You are correct guys Bankable was an expensive horse to follow always looked a winner and plenty second prizes, well done to Ryan Moore
Bankable and Moore on top in Group 2 thriller
Report: UAE, Friday
Meydan
SOUTH AFRICAN trainers Herman Brown and Mike De Kock have dominated the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort and a nose separated their Bankable and Imbongi as they flashed past the line in the 1m feature at Meydan on Thursday.
It was Bankable, trained by Brown, who just prevailed under Ryan Moore with the locally-trained Ibn Battuta a close third in a thrilling finish.
Brown was among those less than convinced that Bankable had previaled before the offiical verdict and said: “That was a good performance and I was not confident awaiting the photo to be called – we thought we had been beaten. We will probably wait for the Dubai Duty Free now as he is a horse who is best kept fresh.”
The Al Fahidi Fort was the day's only turf race and De Kock was also out of luck in the preceding 1m conditions race when Eagle Mountain found Godolphin’s Skysurfers too good under Frankie Dettori.
Taking up the running a furlong out, Skysurfers and Dettori decisively took command and athough Kevin Shea extricated Eagle Mountain from a midfield group of horses to drive him out in pursuit, the even-money favourite never really looked like catching the leader.
The four-year-old winner was having only his second start, having trounced his opposition in a Southwell maiden in October, andtrainer Saeed Bin Suroor said: “This horse has always shown a lot of class at home and has thrived in the sunshine.
"He has won both starts well but we have no immediate plans and will see how he is after the run.”
Eagle Mountain, who trainer Mike De Kock said would come on for the run, stayed on strongly for second over a trip short of his optimum.
De Kock was non-commital about a target for Eagle Mountain, who was having his first run on Tapeta, and said: "He has run a good race over a trip too short. We will bring him back for the third round of the Maktoum Challenge before deciding what to do World Cup night."
Skysurfers completed a double for jockey and trainer after Global City had confirmed course and distance running with of a fortnight ago with locally-trained Montpellier with Frankie Dettori never far off the pace on the winner, recording a sixth career win in the 6f handicap.
Saeed Bin Suroor said: “He has thrived this winter and that was a better effort than first time.”
Drunken Sailor overcame a 7lb rise in the ratings for his opening night win as he and Kieren Fallon posted their second 1m3f handicap victory for trainer Luca Cumani. He had to work hard and only led close home but still had to defy a late challenge from King Of Rome.
Fallon said: “He has really battled when I asked him and deserved to win.”
The DougWatson-trainedGreenCoast deserved a change of fortune after two unlucky fourth placings at the Carnival and finally things fell his way in the 7f handicap. Settled in rear by Tadhg O’Shea, he flew down the outside to deny the Spanish-trained Silverside in a driving finish.
O’Shea said: “He has tended to miss the break so I had tobide my time but he really picked up well.”
Ali Rashid Al Raihe and Royston Ffrench have enjoyed wonderful seasons domestically and opened their 2010 carnival account with Al Shemali in the 1m3f handicap.
Watson and O'Shea completed a double when Roman's Run landed the concluding 1m1½f handicap.
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