carried a cash prize of BD2,000 Tibyan was third and Muhazwara fourth.

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RIO TIGRE BANKS JEBEL ALI FEATURE; BIN HARMASH LANDS TREBLE

“He is a very good horse and he won well

ERA

such good form.”

Jebel Ali staged the only race meeting in the

Satish Seemar saddled four of the 15 runners

UAE this weekend with a seven-race card on

in the opening 1400m maiden and supplied

Friday highlighted by a handicap over

first and second with local debutant Mabrook

1800m, won stylishly up the hill by Rio Tigre

unable to catch Beachcomber, who was

for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum

never headed among the larger group on the

and Sandeep Jadhav. Stable jockey Royston

far side of the track. Ridden by Tadhg O’Shea,

Ffrench was aboard the multiple Group 3-

Beachcomber was opening his account on

placed son of Teofilo.

his third career start, second this

here two weeks ago,” Jadhav said. “We will have to see what the handicapper does now before deciding whether to run here again or go to Meydan.” Ffrench added: “He actually won better today than he did last time. He tries very hard for you which is always a big help. If you look back, he has some very good form in the past. Well done to Sandeep and his team who have done a really great job with this horse at home to get him back in

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season and first at Jebel Ali. Sporting the

me into the race strongly. It was just a case of

silks of Mohd Khalifa Al Basti, the 4-year-old

him getting home up the hill over this trip

gelded son of Bernardini looks sure to

but he stayed on strongly.” The jockey

improve with experience. “That is the ideal

completed a double and a treble for the

start to the afternoon and we thought both

trainer when Goldenground was never

had good chances,” Seemar said. “Mr Al Basti

headed in the concluding maiden, a 1000m

is a massive supporter of UAE racing and it is

dash. The 1400m handicap produced a

always nice to train a winner for him.” O’Shea

dramatic finish with Initial, a 1600m winner

added: “As you can see, this is a big, strong,

at Al Ain two weeks ago, flashing home on

raw horse who was particularly quickly out

the nearside rail, but fractionally too late for

the gates today. I found myself in front and

connections who—after the photograph was

did not want to disappoint him. He seemed

examined—actually had to settle for third. In

happy bowling along. Hopefully there is more

the centre of the track Pinter had looked the

to come from him.” An hour later, the owner

likely winner when leading 300m from home

completed a double, combining on this

(Antonio Fresu riding for Erwan Charpy), but

occasion with Doug Watson and Pat Dobbs

they were caught shortly afterwards by Chris

to land a 1200m handicap with Lytham St

Hayes and Fear The Fury, initiating the treble

Annes, a 5-year-old Bahamian Bounty

for Bin Harmash. Hayes, riding in the colours

gelding who was doubling his career tally on

of Al Mansoori, said: “It was the first time I

his 12th UAE outing. “He has been with us for

have ridden the horse, but he was a course

a little while, but has always had a few

and distance winner last November, so I had

niggling problems until this season,” Watson

no concern about the conditions. Wearing

said. “He was an excellent fourth on his first

blinkers for the first time, he has travelled

start for us, as a 3-year-old over 1400m on turf

strongly and I was probably in front too soon,

at Meydan and we always knew he was

but—apart from the second—the leaders all

decent. Credit to the owner for persevering

dropped away.” Fernando Jara appears to

with him. Hopefully the horse can go on to

have found the key to Skygazer and, just as

bigger and better things as he has plenty of

was the case over 2000m at Sharjah a

ability. Rocket Power made it three for the

fortnight ago, the pair were never headed in

owner, looking well-named when shooting

the 1950m handicap for Ali Al Rayhi, who

clear under Connor Beasley in the 1600m

said: “This horse was a maiden when he

handicap. Saddled by Ahmad bin Harmash,

joined us and has now won six times,

who was completing a double, the 5-year-old

including on turf in China. That was his

Kyllachy gelding won once in England, on

second Jebel Ali win and he has two at

the all-weather at Southwell and was

Sharjah, as well as one at Al Ain.” Jara added:

registering a second victory since joining

“I think that Sharjah win boosted his

current connections having won a 1200m

confidence and it helped I was able to get a

Jebel Ali handicap in March 2017.

reasonably easy lead. Credit to Ali and the

Bin Harmash said: “It has been a good

team at home. He is a happy horse. As you

afternoon and the horses continue in good

could see afterwards, he probably had a bit

form after a pleasing start to the

left in the tank, the way he was prancing

season.” Beasley added: “That was actually

around in the winner’s enclosure.”

quite impressive and he has really carried

Charlie Appleby named International Trainer of the Year for third straight year THE NATIONAL Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby capped a

inspiration to every one of us at Godolphin,”

memorable year by winning the International

Appleby told the Godolphin website.

Trainer of the Year title for a third successive

“I am forever grateful to His Highness for

time. Appleby saddled 12 of Godolphin’s 30

having given me the opportunity to train for

international Group 1 winners in 2018,

him. “I am also fortunate in having an

including historic wins at the Epsom Derby

excellent team at Moulton Paddocks, headed

with Masar and Melbourne Cup with Cross

by my assistants Marie Murphy and Alex

Counter, as well as Line Of Duty’s triumph in

Merriam. Their skill and dedication, plus the

the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile at Churchill

hard work of the entire team, have been major

Downs. Masar became the first Godolphin first

factors in the Godolphin success story this

horse to win the English Classic. while Cross

year.” The International Trainer of the Year

Counter ended the Dubai Racing Operation’s

award is decided by the International Racing

30-year wait for a Melbourne Cup victory.

Bureau and is awarded to the trainer who

Appleby acknowledged 2018 had been an

made the biggest global impact throughout

“unbelievable year” and he dedicated his

the year. Appleby won this year’s award ahead

award to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice

of Karl Burke, John Gosden and Godolphin’s

President and Ruler of Dubai, and founder of

other trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who saddled,

Godolphin. “I have one person to thank for

among others, 2018 Dubai World Cup winner

that, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, whose

Thunder Snow.

ambition and passion for our sport is an

Meydan Group Announces 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnvial Accepted Invitees ERA

DUBAI (November 28, 2018)—Meydan Group has released the list of horses accepted for the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival, which commences on January 3, 2019, at Meydan Racecourse. The list features 202 accepted horses conditioned by a total of 71 trainers from 17 countries. Several international stars are set to travel to Dubai this winter to compete for a share of the US$12,670,000 prize money—an increase of 12% from 2018— across 10 race cards, including 61 Thoroughbred races and 4 Group Purebred Arabian races.

In its 16th year, Dubai World Cup Carnival will take place on nine consecutive Thursdays, from January 3 through February 28, before ending with Super Saturday, March 9. Super Saturday’s race card, which has been boosted to a record $2.65 million in prize money, will once again be a dress rehearsal for the worldrecord $35 million Dubai World Cup card on March 30, 2019.

Changes to the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival The three rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge have received purse increases: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (Group 2, 1600m, January 10) is now worth $350,000; an increase of $100,000. Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (Group 2, 1900m, February 7) is now worth $450,000; an increase of $200,000. Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (Group 1, 2000m, Super Saturday) is now worth $600,000; an increase of $200,000. Eight of the previous 19 Dubai World Cup winners have competed in the series, including four of the last seven. Super Saturday’s Jebel Hatta (Group 1, 1800m turf) will increase $100,000 to $400,000. Other increases for Super Saturday: Dubai City of Gold (Group 2, 2410m turf) will be worth $300,000 and the Al Bastakiya (Listed, 1900m) goes up to $300,000 as the prep for the richest dirt derby in the world, the $2.5 million UAE Derby sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (Group 2, 1900m). Three individual races on the same evening increase by $150,000 to boast purses of $350,000: the Mahab Al Shimaal (Group 3, 1200m), Burj Nahaar (Group 3, 1600m) and newly upgraded Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (Group 3, 1200m turf). Dubai World Cup Carnival handicaps will receive increases ranging from $10,000 to $15,000, with the minimum total purse being $135,000 (for horses rated 90-105) and rising as high as $175,000 (for horses rated 90 and up).