Vercingetorix, Cladocera hand Soumillon a Group 2 double

Vercingetorix is back on the Dubai Turf trail (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum’s Vercingetorix (Silvano) made light
of a nine-month layoff when cruising in Thursday’s $200,000 Al Rashidiya
(UAE-G2) at Meydan. The former South African champion, who had not been seen
since finishing third in the April 27 QE II Cup (HK-G1) at Sha Tin, readily
overhauled Godolphin’s True Story (Manduro) and pulled two lengths clear.

In the process, Vercingetorix gave trainer Mike de Kock and jockey Christophe
Soumillon their fourth straight victory in the turf test. He’s now on course for
a title defense in the March 7 Jebel Hatta (UAE-G1), and another tilt at the
March 28 Dubai Turf (formerly the Duty Free [UAE-G1]), in which he finished best
of the rest behind Just a Way last year. Both are held over the Al Rashidiya’s
about nine-furlong trip.

“As well as he did last year, we were always trying to catch up with him as
he did not travel well from South Africa,” de Kock said. “It is hard to know
just how good he might be as he does the minimum in work at home and saves it
for the track.

“He is undoubtedly a serious horse though.”

“He is in great shape this year,” Soumillon said. “He was a really good horse
last year but he felt better tonight. He is exciting.”

The progressive Cladocera complimented Sloane Avenue ahead of his crack at the Donn (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club)

Soumillon swept both of the day’s features, having guided the progressive
French-based filly Cladocera to a two-length decision in the $200,000 Cape Verdi
(UAE-G2). Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, the Haras de la Perelle homebred
deployed a smart turn of foot to defeat Zurigha (Cape Cross) by two lengths.
Anahita (Turtle Bowl) was the same margin back in third.

Cladocera negotiated the metric mile in 1:37 1/5 to record her first group
victory. Successful in the Prix des Lilas at Longchamp last June fresh off her
debut win, the bay was a disappointing 10th in both the Prix Chloe (Fr-G3) and
Prix de Lieurey (Fr-G3). She regrouped with a close second to Donn H. (G1)
hopeful Sloane Avenue (Candy Ride) in the November 19 Hyde S. over Kempton’s
Polytrack, and her mark now stands at 6-3-1-0.

“She is a nice filly,” de Royer-Dupre said. “We will bring her back in a few
weeks, but the targets have to be the real big races. Super Saturday and Dubai
World Cup night are hopefully her main targets.

“She will improve as she matures and did not enjoy a lot of luck in Europe,
so to get this win is perfect and we hope she can progress. Soumillon said he
was always happy so hopefully she can build on this.”

Ahtoug will once again be a player in the Al Quoz Sprint (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club)

Ahtoug, the near-miss runner-up in last season’s Meydan Sprint (UAE-G3) and
Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G1), is in line to try again after landing an about
five-furlong dash on turf. A useful sixth in his comeback at this course and
distance January 8, the seven-year-old was sharper in his second start back and
headed Lancelot du Lac (Shamardal) nearing the line. Ahtoug, who sped in :57
2/5, sports a mark of 25-6-6-2.

“We knew he had come on a lot for his first run,” Appleby said. “He was a
great second in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night last year and,
hopefully, that is his main target again.

“That is the aim anyway, probably via Super Saturday (the March 7 Meydan
Sprint) and possibly another run in the interim.”

Godolphin’s Hunter’s Light toted the top weight of 132 pounds while returning
from a 10-month vacation in the nightcap, but neither proved an obstacle to the
Group 1 veteran. Picking up irresistibly in the stretch, the seven-year-old
drove 1 1/4 lengths clear of Elleval (Kodiac) and completed about 1 1/4 grassy
miles in 2:02 3/5. Pilote (Pivotal) checked in third, followed by de Kock’s
Mushreq (Flying Spur).

Godolphin’s Hunter’s Light completed a treble for jockey James Doyle (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club)

“We think he will stay further, but also could drop him back in trip so well
does he travel.”

I’m Back was an appropriate winner on the program, considering that his
second dam is Cape Verdi (Caerleon), queen of the 1998 One Thousand Guineas
(Eng-G1). By stopping the clock in 1:59 4/5, the five-year-old advanced his
record to 14-5-2-1.

Trainer Doug Watson won the other two dirt races, both courtesy of game front
runners who just lasted. Muaanid (Kheleyf), most recently fourth to
Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) in the January 15 Dubawi S., prospered with a
drop back into handicap company. Under Sheikh Hamdan’s retained rider Paul
Hanagan, Muaanid prevailed over Encipher (Elusive Quality) and United Color (Ghostzapper)
in a tight finish. He was getting weight from both while finishing about seven
furlongs in 1:25 3/5. The lightly raced five-year-old has compiled a 10-3-0-1
line.

“It was a new trip here for the horse,” Hanagan said of the step up from six
to seven panels. “However he had run, well, over further in Ireland. It was a
bit of a concern coming into the race but I was soon happy.

“He has speed, but probably not that sprinting early pace, so this could be
his ideal kind of trip.”