Local Time doubles up in U.A.E. Oaks; Safety Check finds no
problem in Zabeel
Local Time brought a five-race winning streak into the Oaks. Concluding her
Under regular rider James Doyle, the British-bred sophomore readily stalked
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Although Local Time’s final time for about 1 3/16 miles was a rather slow
2:00 4/5, it was more than sufficient to collect her sixth consecutive win.
“I was always confident,” Doyle said. “She has thrived this year in Dubai and
that is her third win of the season and second classic.
“She is uncomplicated and a joy to ride. She makes my job easy.”
Bin Suroor told godolphin.com that plans were yet to be determined, with her
options being a tilt versus males in the March 28 U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) or
heading to Newmarket’s One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) May 3.
Local Time, who hasn’t lost since her debut, more than doubled her career
earnings to $294,618 from her 7-6-0-0 line. A Darley homebred, the bay is the
first registered foal from Group 3-placed stakes victress Marie de Medici (Medicean).
Local Time’s second dam, Group 3 scorer Mare Nostrum (Caerleon), is a
half-sister to Grade 1 queen Aube Indienne (Bluebird).
Jockey William Buick settled him just about midpack early, and delivered him
“This horse has just really thrived since arriving in Dubai,” Appleby said.
“He deserves a break so we will get him back to England and probably aim him
Red-hot handicapper Dark Emerald (Dark Angel) rallied for second, capping a
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Darwin (Big Brown) dead-heated for fourth with a stablemate from the Mike de
Kock yard, Johann Strauss (High Chaparral). Unfortunately, the Emirates Racing
Authority reported that Darwin came up lame in his left front.
Safety Check’s resume now reads 20-8-5-0, $573,250. Prior to this breakout
season, the chestnut’s only stakes credit was a second in the 2013 Silver
Tankard as a juvenile.
Bred by Malih al Basti in Ireland, Safety Check was sold for $202,689 as a
Tattersalls December weanling. He was produced by the unraced Doors to Manual
(Royal Academy), an unraced half-sister to Group 1-winning sire Marchand de
Sable (Theatrical).
“I am absolutely delighted,” said Long, who also bred Volatile in Sweden. “We
“William has given him a great ride and this is a massive result for our yard
Mastermind crossed the wire with 2 1/4 lengths to spare over Wychwood Warrior
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Volatile boosted his bankroll to $110,722 while improving his record to
5-2-1-1. The bay gelding has gone on his travels since trouncing a maiden field
in his homeland on the Jagersro dirt last September. He next appeared on the
turf at Newmarket in the October 17 Cornwallis (Eng-G3), finishing a solid
third. Volatile tried the Meydan dirt in the January 15 trial for the U.A.E. Two
Thousand Guineas, but never factored in fifth, and has reverted to turf.
Out of the Souvenir Copy mare Look That Chick, Volatile hails from the
extended family of French highweight mare Ana Marie (Anabaa) and Group 1 victor
Morandi (Holy Roman Emperor).
De Kock snared a win in the nightcap, an about 10-furlong turf handicap, when
Flying the Flag (Galileo) just got up over Godolphin’s Tha’Ir (New Approach) in
a blanket finish. Under Johnny Geroudis, the five-year-old forced his neck in
front in 2:01 4/5.
Other than the glaring exception of Local Time, the Meydan dirt was so fast
“He broke well today,” apprentice rider Marc Monaghan said, alluding to his
Trained by Satish Seemar, Price Is Truth claims a record of 17-3-1-1,
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Mashaaref (Cape Cross) spearheaded a trifecta for Sheikh Hamdan in the about
seven-furlong handicap, going wire to wire in a record time of 1:23.54.
“He broke very well and I was able to get straight to the front,” winning
rider Silvestre de Sousa recapped. “He enjoyed himself and quickened nicely to
settle matters in style.”
The Musabah al Muhairi charge, who won on a non-Carnival card two starts back
February 14, upped his line to 26-5-5-2, $168,681.
The metric mile record on dirt likewise fell, courtesy of longshot Pit Stop (Iffraaj),
who snapped a losing streak dating back to last summer in Ireland. Making his
third start for Salem bin Ghadayer, the four-year-old mowed down Not a Given
(Any Given Saturday) in the final strides and clocked 1:36.59.
“They went a really good gallop,” jockey Mickael Barzalona said of the
non-Carnival race. “That fast pace has really helped him, and he was running on
well in the final 300 meters, and we hit the front where it mattered.”
Pit Stop’s scorecard stands at 10-3-0-0, $67,441.
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