Dubai Thursday 4 February 2010

And i just printed an article on facebook saying well done on their double...lol

I can`t be bothered to Edit ..

Never count your chickens Hibs......

Lets hope tomorrow we can shout Zirconeum home as well!!!

Well you all look like a happy bunch after last night see you this evening

Alexandros lights up Godolphin treble

Report: UAE, Thursday

Meydan: Al Rashidiya (Group 3) 1m1f, turf, 4yo+

VICTORY for Alexandros in the the Group 3 Al Rashidiya, the first race ever to be run on turf at Meydan, was the highlight of a Godolphin hat-trick at the course on Thursday.

The son of Kingmambo burst between horses a furlong out under Frankie Dettori before scoring a tremendous victory - the middle leg of the treble, which also included victories for Global City (Ted Durcan) and Age Of Reason (Dettori).

Crowded House, winner of the Racing Post Trophy in 2008, ran a promising race in second under Jamie Spencer, staying on from last place to take second after a long layoff over a distance short of his best.


However, Alexandros had the race sewn up as soon as Dettori, who treated the Meydan crowd to a flying dismount, shot him past the front-running Front House halfway down the straight.

Sent off 7-4 favourite, Alexandros raced handily tracking a tepid pace before scoring eased down by a comfortable three lengths or so.

"He's getting a bit older now and nine [furlongs] fits him like a glove," said Dettori.

"He runs well in Dubai and he runs well fresh - I really fancied him today."

Alexandros is now likely to be targeted at a return visit to the Duty Free, where he was close third last year.

Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, who like Dettori had never won the Al Rashidiya, said: "He is a very talented individual who won twice at the 2009 carnival before a big run in the Dubai Duty Free and Lockinge. He was pleasing us at home coming into the race and that was an impressive effort.

"We will take him home and see how he is before making plans, but the Dubai Duty Free is a possible race for him."


Brian Meehan, trainer of Crowded House, said: "I am pleased with that as he will have needed the run and the slow pace probably did not help. We will see how he is in the morning before making firm plans."

Outsider Tam Lin took third, but Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire was down the field on his debut for Mike De Kock.

The Godolphin treble was set up when Ted Durcan just got 7-2 favourite Global City up on the line to nab Montpellier in the 6f all-weather handicap and was completed by an equally narrow margin as Age Of Reason, the 7-2 favourite partnered by Dettori, landed the 1m6f handicap.

Musir highlight of treble for De Kock at Meydan

Report: UAE, Thursday

Meydan: UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial 7f, AW, 3yo

TRAINER Mike De Kock equalled Godolphin on Thursday at Meydan as he notched up an impressive treble, headed by 13-8 favourite Musir, who held Godolphin's Frozen Power by a half-length, and completed by Mr Brock and King Of Rome.

Musir, who was defying a Group 1 winners' penalty, will now be aimed at the UAE Triple Crown, dominated in recent years by De Kock horses like Asiatic Boy and Honour Devil.

Both of them - as well as others like Stagelight and Desert Party - won this trial beforetaking the UAE Guineas itself.


Musir, a champion two-year-old in his native South Africa last year, was a third winner at this year's carnival for the new De Kock and Christophe Soumillon team, which also claimed last week's 1,000 Guineas Trial with Raihana.

De Kock said: "He was a very good juvenile and we were hopeful of a big run, despite the Group 1 penalty.

"He has a very high natural cruising speed and is a horse with a touch of class. The Guineas will be next on the agenda."

Frozen Power, who was getting over a stone, stayed on well without ever looking likely to pass Musir.

Soumillon said: "After two steps he tried to take the exit on the left side so I put him back in the race and then he tried to run out again.

"But when I came intothe straight I was running better than everyone.

"When Frankie came at me in the last 100 yards I just pushed him again and it was a good win for him today."

Back in third was 33-1 shot Oroveso, another of Pascal Bary's ex-Brazilian string.

Musir was the second successive winner of Thursday to be drawn in stall one and the first winner of the day was drawn in two.

De Kock went to complete his treble as former Mauritius-trained Mr Brock, under Kevin Shea, ran right away from Tartan Gigha in the 1m1½f handicap and King Of Rome took the concluding 1m2f handicap to give Shea a double.

Shea said of Mr Brock: "He is a tough handicapper at this level and relishes this surface. He had beenworking well and I was always happy during the race."

Impressive Mutheeb scores under Hills

Mutheeb (Musabah Al Muhairi/Richard Hills) produced a hugely impressive performance to win the second race at Meydan on Thursday.
Richard Hills:'They shouldn't have watered it at the start of the week and they are paying the price for it.'


Formerly with Godolphin, the son of Danzig - 6-1 with British bookmakers - quickened up smartly in the straight and won with something in hand from the Jeremy Noseda-trained Stoic.

The latter, the 6-5 favourite, came late under Ryan Moore after meeting a little trouble in running.

Winning jockey Richard Hills said the new Tapeta all-weather surface was riding a touch slow.

"It rode slow, but with the weather, that's inevitable - itwill improve," he said.

Speaking of Mutheeb, he added: "He was very impressive at the trials and he ran a nice race last week. I was drawn one today, able get a nice pitch and he picked up nicely. Hopefully he can progress."

Gallagher, sent off at 11-1, came third for the Brian Meehan-Jamie Spencer combination.

Al Arab takes opener for Brazil

Al Arab (Antonio Cintra Pereira/Waldomiro Blandi) ran out a convincing winner of the opening Tapeta handicap over 1m at Meydan onThursday.

The Brazilian-trained colt came with a storming late challenge to score from the Meehan-trained Swift Gift, a 7-2 shot.

Godolphin's Sovereign Remedy, partnered by Frankie Dettori, ran on for third as 100-30 favourite.