Dubai Thursday 18 February 2010

Allybar upsets Crowded House at Meydan

Report: UAE, Thursday
Meydan: Al Maktoum Challenge R2 (Group 3) 1m1½f, AW

ALLYBAR provided Godolphin with a treble on the night when holding hot-favourite Crowded House in the Group 3 Al Maktoum Challenge.

The victory provided Ahmed Ajtebi with another high-profile Meydan winner, following his victory in the UAE 1,000 Guineas last week.

Allybar made rapid headway from the rear turning for home and managed to get first run on Jamie Spencer aboard 13-8 favourite Crowded House. Although the second hit top gear close home, he just failed to reel in the 10-1 winner.

Allybar took the notable scalp of Dubai World Cup hope Presvis when making a winning UAE debut and looks a smart colt based on his two victories.

The winning jockey said: “He ran a good race last time and beat a Group 1 animal. There is definitely more to come from him.”

Saeed Bin Suroor said: "He is a horse who has realy pleasedus since arriving in Dubai. His first win was a good effort but this is obviously a step up on that."

Godolphin's racing manager, Simon Crisford, added: "The horse had to prove where he stands in the pecking order and he has demonstrated that he is up to this class. The third round on Super Thursday will be his next target and we will see how he gets on there."

Crowded House's trainer, Brian Meehan, said: "That was another very good run and he certainly handled the surface. I think he will improve again from that but we will have to think whether to revert to turf or stay on the Tapeta."

Fantastic four-timer for Godolphin at Meydan

Report: UAE, Thursday

Meydan

SAEED BIN SUROOR took his Dubai Carnival tally to an impressive 13 winners with a fantastic four-timer at Meydan on Thursday.


Emirates Champion, under a confident Frankie Dettori, kicked off proceedings for Godolphin's trainer when running out the comfortable winner of the 1m3f handicap.

Runner-up on his UAE debut a fortnight ago, the son of Haafhd was registering his third success from only five career starts and looks the type to progress if the handicapper does not overreact.

Bin Suroor said: "He is a nice young horse and hopefully he can build on this. We were very pleased with his first run also and the horses are in good form."

Sirocco Breeze was well behind preceding-race-winner Leahurst on the first night but came from last to first under Frankie Dettori to win the 7f handicap in good style, denying Mutheeb a second 2010 Carnival victory.

Frankie Dettori's mount made smooth progress turning for home and dashed clear inside the final furlong to the delight of Bin Suroor, who said: "He had been working well after his first night run and we hoped for a big run. Seven furlongs really suits him and hopefully there is improvement to come."

Following victory in the Group 3 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 with Allybar, Bin Suroor went on to complete a four-timer and Ahmed Ajtebi a double with the easy victory of Calming Influence in the concluding 1m handicap.

Dettori's intended mount, Sovereign Remedy, was withdrawn at the start having completed a circuit of the track riderless.

Leahurst confirms good impression for Noseda

THE Jeremy Noseda-trained Leahurst went into many notebooks after winning a 7f handicap on the opening night of the Carnival and confirmed that impression in the 6f handicap, which he turned into a procession under Ryan Moore.

Always tracking the pace, he was eased to the front inside the two furlong marker before surging clear in the manner of a Group performer. This performance will rule him of the remaining handicaps and his sights will surely be raised.

Moore said: "He was very impressive first time but that was a better effort off his revised mark. I was always going well and when the gap appeared he has quickened through it nicely."

De Kock lands opener with Frosty Secret

Mike de Kock and Kevin Shea combined to win the opening 6f handicap with Carnival regular Frosty Secret, who was opening his Meydan account.

Never far off the pace, he was kicked clear as therunners entered the straight and the pair ran on strongly to deny Lui Rei, ridden by Ryan Moore for De Kock's South African counterpart Herman Brown.

Shea said: "He is a real tough, honest battler and has done well in Dubai over the years."

Easy UAE 2,000 Guineas victory for smart Musir

Report: UAE, Thursday

Meydan: UAE 2,000 Guineas (Group 3) 1m, AW

MUSIR justified even-money favouritism to run out a convincing winner of the UAE 2,000 Guineas under a confident ride from Christophe Soumillon.


Settled towards the rear from his draw in 14, the Mike de Kock-trained son of Redoute's Choice slowly worked his way into contention, before showing a smart turn of pace down the outside of the field.

Frozen Power ran a solid race to take second at 13-2, while Della Barba claimed third at 25-1.

This was Musir’s second victory at the Carnival and his trainer - for whom this was his fourth UAE 2,000 Guineas success - confirmed that he is likely to bid for a hat-trick in the UAE Derby. De Kock's previous three Guineas winners all went on to win the Derby.

De Kock said: “He has been showing us that he’s a bit special and on that performance the longer trip of the Derby will not be a problem.

“I told Chris [Christophe Soumillon] to see what we had tonight and it was good performance.”

Soumillon said: "He is a really nice colt and has a lot of class. His cruising speed is so high that he just pulled me into the race. How far he will stay I do not know, but he was impressive - I had been worried about the wide draw."

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