Soneva prevails in Cape Verdi; Allybar upsets Presvis on
undercard
Soneva was reserved in fourth early, traveling comfortably behind the
After hugging the fence into the stretch, Soumillon switched Soneva
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“She is a nice filly who I used to ride in France,” Soumillon said. “That was
a nice performance.”
Aspectoflove, who narrowly failed to become Godolphin’s third winner on
Friday, pulled 1 1/4 lengths clear in second. A stubborn Synergy hung on for
third from Cheyrac and the slow-starting Purple Sage (Danehill Dancer).
Next came the Mike de Kock-trained Zirconeum (Jallad), KwaZulu-Natal’s
reigning Horse of the Year, who found her 129-pound impost and a bump at the top
of the stretch too much to overcome. Nevertheless, the South African star still
finished with some interest for sixth. Fourpenny Lane (Efisio), Indiana Gal (Intikhab),
Yana (Razeen), Vattene and Ahla Wasahl (Dubai Destination) rounded out the order
of finish.
Soneva’s scorecard now reads 10-4-4-0, $339,837. Formerly trained by Yves de
Nicolay, the dark bay captured the 2008 Prix d’Aumale (Fr-G3) at two and the
Prix de Lieurey (Fr-G3) and Prix la Camargo last season at three. Her resume
also includes close runner-up efforts in the Prix de la Grotte (Fr-G3) and Prix
Amandine, along with a respectable fifth in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches
(French One Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1). Soneva was coming off the only poor
performance of her career, a non-threatening 13th in the October 3 Prix de la
Foret (Fr-G1).
Bred by Mineola Farm II Limited Partnership, D.R. Houchin, J.W. Hirshmann et
al. in Kentucky, Soneva brought $170,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. She
is out of the Nureyev mare Lakabi, who is also responsible for multiple stakes
winner Coronado Rose (Coronado’s Quest). This is the family of recently-crowned
Canadian Broodmare of the Year Pico Teneriffe (Red Ransom), the dam of two-time
Canadian champion older horse Marchfield (A.P. Indy).
Storming clear beneath Ahmed Ajtebi, Allybar crossed the wire all alone in a
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With this sparkling bow for Saeed bin Suroor, Allybar boosted his bankroll to
$253,214 from his 13-4-1-4 line. The $539,238 sales topper at the Arqana Arc
Sale in October, the chestnut had landed the Prix Francois Mathet in early 2009
for previous trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. He also placed in the Prix Greffulhe
(Fr-G2), Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (Fr-G2), Prix Daphnis (Fr-G3) and the September
19 Prix du Prince d’Orange (Fr-G3) last out.
Bred by Wertheimer et Frere in Ireland, the four-year-old Allybar is out of
the winning Irika (Irish River [Fr]). His dam is a half-sister to multiple
French Group 2 queen Ithyka (Secretariat), who has produced Grade 1-winning
millionaire and French classic-placed Atticus (Nureyev). Irika is also a full
sister to the unraced Toujours Irish (Irish River [Ire]), the dam of Italian co-highweight
and Group 1 heroine Dubai Surprise (King’s Best).
Bin Suroor and Ajtebi made a winning combination again in the 3RD race, when
ANMAR (Rahy) rallied to a 1 3/4-length decision over Godolphin stablemate
Emirates Champion (Haafhd).
“It has been a good night and it is great to ride my first Meydan winners,”
Ajtebi said.
The Saudi-based SO SHINY (Indygo Shiner), last year’s U.A.E. One Thousand
Guineas queen, kicked off the Friday action by defeating males in an about
six-furlong handicap. After collaring the pacesetter Frosty Secret (Put It
Back), So Shiny staved off the late challenge from fellow distaffer Oasis Star (Senure)
by a half-length.
“She is a naturally speedy filly and battles hard,” winning rider Olivier
Peslier said.
Trainer Doug Watson saddled the winners of the other two sprints on the card
— FORCE FREEZE (Forest Camp), who pounced to a 1 1/2-length verdict in the 4TH
race, and BARBECUE EDDIE (Stormy Atlantic), who set up shop on the front end in
the 5TH and powered home by 2 1/4 lengths.
“We thought both would run well, and Force Freeze is a horse we really have
high hopes of,” Watson said. “Willie (Supple) has stolen that race on Barbecue
— it was a great ride.”
Fading to a disappointing 10th behind Barbecue Eddie was West Side Bernie
(Bernstein). Last seen finishing ninth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Grade 3
veteran was making his first start for Godolphin here.
Dubai Group 3 victor SNAAFY (Kingmambo), sidelined since his seventh in last
year’s Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), made a triumphant return for trainer Musabah al
Muhairi in the 7TH race. Reverting to turf for the first time in more than two
years, Snaafy scored by 1 1/4 lengths in the metric mile affair.
“He is a much improved horse and that gives us plenty of options,” jockey
Richard Hills observed. “The 1,800 meters of the Dubai Duty Free ([UAE-G1] on
March 27) would really suit him.”
In the 8TH and nightcap, KAL BARG (Medicean) was along in time in the about 1
3/16-mile Tapeta test, his second start for horseman Dhruba Selvaratnam.