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Another poor night for SA horses, glad I had a power cut!

Impressive Gladiatorus lands Bin Shafya treble


Report (part 1): Nad Al Sheba, Thursday

FIRST-SEASON trainer Mubarak Bin Shafya, a major success story at the 2009 Dubai Carnival, recorded a treble at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday highlighted by the easy victory of Gladiatorus in the Al Fahidi Fort.

The Group 2 event over 1m on the turf was the feature event of an eight-race card where Bin Shafya also scored with Dijeerr and Eastern Anthem to take his overall tally to eight. Only Saeed Bin Suroor has enjoyed more winners at this year's carnival.

Royston Ffrench was in thesaddle on former Italian-trained four-year-old Gladiatorus, who had broken the 7½f turf track record on his previous outing in a handicap.

That was his first run after a long break, his having previously been second in the Group 1 Gran Criterium as a juvenile.

Replacing the suspended Ahmed Ajtebi, Ffrench jumped the 3-1 second favourite out in front and kicked him clear three furlongs out, after which he was never going to becaught.


"The plan was to try and make all and it has worked," said the rider.

"I was always travelling and could not believe how far clear I was a furlong out. It was an impressive performance and these are the kind of spare rides I really like!"

Bin Shafya added: "He is a lovely horse and we gave him a month off after his last win. we will have to look for his next race as he has a lot of options."

The rider was celebrating a double after Eastern Anthem caught stable companion Crime Scene close home for a Bin Shafya one-two the CBD Financial Services Handicap over 1m4f on turf.

Both horses have already scored at the carnival, and the superbly-bred winner - by Singspiel out of dual Classic winner Kazzia - looksa really progressive type for his new trainer.

Ffrench was delighted and said: "He is a nice horse. He has a massive stride and has devoured the ground in the final furlong."

The Bin Shafya treble had been initiated by former Michael Jarvis-trained Dijeerr in the Al Dana Investment Plate, a 1m dirt conditions race, where UAE winner Honour Devil flopped at odds of 4-9 for Mike De Kock.

The winner was ridden by apprentice Antioco Murgia, who is attached to Marco Botti's Newmarket yard.

"We were expecting a big run as he handled the dirt well at home," said the rider. "The plan was always to jumpout in front and he has done it very nicely."

Honour Devil raced in mid-division but could not quicken in the final three furlongs and was run out of second by local debutant Tiz Now Tiz Then.

Speaking of Honour Devil, trainer Mike De Kock said: "We knew he would need a run and has perhaps been a bit outpaced and tired, before running on again. We will see how he is in the morning."


The Doug Watson-trained Clasp romped away with the Attijari Al Islami Trophy in the hands of Fernando Jara and was greeted by around 50 enthusiastic owners representing Emirates Entertainment Racing Club, the only racing club in the Emirates.

Watson said: "I hoped he would go close and I fancied all my three in the race. He has actually won easily in the end with his stamina gaining the day."

Young Mick spearheads brilliant British treble


Report (part 2): Nad Al Sheba, Thursday

BRITISH-based trainers have generally taken a while to find their stride at the 2009 Dubai Carnival but on Thursday they collected three of the night's eight races, culminating in a victory for popular veteran Young Mick in the last.


Ryan Moore, who had won the previous race on the Luca Cumani-trained Swop, was denied a quick doublein the Al Dana handicap over 1m4f in which he almost made all on David Elsworth's Classic Punch.

However, the partnership were collared close home by John Egan, who brought the seven-year-old Young Mick, a 6-1 chance with British bookmakers, with a late rally on the stands side to score by a half-length.

Trainer George Margarson was in jubilant mood as he greeted his winner.

"That was brilliant and for a small yard to come here and to win is superb," he said.

"We may run him again next week if he comes out of that well. The long distance race (1m 6f) was his primary target but we will have a look. He certainly owes us nothing so we could just take him home and get him ready for England.

"I have had some nice horses like Barathea Guest but this fellow has kept my name in lights."

Mick Kinane was in the saddle as the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Judd Street got the ball rolling for Britain in the CBD Visa Infinite Card Trophy, a 6f turf handicap.


Never far off the pace, the 13-2 chance was travelling supremely well two furlongs out but Kinane was able to force his mount's head in front right on the line.

"He ran well last time and has improved from that," said Kinane. "He travels like anice horse and has fought when he needed to."

Swop, prominent in the ante-post market for the Lincoln, made it third time lucky at Nad Al Sheba in the penultimate race, the Commercial Bank of Dubai handicap.

Ryan Moore, who had to overcome the widest draw, settled him a distant last place and was twice denied a clear run in the straight, before finally finding daylight to lead virtually on the line.

Moore said: "He has done well to win from there and really quickened once clear."

Swop was the second Cumani winner at the carnival after Presvis last month.

"We were hoping for a big run and knew he would have to be dropped in from that draw," said Francesca Cumani, representing her father.

"He ran well last time and Ryan has ridden a perfect race, as he did when winning on Presvis, who will run again next week. The horses are in good form and we are delighted with two winners so far."

Australia also got on the scoresheet for the first time this year when the Danny O'Brien-trained Valedictumwon the night's first race, the Mustaqbali Handicap.

Ted Durcan manoeuvred the eight-year-old over to the rail from a wide draw before rousting him to lead close home and denying Frankie Dettori on Norway's Echoes Rock by a half-length.

"He ran well first time and we thought he was spot on this time," said Durcan. "I was always hopeful and he picked up well in the last half furlong.

Some nice runs from SAf horses, but no winners was disappointing.

Mike de Kock is definitely having a tougher time this season.

de Kock win% in Dubai
02/03 25.0%
03/04 36.4%
04/05 17.2%
05/06 19.6%
06/07 19.3%
07/08 23.8%
08/09 10.1% (excluding yesterdays runners)