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Cladocera turns Cape Verdi/Balanchine double Haras de la Perelle's homebred Cladocera (Oasis Dream), an emphatic winner of the January 29 Cape Verdi (UAE-G2) over Meydan's metric mile, duly obliged over an additional 200 meters in Thursday's $200,000 Balanchine (UAE-G2). Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre and confidently ridden by Christophe Soumillon, the heavy favorite once again swooped in the stretch and easily drew 1 3/4 lengths clear. Cladocera thus became the third to turn the Cape Verdi/Balanchine double, joining such stars as Sun Classique (2008) and Sajjhaa (2013). "We were drawn nine so the tactics were pretty much decided for me," Soumillon said. "They went a reasonable gallop which has helped her settle nicely and the only brief moment of worry I had was when forced a bit wide in the straight. "She has a lovely turn of foot as we saw there and is going to improve with age and racing." The placegetters from the Cape Verdi switched their positions for the minor awards in the Balanchine. Anahita (Turtle Bowl), who was a well-beaten third in the Cape Verdi, finished a better second with the addition of cheekpieces on Thursday. Zurigha (Cape Cross), the Cape Verdi runner-up, settled for third in the Balanchine. The notable new shooter, Turkish champion Suzi Gold (Banknote), was a non-threatening sixth of nine. Cladocera negotiated about 1 1/8 miles on the good turf in 1:50 3/5, advancing her scorecard to 7-4-1-0, $308,139. The four-year-old was a stylish winner of her first two career starts last year, including the Prix des Lilas at Longchamp. Subsequently disappointing when 10th in the Prix Chloe (Fr-G3) and Prix de Lieurey (Fr-G3), Cladocera rebounded with a near-miss to Sloane Avenue (Candy Ride) in the November 19 Hyde S. on the Kempton Polytrack. That was her launching pad to the Dubai Carnival. The German-bred Cladocera was produced by French stakes heroine Caesarine (Pivotal), herself a half-sister to Group 3 scorer Caesarion (Danehill) and multiple stakes victress Chesnut Bird (Storm Bird). Cladocera's third dam is multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Annoconnor (Nureyev). Also going two-for-two at the 2015 Carnival was Godolphin's Hunter's Light (Dubawi), who comfortably held Mike de Kock's up-and-comer Umgiyo (Danehill Dancer) in the $200,000 Dubai Millennium S. Rallying from just off the pace with James Doyle, the Saeed bin Suroor veteran underlined his abundant class to set a new course record of 2:00.67 for about 1 1/4 miles on the Meydan turf. There was a further gap of 4 1/4 lengths back to Mr Pommeroy (Linngari) in third. "He has retained all his ability," Doyle said of Hunter's Light. "I wish they had gone a bit quicker tonight as he travels so strongly but I was always pretty confident. He picked up nicely at the top of the straight and ran on well. "The whole team will have to sit down and discuss future plans as he has plenty of options." Hunter's Light was an apt winner, being a paternal grandson of race honoree Dubai Millennium. The seven-year-old has compiled an extensive resume. Hero of the 2012 Premio Roma (Ity-G1) and two legs of the Maktoum Challenge in 2013, Round 2 (UAE-G2) and Round 3 (UAE-G1), he had previously garnered the Rose of Lancaster (Eng-G3), Anatolia Trophy, Churchill S., Foundation S. and Glasgow S. Among his quartet of stakes placings are a distant second to Cirrus des Aigles (Even Top) in the 2012 Prix Dollar (Fr-G2) and a third in the 2013 Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (Ger-G1). Unplaced in two Carnival appearances in 2014, Hunter's Light was shelved for the remainder of the season. He resurfaced in a January 29 handicap at this course and distance, where he made light of the top weight of 132 pounds. By following up in the Dubai Millennium, he boosted his bankroll to $1,270,099 from his 26-11-2-3 line. Bred by Darley in Ireland, Hunter's Light is out of the winning Barathea mare Portmanteau, a half-sister to French Group 2 victor Courteous (Generous). Portmanteau is a daughter of Dayanata (Shirley Heights), an unraced full sister to French champion, classic winner and influential sire Darshaan. Two track records were established on the Meydan dirt as well, with both winners -- Layl (Street Cry) and Storm Belt (More Than Ready) -- representing the same connections. Both are trained by Doug Watson for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum, and stable jockey Pat Dobbs was at the helm. Layl, who was just outgamed by stablemate Jeeraan (Distorted Humor) in a non-Carnival race last Thursday, stepped up in class here but responded to a key equipment change. Sporting a visor for the first time, the progressive handicapper drove clear and set the new mark of 1:37.41 for the metric mile on dirt. His time clipped .04 off the 1:37.45 that Tamarkuz (Speightstown) just recorded in the Firebreak (UAE-G3) one week ago. "I probably went too soon the last time, he thought he had done enough and basically pulled himself up," Dobbs said. "He is a nice horse, we have always thought so," Watson said. "We have been able to qualify him for the Dubai World Cup Carnival and he has produced two big runs. "We would like to think he still has more to offer." Layl is now two for three at Meydan, having romped in a January 15 handicap in his local debut off a year-long layoff. His overall record stands at 10-3-2-0, $125,993. Finishing a one-paced third was Romansh (Bernardini), who was likewise wheeling back a week after clipping heels early in the Firebreak. Two races later, Storm Belt defeated previous track record-setter Toolain (Diktat) while lowering the about 1 1/4-mile mark on dirt to 2:04.52. Fourth to I'm Back (Exceed and Excel) and Le Bernardin (Bernardini) in his last pair, Storm Belt got a genuine pace to set up his closing kick this time. "This is another horse we have always held in the highest regard," Watson said, "and he actually won his first two outings for us at Sharjah. It has been a great season and the Dubai World Cup Carnival is going really well." Storm Belt, a U.A.E. denizen for three years now, has compiled a mark of 21-5-4-0, $191,680. He kicked off the 2014-15 Meydan season with a victory November 6, and placed second in the December 18 Entisar at this distance, before the Carnival. The Kentucky-bred is out of Mari's Thunder (Thunder Gulch), an unraced half-sister to multiple Grade 1 star and $3.2 million-earner Congaree (Arazi). British shippers prevailed in the evening's two turf handicaps. The Tony Carroll-trained Caspian Prince (Dylan Thomas) jetted to the early lead in the about five-furlong dash and couldn't be caught in a sharp :56 3/5. Runner-up Hototo (Sleeping Indian) kept the margin to a tight length, while Banaadeer (More Than Ready) boxed on for third. "I was keen to utilize his early speed, of which he has plenty, and wanted to be on the far side, away from the center where they raced mainly last week," winning rider Richard Hughes said. "He has a lot of natural speed and was quick in the early stages, but then had another burst which had most of the others struggling. "The trainer was pretty confident and has been proved correct." Caspian Prince was turning the tables after finishing third to Hototo in his Dubai premiere January 8. Next trying the Dubawi S. a week later, the six-year-old gelding was unhappy on the dirt and trailed home last. Caspian Prince was back in his element on the turf, stamping himself as a contender for the March 28 Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G1) and upping his line to 42-10-5-3, $426,206. As a son of the Rainbow Quest mare Crystal Gaze, he is a half-brother to Italian highweight speedster Spirit Quartz (Invincible Spirit). In the nightcap, Dark Emerald (Dark Angel) captured his second straight for trainer Brendan Powell. Most recently victorious in an about six-furlong turf handicap February 5, the five-year-old gelding appreciated the added ground in this about seven-furlong test and rolled to a 2 1/2-length decision. Fils Anges (Dark Angel) edged Free Wheeling (Ad Valorem) for second, completing the exacta for sire Dark Angel. Anaerobio (Catcher in the Rye) wound up fourth as the 132-pound highweight. Dark Emerald, who finished in 1:23 beneath Richard Mullen, has now earned $298,975 from his 26-7-6-3 record. He nearly boasts a three-race winning streak, having checked in a close second in his local bow January 15. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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