Racing at Meydan on Thursday evening was officially highlighted by the Dubai Creek Mile presented by Longines, a 1600m Listed contest which provided a finish meriting its status with Thegreatcollection landing the spoils and probably the fourth horse to lead in the final 200m.
As expected, Capezzano and Royston Ffrench led from the outset, stalked by Secret Ambition and Salute The Soldier, the three having the race to themselves for the majority of the 1600m.
Thegreatcollection wins the Listed Dubai Creek Mile for trainer Doug Watson (Erika Rasmussen, Dubai Racing Channel)
As Salute The Soldier challenged for the lead, Secret Ambition challenged determinedly trying to defend his crown after a gritty win in this last year, hitting the front onside the final 150m.
In behind, Pat Cosgrave and Thegreatcollection, considered unlucky by many when fifth 12 months ago, was creeping closer before throwing down the final, telling challenge, wrestling the initiative from Secret Ambition in the final 50m.
Owned by Zaur Sekrekov, the 6-year-old gelded son of Saint Anodin was completing a double for Cosgrave and treble for trainer Doug Watson, in the process the gelding registering a seventh career win, fifth in the UAE and his biggest success to date.
Watson said: “He is one of our slowest work horses at home and you just have to let him do his own thing, so we were pleased with his first run and thought he had improved for it.
“Pat has ridden exactly as you have to by letting him settle into his own rhythm and then he enjoys running past tiring horses late on.”
The opening 1900m Gr2 Madjani Stakes presented by Longines, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card, was won pretty comprehensively by RB Frynchh Dude, confidently ridden by Pat Cosgrave for trainer Helal Alalawi and owners Byerley Racing. Having led briefly soon after the 16 runners departed the gates, Cosgrave was then happy to allow Dane O’Neill go on aboard Sauternes Al Maury, settling in on the rail just behind the leader. When that rival started to paddle, Cosgrave was happy to take the initiative, fully 800m from home and, once he committed his mount for home about 500m out, the race was effectively over. Having just his third local outing after two attempts on the Abu Dhabi turf, the 4-year-old colt arrived from the US with two victories to his name, including a 1700m Grade Three contest.
Cosgrave said: “He ran well enough at Abu Dhabi last time from a bad draw on a surface he does not like so much and going clockwise which he is not used to.
“He is a smart Arabian though and a pleasure to ride because you can put him anywhere in a race because he is tactically versatile. I imagine he will go to Saudi for their big race, but he will be competitive back here in these races, depending where connections want to go.”
Richard Mullen found a truly gutsy partner in the shape of Sanad Libya who just kept battling to score in the Longines Spirit Collection Trophy, a 1900m conditions race for 3-year-olds.
A Tapiture colt, he was always prominent before taking up the running about 900m out before being headed about 400m later by stable companion Commanding.
Godolphin’s Real World challenged between the two Satish Seemar runners with Mullen’s mount regaining the initiative with about 150m remaining at which point Commanding weakened into third. Real World tried hard, but Sanad Libya was not to be denied a second career victory on his fifth start, adding this prize to a 1400m conditions race at Jebel Ali in February.
Owned by H And B, that was the first start for Seemar having finished third to Commanding on his sole start for Doug Watson, as a juvenile, in a 1600m Meydan maiden in early December last year.
Mullen joked: “I have a 100% record on this horse because I won on him at Jebel Ali the only other time I rode him in a race!
“Seriously though, he has shown a great attitude this evening and really responded every time I asked him, so we have to be very pleased.
Seemar added: “We have always liked the horse and were keen to try him over this kind of trip because we thought it would suit him. We hope we can raise him in class in the future.”
Eight juvenile fillies contested the Longines Spirit Collection Challenge, a 1400m maiden which was contested at a furious early gallop with Jumeirah Beach setting the pace under Royston Ffrench.
At halfway, debutante Mnasek was virtually last having missed the break under Dane O’Neill just behind Tom Marquand on Nayefah and, when the leaders understandably started to tire, that pair were able to come through and fill the first two positions. A 2-year-old daughter of Empire Maker, Mnasek suddenly loomed large as a big danger leaving the home turn before shooting to the front with about 350m remaining.
They were soon clear with the race safe and it was left to Nayefah to run last toiling rivals to take second, albeit at a respectable distance. Saddled by Doug Watson for Al Rashid Stables LLC, on this evidence she could prove a bargain at the $15,000 her owners paid for her at Fasig-Tipton in June this year.
O’Neill said: “She is a very straightforward, willing filly, but I must admit I thought I was in trouble after that start.
“In fairness to her she has tried hard to get back in to contention, quickened and stayed on nicely. It was a very good debut.”
Then, eight 2-year-old colts lined up for a 1600m maiden, the Longines Spirit Collection Mile and approaching the final 300m at least five were still in contention. It was at this point early leader Talo was challenged by Shamran before Grand Dubai threw down the decisive challenge and was always holding the final bid thrown down by Fire Group.
It was a case of third time lucky for the Dawn Approach colt, third on both his first two starts, over 1200m then 1400m, on each occasion ridden by Sandro Paiva for Ali Rashid Al Rayhi who also owns him.
Paiva said: “The 1600m was always going to suit him and he learned plenty from his first two starts. He does not have a lot of early speed and takes a while to get going, but once in a rhythm, he travels strongly and he will stay further.
The longest race on the card, the Longines Spirit Collection Stakes, a 2200m handicap saw Doug Watson back in the winner’s enclosure, at the time completing a double on the card with a determined effort from Meqdam under Sam Hitchcott.
Settled in midfield, the 4-year-old gelded son of Dubawi made smooth progress on the home turn before throwing down a persistent challenge down the outside, denying Sada’A in the final 50m.
The horse was winning for the second time, having landed a maiden over 1800m at Jebel Ali last March. Winning owner Musaab Mamoun Suleman El Maki said: “I was very confident he would win today, especially after talking to Doug Watson. I am delighted and so proud of my horse.”
The concluding 1400m handicap, the Longines Spirit Collection Cup was won stylishly by Madkhal who was always travelling well under Adrie de Vries, just behind the leaders, before easing out to challenge in the straight, hitting the front 300m out and running on strongly. Owned and trained by Fawzi Nass, the 4-year-old gelded son of Distorted Humor had only landed one of his previous 10 outings, a 1200m juvenile novice stakes on the all-weather at Wolverhampton for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor in September 2018.
Nass said: “We bought him with dirt racing in mind and that was only his fourth run for us, second this season, so to get a win is very pleasing.
“He ran well three weeks ago at Sharjah, so we were quite hopeful tonight. We gelded him after buying him and that has helped him strengthen up. Hopefully there is more to come.”
