Light The Lights wins in a thrilling finish (photo: DRC/Andrew Watkins)
The second meeting of the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival was held on Thursday, 18 January 2018 and lifted South African spirits when Light The Lights posted the first win of the Carnival season from Mike de Kock’s 5 carded runners for the meeting.
Mubadala Global Trophy
Only eight went to post for the 2000m Mubadala Global Trophy, the 4th race on the evening’s card, but it produced a spectacle with Light the Lights and Blair House doing battle in over the final 300m. However, it was Light The Lights, under Christope Soumillon, who prevailed for Mike de Kock and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, winning for the first time since landing the Singspiel Stakes on the opening night of the 2017 Dubai World Cup Carnival.
Seventh in 2018 renewal of that race just last week, he clearly benefitted from the outing and Soumillon said: “Mike is a very good trainer, as we all know, and would not be running this horse back after just a week if he was not happy he could produce a run like that. He needed that comeback run last week and I was always pretty happy, but Blair House came there going very strongly, so we had to fight. This is not a horse who wants to be in front too long, so I was happy to have a rival and a battle because that suits him. He should build on this and go back up in class.”
Sanshaawes finished in 5th place under Dane O’Neil.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi World Class Healthcare Cup
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum owns a strong team of sprinters including Australian dual Group 2 winner Faatinah who was never headed in the 1200m Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi World Class Healthcare Cup.
Quickly away under Jim Crowley, they had the majority of their 12 rivals in trouble from a long way out. Only Baccarat, who missed the break, was able to throw down any kind of challenge for Godolphin, Appleby and James Doyle.
Try as he might, Doyle and Baccarat never managed to make a serious impression and Crowley, riding for David Hayes, said: “He hit the lids so well, I was in front perhaps on sufferance, but nobody else wanted to go on, so I was happy to. He has bowled along really well but, also, has had a good look around under the lights which is a new experience for him. It was a very good performance, giving weight away to all the others and he will improve for it after two months-plus off.”
South African hope Janoobi finished well back under Dane O’Neil.
Global Foundries Semi-Conductor Trophy
SA hopes were carried by the South African contingent of Bold Rex and Icy Trail in the Global Foundries Semi-Conductor Trophy, an ultra-competitive 1600m turf handicap.
The race was won by the classy and lightly raced 4-year-old Godolphin gelding Salsabeel. Ridden by William Buick for Charlie Appleby, the son of Exceed and Excel was making just his fifth lifetime start and his first since finishing a non-threatening 12th in the G1 French 2000 Guineas last May. Pulling clear at the top of the lane, he held off a game surge from Hornsby and jockey Mickael Barzalona. Salsabeel’s victory capped a fine day for Appleby as the conditioner had two wins, two seconds and two thirds from eight starters.
Bold Rex and Icy Trail finished 7th and 13th respectively, with Bold Rex deadheating with Dream Castle.
Group 3 Dubawi Stakes
Winter Lightning and Rayya locked in epic battle in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (Photo: DRC/Andrew Watkins)
The card feature was the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes sponsored by Borealis. Inaugurated in 2010 and upgraded this year from Listed status, the 1200m Dubawi Stakes was one of the few feature races in the UAE to elude Godolphin, but Comicas remedied that in style, winning under William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby.
Settled in midfield among just seven runners, Buick’s mount looked in trouble halfway, behind a hard early gallop set by Yalta, who was constantly niggled at by My Catch and Muarrab. Three hundred metres out it was Muarrab who looked to have gained the advantage, but his early exertions exacted their toll and he had no answer when Comicas charged for home.
The victory saw Comicas reversing his course and distance form with Muarrab from the Listed Garhoud Sprint four weeks ago. Fan favourite and local legend Reynaldothewizard, at an astonishing 12-years-old, closed well to finish third.
“He is a lovely, honest horse who handles this surface particularly well and the one thing we do know about him is he may be a bit outpaced early, but he is going to run home strongly,” Buick said. “That basically is what he has done here because they went very hard up front, as we expected, and it has panned out perfectly for him. The horse deserves a big win like this and it is great for the whole team.”
UAE 1000 Guineas Trial sponsored by Al Maryah Island
The 1400m dirt conditions race restricted to 3-year-old fillies produced a thrilling finish with Rayya and Winter Lightning with the latter winning by a nose at the wire after a thrilling 300m stretch battle.
Doug Watson-trained Rayya, victorious on her sole previous outing, tried to make all under Pat Dobbs. Entering the home straight, she had 12 of her rivals beaten, but Godolphin’s Winter Lightning, under Pat Cosgrave, drew alongside her rival 300m out and struck the front soon after. Also having just her second career start, when second in a 1400m Newmarket maiden in October, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee held on gamely as Rayya fought back gallantly to the wire and the pair flashed past the post together.
Cosgrave said: “It was only her second start and luckily her head was down on the line when it mattered. I probably went to the front too soon as it transpired, given her inexperience, but she certainly seems to have plenty of class and you would like to think she can build on this.”
Winter Lightning is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Thunder Snow who also won both the UAE 2000 Guineas and UAE Derby last year. Her full-sister, Group 1-placed Ihtimal, won both the UAE 1000 Guineas and UAE Oaks in 2014 – two races which appear to be on deck for her younger sibling.
Yahsat Satellite Cup
The 2000m turf handicap, the Yahsat Satellite Cup, was won in style by Janszoon, trained by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, replicating his course and distance victory of two weeks ago when ridden by stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea. With Silvestre De Sousa in the saddle on this occasion, the lightly raced son of Dubawi responded smartly up the straight.
“I had hoped to be in the first half dozen, but for some reason he did not really travel well early on, so I was farther back than I wanted,” De Sousa said. “I had to keep niggling and keep him interested and then, suddenly, he was back on the bridle and really quickened for me. Then once in front, he has idled and was probably value for a bigger winning distance. He could well be a carnival horse.”
CEPSA Energy Cup
The Doug Watson-conditioned Kimbear, who races in the silks of Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, pulverised eight rivals in the 1600m CEPSA Energy Cup under Pat Dobbs. Watson, who has never hidden his excitement about the horse’s potential, was pleased with the effort and indicated that there could be more to come from the son of Temple City. Tracking behind the leaders and taking to the dirt well, Kimbear tipped out turning for home and beat stable companion Layl home by 5 lengths.
“We were very hopeful coming here this evening because this horse’s work has always been very good and he certainly has not disappointed,” said Dobbs. “We broke well, but they went quick enough up front, so I was happy to take my time and, given his American background, he was happy enough in the kickback. He is a decent horse and that was a very good performance; one he can hopefully progress from.”
