TRADE STORM THUNDERS TO ZABEEL MILE VICTORY

Click above to watch Trade Storm winning the Zabeel Mile (Group 2)
(Image and footage : Dubai Racing Meydan)

ZABEEL MILE (Group2)
Meydan, Turf, 1600m
2 March 2013

Trade Storm scored a remarkable victory in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile, the 1600m turf feature at the ninth meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Saturday evening. Slowly away under Jamie Spencer, the David Simcock-trained Trade Storm was last as the eight runners turned for home but, just as he and Spencer had done in a 1m1f handicap two weeks ago, he passed all his rivals to win easily.

The difference was, on that occasion, that he challenged wide down the centre of the track whereas this time he weaved through rivals under a clearly elated jockey. “You have to be impressed by that,” said Spencer. “I wanted to track Musir but we missed the kick so I was further back than I intended but he was always going well. As we turned for home I was looking for a gap and when we found one we were able to get through and he showed a great turn of foot. David has really done well with this horse who seems to be improving and has thrived in the Dubai weather.”

Old rivals Ahzeemah, Certerach and Star Empire fought out the finish of the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, just as they did in a handicap over the same 2810m turf course and distance just over three weeks ago. On that occasion Star Empire came out on top but this time it was Godolphin’s Ahzeemah with Kieren Fallon in the saddle for trainer Saeed bin Suroor. They just held off the determined challenge of Irish raider Certerach, with Star Empire third.

Fallon said: “There was not as much pace on so I was happy to hit the front early in straight and he was very game. He will certainly stay further.”

Bin Suroor added: “He will be better over further and I will talk to Sheikh Mohammed but I think the Dubai Gold Cup over 3200m would be an ideal race for him on World Cup night. He is still a young horse and is hopefully still improving.”

Jockey and trainer doubled up with the equally brave victory of Quick Wit in the concluding 2000m turf handicap.

Christophe Soumillon and Mike de Kock may have been denied with Musir and Star Empire in the big races but they also registered a double apiece. Soumillon always appeared supremely confident on the De Kock-trained Kavanagh in the opening 1200m turf handicap and the pair quickened well to lead 200m out and post a comfortable victory. Runner-up in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint (all-weather) on his previous start, Kavanagh was opening his UAE account at the fourth time of asking and Soumillon said: “That is the perfect start to what we hope will be a good evening. I was always going best and it was just a case of timing the challenge right.”

They then followed up with Rerouted in a 1400m all-weather handicap to register a second course and distance win this year.

The Spanish challengers opened their 2013 account with the last-gasp success of Plantagenet in a 2000m Tapeta handicap named in honour of 2010 Dubai World Cup winner Gloria De Campeao who won the world’s richest horse race in the colours of the Haras Estrela Energia, the sponsor of the night’s card. It was a second course and distance win for the horse who also won a similar race last February.

Jose Martinez was in the saddle for trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta. The jockey said: “He is a very nice horse and quickened well for me. It was not a fast pace and he would have preferred a faster gallop.”

Extract from Dubai Racing Club

FRANKEL EXPLOSIVE IN DEWHURST STAKES VICTORY

Click above to watch Frankel winning the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1)
(Photo : Dailymail / Footage : Racing UK)

DUBAI DEWHURST STAKES (GR1)

It was billed as a three-horse war, but it turned into a one-man show in yesterday’s Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1) at Newmarket.

Odds-on chalk Frankel (Galileo) swept to the front inside the quarter pole and strode up the hill under a hand ride to best Roderic O’Connor (Galileo) by 2 1/4 lengths.

The unbeaten Frankel had raced keenly through the early strides following trouble leaving the gate, but picked up impressively, causing winning jockey Tom Queally to comment, “He’s a superstar, and he’s done it when it mattered. He’s something very special.”

First coming to attention when winning a mile maiden on soft ground at Newmarket’s July course on debut 13 August, Frankel showed what he was really capable of when he strolled home by 13 lengths from subsequent Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1) third Rainbow Springs (Selkirik) in a Doncaster conditions event on his next outing 10 September.

The homebred stunned the crowd at Ascot on his last run, quickening clear at the quarter pole to destroy his rivals in the Royal Lodge Stakes (Gr2) by 10 lengths.

With news emanating from Newmarket of a spectacular piece of work last Saturday, further improvement seemed possible, and he was sent postward as a strong favorite despite the ground apparently softening in favor of his main market rival and dual Group 1 winner Dream Ahead (Diktat). Squeezed out as he broke from the stalls, the eventual winner pulled for his head at the rear of the field as Roderic O’Connor towed them through the early stages.

Queally allowed the muscular bay to stride on up to the leaders at the two-furlong marker, and his whip was not deployed as Frankel took it up 100 yards later before running on strongly to the line. Queally explained, “He received a bump leaving the stalls and it set him alight, whereas at Ascot he put his head down and relaxed, but he quickened up well and put the race to bed. Probably on the ground he wandered off a true line, but we’ll forgive him that.”

Trainer Henry Cecil, taking this prestigious contest for the first time since Diesis in 1982, opined, “In his work he’s very relaxed, but when you get a nasty bump like that, it makes a difference and it set him alight. He won well and Tom didn’t need to hit him with the whip. It was lovely. I have to thank the Prince (Khalid Abdullah) for sending him to me.” Regarding plans for next year, the veteran conditioner said, “I’m hopeful that he will make a 2000 Guineas (Gr1) horse and maybe the St James’ Palace (Gr1); whether he will get further, we’ll have to see, and I’ll need to talk to the Prince about that.”

The owner’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, expressed the view that his targets were not yet set in stone. “I think that we’re not going to dismiss the Epsom Derby (Gr1) lightly. He’ll go straight to the 2000 Guineas and we’ll see how he develops over the winter. The Guineas is the first part, and the second part will obviously be the issue. The Derby is a very important race for all concerned, and we’ll have to look at him in the spring. Henry will be the best judge of that, and he’s likely to have an extensive programme as a three-year-old.” Frankel is a general even-money favourite with British bookmakers for the 2000 Guineas, and trades as the 3-1 favorite for the Epsom Derby.

Aidan O’Brien, trainer of the runner-up, reflected, “He set a nice sensible gallop, and he’s very straightforward. Everything’s open to him.” A disappointed David Simcock said of the previously unbeaten Dream Ahead, “It might have just come too quick for him, he just never picked up.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News