Return to Today's Full Edition
|
Kentucky Derby hopeful Mubtaahij passes test in Al
Bastakiya
 |
| Mubtaahij will now seek Kentucky Derby points in the U.A.E. Derby
(Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) |
U.S. Triple Crown nominee Mubtaahij (Dubawi) has his sights set on the March
28 U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) after a comfortable victory in the $250,000 Al
Bastakiya, the opening Thoroughbred stakes on "Super Saturday" at Meydan. Owned
by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum and trained by Mike de Kock, the
Irish-bred colt quickened past hitherto unbeaten Sir Fever (Texas Fever) to earn
his first stakes win, and prove himself adept at the about 1 3/16-mile trip.Mubtaahij has had a productive Carnival. After breaking his maiden in
track-record time over a metric mile December 31, defeating his elders, he
lowered the about seven-furlong track mark when romping in the January 15 U.A.E.
Two Thousand Guineas Trial. Back up to a metric mile for the February 12 U.A.E.
Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3), he was just denied by Maftool (Hard Spun) in the
first leg of the local Triple Crown.
Although Maftool skipped the middle leg, the Al Bastakiya, Mubtaahij was
confronted by a dangerous new shooter in Sir Fever, who was an undefeated Triple
Crown winner in his native Uruguay. Subsequently purchased by Godolphin, Sir
Fever was making his debut for Charlie Appleby here, and the dark bay was
looking good as he stalked early leader Ajwad (Not for Sale) and pounced.
|
But Mubtaahij was also traveling well beneath Dane O'Neill, and with his
10-pound weight concession from the Southern Hemisphere-breds, including Sir
Fever. Overtaking Sir Fever in short order, Mubtaahij widened his advantage to 2
1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:59. His stablemate Ajwad reported home 10 1/2
lengths behind Sir Fever in third.
"I have been lucky to pick up the spare ride on him three times for three
wins," O'Neill said of his association with Mubtaahij. "He ran a good race in the U.A.E.
Two Thousand Guineas last time and we knew
this extra distance would suit him.
"Hopefully he has a massive chance in the U.A.E. Derby."
Mubtahij's scorecard now stands at 6-3-1-0, $261,335. He was unplaced in a
pair of maidens at Newmarket last fall, but has clearly progressed on the dirt
here, and will go after Kentucky Derby (G1) points next time.
Bred by Dunmore Stud in the Emerald Isle, the bay commanded $599,445 as an
Arqana August yearling. Mubtaahij is out of the Pennekamp mare Pennegale, making
him a half-brother to European co-champion filly Lily of the Valley (Galileo)
and multiple French stakes scorer Calbuco (Kendor).
 |
| Tamarkuz will bring a three-race winning streak into the Godolphin Mile
(Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) |
Elsewhere on the card, trainer Musabah al Muhairi sent out two Super Saturday
winners for Sheikh Hamdan -- the formful Tamarkuz (Speightstown) in the $200,000
Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3) and the upset-minded Shaishee (Indian Charlie) in the
$200,000 Mahab al Shimaal (UAE-G3).
Tamarkuz was winning his third straight, having accounted for a January 22
handicap and the February 12 Firebreak (UAE-G3), each in track-record time for
the metric mile. His hat trick makes him the best local hope for the Godolphin
Mile (UAE-G2) on World Cup night.
Under Paul Hanagan, Tamarkuz was prominent throughout on the rail, struck the
front on the turn, and pulled away by 2 3/4 lengths. Gold City (Pivotal), second
in the Firebreak, had to settle for the same spot, while progressive handicapper
Layl (Street Cry) took third.
|
Tamarkuz clocked his fastest metric mile yet in 1:37.31, but he no longer
holds the track mark, which is currently held by Pit Stop (1:36.59 on February
26). The lightly raced five-year-old has compiled a record of 12-6-2-0,
$364,825.
"He has plenty of ability this horse," Hanagan said. "He
has had a few issues with the stalls in the past but seems over those now. It
was hard work out there as there was plenty of pace in the race but this horse
has a really high cruising speed and carried me to the front.
"He seems to still be improving."
Bred by John D. Gunther in Kentucky, Tamarkuz went to his current connections
for $325,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. The chestnut is the first
registered foal from the unraced Without You Babe (Lemon Drop Kid), who is a
half-sister to multiple Grade 1 star and $1.9 million-earner Stay Thirsty (Bernardini)
as well as Grade 3 winner and classic-placed Andromeda's Hero (Fusaichi
Pegasus). This is also the family of Sky Hunter (Motivator), winner of the Dubai
City of Gold (UAE-G2) on Super Saturday.
 |
| Shaishee (center) picked up the pieces from a pace collapse in the prep for the Golden Shaheen
(Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) |
Shaishee, in contrast, hadn't won since the Carnival began in January, but
ran himself into the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) picture with his upset in the
Mahab al Shamal. Although successful in handicaps going a bit longer here in
November and December, the five-year-old had gone winless in three prior tries
at this trip.
But a frenetic pace scrum -- including Price Is Truth (Distorted Humor),
Sheikh Hamdan's first-stringer Farmah (Speightstown) and U.S. import Cool Cowboy
(Kodiak Kowboy) -- set the stage for the deep closers. Speed Hawk (Henny Hughes)
was the first to tip his hand, but Shaishee subdued him late and finished about
six furlongs in 1:12 1/5. United Color (Ghostzapper) also closed strongly from
the rear to deprive Speed Hawk of second on the line.
Cool Cowboy fared best of the pace factors in fourth. Krypton Factor (Kyllachy)
was a belated fifth, while Farmah retreated to sixth. With Hanagan opting for
Farmah, Silvestre de Sousa picked up what turned out to be the winning ride
aboard Shaishee.
|
"He had not been at his very best recently," said al Muhairi, who also won
Friday's Jebel Ali Sprint with Muarrab (Oasis Dream). "We will have to take Shaishee for the Dubai Golden Shaheen now and Muarrab could also run in that
although we have the option of the Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G1) with him."
Shaishee, whose best prior stakes result was a third in last year's Jebel Ali
Sprint, now sports a mark of 22-4-6-6, $255,084. Bred by Audley Farm in
Virginia, the dark bay was a $325,000 Keeneland September yearling. A
half-brother to Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Dannhauser (Johannesburg),
the five-year-old gelding is out of stakes heroine and multiple Grade 3-placed
Hatpin (Smart Strike).
 |
| Sir Maximilian sprang a big upset in the stepping stone to the Al Quoz
(Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) |
There was an even bigger surprise in the Al Quoz Sprint prep, the $175,000
Meydan Sprint (UAE-G3), where Sir Maximilian (Royal Applause) just mugged Ahtoug
(Byron) and Caspar Netscher (Dutch Art) on the line. Finding room under a
patented Kieren Fallon drive, the six-year-old covered about five furlongs in
:57 to hand trainer Ian Williams his first U.A.E. win -- with his only Carnival
horse.
"I was actually held up for the run when I first wanted it," Fallon
said. "As
things worked out it has probably helped me as I did not want to get to the
front too soon.
"It is great to ride a winner here on Super Saturday and for a trainer with just
one horse here."
Notables among the also-rans were Via Africa, ninth in her Dubai premiere for
de Kock, and Sole Power, 12th in his reappearance.
|
Sir Maximilian failed to break through in his first four Carnival
appearances, but he did have smart form in Ireland last season, landing the
Abergwaun at Tipperary and the Mercury over Dundalk's Polytrack and finishing
second in the Flying Five. He has now earned $367,604 from his 28-7-4-5 line.
Bred by Holborn Trust Co. in Ireland, Sir Maxmilian was produced by the
Lujain mare Nebraska Lady. He had been through the sales ring every year of his
life, until this year. In his two auction appearances in 2014, he RNA'd for
$13,538 at Goffs London and again for $107,913 at Tattersalls July.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
Send this article to a friend
|
|
