It was another Charlie Appleby masterclass on the Meydan turf when Warren Point provided the highlight of a sparkling four-timer.
Fresh from winning four turf races on Fashion Friday, Appleby repeated the feat a week later, but it wasn’t all plain sailing.
It took a last-minute dive for the line from Warren Point and Mickael Barzalona to give the trainer an eighth win in the featured Gr3 Dubai Millennium Stakes, presented by Al Tayer Motors.
Warren Point and Mickael Barzalona win the Gr3 Dubai Millennium Stakes (Pic Dubai Racing Club)
Something of a globetrotter last season when a Listed win in Bahrain was followed by a second in Qatar and creditable runs in New York, the five-year-old was anchored at the back of the field early in the 2000metre contest.
He was still there when the Jamie Osborne-trained pair of Solid Stone and Sean made their bids for glory. Charging along the rail, Sean and Adrie De Vries could smell the line, only to be accosted on it by Warren Point, successful by a short head.
“The horse did very well because he was a bit strong at the beginning,” said Barzalona. “I had the chance to go wide but I thought it was a bit early to go around horses, and then I was stuck. He’s been able to pick up again and win, he’s a talented horse.”
Earlier on, Appleby’s Cinderella’s Dream ran out the impressive winner of the Jumeirah Fillies’ Classic, presented by Lincoln Aviator.
Two from two prior to this 1400metre turf contest, the daughter of Shamardal briefly looked marked for a minor placing, with British raider Frost At Dawn going for home inside the final 400metres.
At that point, jockey William Buick only had three horses behind him but he got an immediate response once switching his filly out for her run, storming home and winning by two and three-quarter lengths from stablemate Beautiful Love, who also closed well from off the pace.
“She was there for me the whole way,” said Buick. “She’s still learning on the job as she’d only had two previous starts. It was a good performance from a filly who I think is progressive. Mawj won this last year and went on to win the Qipco 1000 Guineas, so she’s in good company and I wouldn’t want to rule anything out.”
Appleby and Buick struck again two races later when Mischief Magic picked up his sixth win in 12 starts in the Listed Dubai Sprint, presented by Lincoln Navigator, over 1200m on turf.
Winner of the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in 2022, the Exceed And Excel gelding had won only once since then but this signalled he’s heading back to the top, with a three-quarter length win over the persistent Yonafis. Dual course winner Batwan finished third, two and a half lengths back.
“He had a good run here over five furlongs a month or so ago and stepping back up to 1200m really suited him,” said Buick. “I’m delighted we’ve got one on the board with him.”
Appleby added that Mischief Magic will now head to Doha, Qatar, for the Dukhan Sprint on February 17th.
Time for a Derby Contender?
The final leg of the Godolphin quadruple came in the penultimate race, the Jumeirah Guineas, over 1600metres on turf. Legend Of Time had looked very smart in beating the reopposing Shamrock Glitter and Athnan in the trial for this race and this time did it in even better style.
Settled just behind a quick early tempo, Buick didn’t panic when Shamrock Glitter cruised into the straight, or when his mount briefly hesitated to pick up when asked.
The flat spot didn’t last long and the Sea The Stars colt soon settled matters, charging home by two lengths from Athnan, who reversed trial placings with Shamrock Glitter.
“He’s a horse who has only improved,” said Buick. “We always thought he would improve for stepping up to a mile and I think he’ll be even more comfortable over 2000m.”
“Let’s hope he can make all those necessary steps to put himself in that Derby picture. That’s what these horses are there to do.”
Breakthrough Success for Botti
Half of a successful partnership with her Group 1-winning trainer husband Marco, Lucia Botti has struck out on her own with just three horses in Dubai.
She saddled her first winner when Royal Dubai took the closing Lincoln Corsair Handicap, over 1800metres on turf.
Ridden by Pat Dobbs, the four-year-old – a maiden winner on dirt at Meydan when trained by Bhupat Seemar – went one better than when second four weeks ago.
Switched around eventual second Ursa Minor in the run to the line, he won a shade cosily, by two lengths.
“I’m delighted. It doesn’t happen very often that a trainer is so privileged to have their first winner at Meydan,” said Botti. “At the moment the plan will be February 23rd, the Gr2 Singspiel Stakes, and then we’ll take it from there.”
The most taking of the evening’s dirt winners was My Dubawi who simply scooted home in the Lincoln Handicap, race seven, over 1400metres.
Ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, the son of – you guessed it – Dubawi, wouldn’t have seen his rivals in the straight. He went further and further clear under Tadhg O’Shea and won, eased, by three and a half lengths from Desert Safari.
“He won his first race for our stable last year and I thought he’d be a Jebel Ali Sprint horse,” said O’Shea of the Seemar-trainee. “But he’s fragile and the team have done a great job with him. He’s a horse with an awful lot of ability and he works with the good horses at home. When he’s good he’s very good.”
Earlier, Elyabri and Bernardo Pinheiro kept things simple when winning the Lincoln Presidential, race two, for three-year-olds over 1900metres on dirt.
The Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained American Pharoah colt was well-beaten last time out over 1400m, but used his stamina here, making all and never looking like getting caught.
“This horse has always worked well at home,” said Pinheiro. “The first time out he was drawn wide and last time he didn’t jump so he was caught in the kickback.
“Today he improved a lot for the extra distance and confirmed what he’s shown at home.”
Old timers holding their form is something of a hallmark of UAE racing and nine-year-old Mayaadeen collected his sixth career win, in the 1400m Lincoln Handicap, on dirt.
Ridden by Jim Crowley for trainer Doug Watson, he swooped for home at the 100metre marker and went clear, only to be almost caught by stablemate Maplewood who failed by a short head.
“He’s getting a bit smarter as he gets older,” said Crowley. “But in fairness he towed me into the straight and then got left in front quite quickly. But he won, which was great. He’s been a good horse and won plenty out here.”
The opening Lincoln-sponsored Purebred Arabian Handicap, over 1600metres on dirt, went to Game Time, who flew home from the very back of the field under Sando Paiva.
It was a first win in six starts for the Jaber Bittar-trained six-year-old, who denied Naajeeb by a length and a quarter.
“I think the home straight was the best moment I had,” joked Paiva. “He jumped slow, never travelled and didn’t give me anything back. But in the home straight he responded quickly and at around 450metres he showed me he had more to come.”
The Dubai Racing Carnival continues next Friday, February 9th, when the Dubai Trophy and Vazirabad Handicap are among the features.
