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Almoonqith takes Nad al Sheba Trophy marred by breakdown of Cavalryman
Almoonqith was completing a banner night for owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum and his retained rider Paul Hanagan, who won four races with horses from four different yards. The Musabah al Muhairi-trained Nolohay (Dubawi) and Jeeraan (Distorted Humor) from the Doug Watson yard captured the first two races, both on dirt, and Ertijaal (Oasis Dream) wired a turf sprint for Ali Rashid al Raihe to make it a treble. "It has been an amazing evening," Hanagan enthused. "To ride four winners for Sheikh Hamdan anywhere is brilliant, but to do it here at Meydan on the world stage is extra special. "We were pretty sure Almoonqith was going to stay the distance it was just a case whether or not he was good enough. As it transpired I was always happy and that was a big performance." Until Saturday's renewal, Godolphin had a stranglehold on the Nad al Sheba Trophy, sending out all four past winners. The team's other two chances, Excellent Result and 2013 winner Ahzeemah (Dubawi), wound up seventh and eighth, respectively. Bred in Kentucky by Padua Stables, Almoonqith sold for $725,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He is out of Grade 3 heroine Bohemian Lady (Carson City), a half-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire and sire Any Given Saturday (Distorted Humor). Almoonqith began his career in France with Jean-Claude Rouget, winning once from seven tries. The dark bay joined de Kock for a 2014 campaign in Dubai, where he garnered a turf handicap and was unplaced in two outings on Tapeta. The five-year-old had won once this season, on a non-Carnival card January 17. After a fifth and fourth, respectively, in Carnival handicaps at about 1 1/4 miles, he was ready for more ground. This first stakes score advanced his resume to 15-4-3-1, $207,191. In the opener, the aforementioned Nolohay led throughout to prevail by 3 1/4 lengths, finishing the metric mile in 1:38 in his dirt debut. "We were drawn widest of all, but I was keen to get to the front and I was able to get across to the rail," Hanagan recapped. "I wanted to be positive as we know he stays further. "Obviously we were out of any kickback and he has handled the surface really well and skipped over it." The four-year-old Nolohay now sports a mark of 10-4-1-1, $204,834, including a third in last year's Prix Greffulhe (Fr-G2) for Carlos Laffon-Parias.
Jeeraan, who had outgamed stablemate Layl (Street Cry) February 12, has compiled a record of 8-3-0-1, $82,941. Watson later sent out Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum's Henry Clay (Dubawi) to wire an about 1 1/4-mile dirt handicap. Under stable jockey Pat Dobbs, the six-year-old clocked 2:05 1/5 and upped his scorecard to 28-9-6-4, $253,675. "Pat has given him a great ride," Watson said. "He is a very tough horse as he has shown throughout the season and once in front he is not easy to get past." Godolphin's Footbridge (Street Cry), who placed in last year's San Diego (G2) and Awesome Again (G1) and was 10th in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), checked in fourth in his Dubai bow for Charlie Appleby. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed's colors were also carried to victory by Heavy Metal (Exceed and Excel), who readily handled the switch to dirt in his premiere for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer. Mickael Barzalona guided the five-year-old through about seven furlongs in 1:25 1/5. "They went very quick," Barzalona said. "He responded well when I asked and stayed on strongly." Previously with Mark Johnston, Heavy Metal is best known for his productive juvenile season of 2012, when he scored in the Richmond (Eng-G2) and placed in the Woodcote and Gimcrack (Eng-G2). He has since plied his trade in handicaps, and his resume reads 37-8-4-0, $477,033. One race after Cavalryman was stricken, fellow bin Suroor pupils Haafaguinea (Haafhd) and Silent Bullet (Exceed and Excel) ran one-two in the nightcap. Ridden by William Buick, who was also aboard Cavalryman, Haafaguinea pounced in the stretch and fended off his stablemate. The five-year-old, who covered about 1 1/4 grassy miles in 2:03, had won over this course and distance two back on January 15. He has bankrolled $399,957 from his 12-5-2-1 record.
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