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Frankyfourfingers holds winning hand in Maktoum Challenge
Round 2
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| Frankyfourfingers holds on from Prince Bishop to set a new track record
(Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) |
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum's Frankyfourfingers (Sunday Break), a
good second in Round 1 of the Maktoum Challenge (UAE-G2) on January 8, went one
better in Thursday's $250,000 Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (UAE-G2). Under a
front-running ride by Mickael Barzalona, the French-bred just held the late
rally of Prince Bishop (Dubawi) and gave rookie trainer Salem bin Ghadayer his
first stakes victory."I imagine we will be looking at Super Saturday and, hopefully, Dubai World
Cup night with him," Barzalona said. "He is a really nice horse and this is a
great result for our new yard."
Frankyfourfingers was making his second start for new connections, having
been purchased for $125,130 at the Arqana Arc Sale. In his Meydan debut over the
metric mile of Round 1, he challenged Surfer (Distorted Humor) before tiring
late. But Round 2 -- second time out at about 1 3/16 miles -- was a different
story.
"He needed that first run," Barzalona said. "We knew he was a lot fitter this
time and had no worries about the extra 300 meters. That has really suited him." |
Frankyfourfingers, drawn toward the outside in post 9 of 11, grabbed command
from the rail-drawn Capital Attraction (Speightstown) as the field cornered from
the clubhouse turn into the backstretch. The five-year-old gave his pursuers the
slip turning for home, and although defending champion Prince Bishop rallied
furiously inside the final furlong, it was too late. The wire came in time for
Frankyfourfingers, who clocked a track-record time of 1:58.24 on the new dirt.
Le Bernardin (Bernardini) reported home third, edging Round 1 winner Surfer.
Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) hero African Story (Pivotal), making his first start
since capturing the $10 million prize on Tapeta last March, was a
non-threatening seventh.
Frankyfourfingers placed in a trio of black-type events for original trainer
Christian Delcher-Sanchez, last season's Grand Prix de Compiegne and Grand Prix
de Bordeaux and the 2013 Prix Millkom. The dark bay also finished second in the
Gran Premio de la Hispanidad, a non-black type stakes at Madrid's La Zarzuela.
This first stakes success enhanced his record to 17-6-6-1, $366,786.
Bred by S.C.E.A. des Prairies in France, Frankyfourfingers was produced by
the Kendor mare Texaloula. He comes from the family of Group 1 winner Never on
Sunday, who is likewise by Sunday Break.
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| Local Time stepped up big time to give Saeed bin Suroor his ninth U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas win
(Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) |
While Saeed bin Suroor was narrowly denied his 11th win in the Maktoum Round
2 with Prince Bishop, the Godolphin trainer continued his domination of the
$250,000 U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas, thanks to a superb display by Local Time
(Invincible Spirit).
Just up in time in the local Guineas trial on January 15, Local Time left no
doubt in the main event as she drove to a 3 1/4-length decision over stablemate
Good Place (Street Cry). She negotiated the metric mile in 1:39 3/5 on the dirt
and handed bin Suroor his ninth victory in the fillies' classic.
"She is a nice filly and really relishes this dirt surface," winning rider
James Doyle said. "We won the trial narrowly but this extra 200 meters was
always going to suit her and she has done that really well."
The Mike de Kock-trained Shahrasal (Shamardal) prevented a Godolphin trifecta
by checking in third, well clear of Yodelling (Medaglia d'Oro) from the Charlie
Appleby yard. Ad Idem (Jet Master), who nearly won the Guineas trial for de Kock,
faded to a disappointing last of six here.
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Local Time now looms as the one to beat in the February 26 U.A.E. Oaks
(UAE-G3). Fourth at Lingfield on debut last July, she has since compiled a
five-race winning streak including the Oh So Sharp (Eng-G3) at Newmarket. She
has bankrolled $144,618 from her 6-5-0-0 line. Bred by Darley in Great Britain,
the bay is the first registered foal from Group 3-placed stakes scorer Marie de
Medici (Medicean).
Bin Suroor also sent out the top two in the about 1 3/4-mile turf handicap,
where Famous Kid (Street Cry) upended 132-pound co-highweight Ahzeemah (Dubawi)
by three-quarters of a length. The four-year-old, who was trying this distance
for the first time, benefited from race fitness and a 15-pound weight
concession. William Buick guided Famous Kid in a final time of 2:59 4/5,
reflecting the funereal early pace.
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| Famous Kid capitalized on a big break in the weights in his first try at a marathon trip
(Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) |
"We knew both were fit and well," bin Suroor said. "We were pretty hopeful
coming into the race and it has turned out perfectly. Famous Kid had the benefit
of a recent outing and Ahzeemah has made a great start to his campaign."They both stay well and can be competitive in these longer distance races."
Famous Kid was coming off a second to Le Bernardin (third in the Maktoum
Challenge Round 2 above) in a January 15 handicap on dirt. Previously successful
in a Thirsk maiden and a pair of handicaps at Kempton and Newmarket, he sports a
mark of 8-4-1-0.
De Kock's lone win on the card was furnished by Mastermind (Var), who led
throughout in the Meydan Classic Trial on turf. Taking control early from his
rail draw, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's colorbearer stayed on
relentlessly to rebuff Volatile (Strategic Prince) by a half-length. Mastermind,
a fine second to older horses in a turf sprint January 17, covered about seven
furlongs in 1:23 2/5.
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"He ran very well the other day," Sheikh Hamdan's retained rider, Paul
Hanagan, said. "We had a great draw...so the idea was always to be positive. He
always seemed happy bowling along in front and when I have needed to ask him for
an effort he has found plenty.
"He should stay further and can hopefully go on from this."
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| Mastermind wired the trial for the February 26 Meydan Classic
(Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) |
Mastermind's resume reads 4-2-2-0, including a runner-up effort in last
April's Umkhomazi (SAf-G2) at Scottsville.
Trainer Brendan Powell hoped that Dark Emerald (Dark Angel) would get into
the nightcap, but the English shipper's official rating wasn't quite high enough
to make it into the field. So he cut back in trip for the about six-furlong turf
dash and found ample compensation.
Hitting top gear late for Richard Mullen, Dark Emerald collared the Dhruba
Selvaratnam duo of Sholaan (Invincible Spirit) and Master of War (Compton
Place), won going away by a length, and finished in 1:10 1/5.
Dark Emerald was exiting a tough beat in his local debut on January 15, where
he missed by a neck to Belgian Bill (Exceed and Excel) over a metric mile. The
veteran handicapper's record stands at 27-6-6-3.
In that nightcap sans Dark Emerald, the Ahmad bin Harmash-trained Samurai
Sword (Motivator) bested Short Squeeze (Cape Cross) by a neck, with
Slumdogmillionaire (Strike Smartly) two lengths away in third. Samurai Sword
completed the metric mile on turf in 1:36 4/5 beneath Adrie de Vries, upping his
line to 14-4-1-1.The seven-year-old was fifth to True Story (Manduro) in his
reappearance in the January 8 Singspiel and most recently fourth behind Tamarkuz
(Speightstown) on the dirt January 22.
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