Decorated Knight wins Jebel Hatta, Postponed denied in Dubai City Of Gold at Meydan’s Super Saturday

In what was is seen as the trial for the Dubai Turf on the Dubai World Cup card, the Roger Charlton-trained Decorated Knight took the decision by a neck from Godolphin’s Folkswood in second and Muffri’Ha in third by the same distance.

Folkswood put in a great effort to make all the running, fighting off challenges from Promising Run and Sanshaawes, only for Muffri’Ha to close on the rail with the eventual winner on his outside.

It was only in the last few strides that Andrea Atzeni was able to put Decorated Knight’s head in front to claim victory.

“He is a progressive horse who improved last season and has continued to do so,” said Atzeni. “He could have run in the Winter Derby last week but is already a Group 3 winner so it made sense to come here.

“The pace was not quick which did not suit him but he has a good turn of foot and stays further so I was always pretty hopeful.

“He should be spot on in three weeks for the Dubai Turf.”

There was a similar close finish in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold as Godolphin’s Prize Money edged out last year’s winner Postponed also by a neck.

The Roger Varian-trained Postponed eased to success in the same race 12 months ago before going onto record victory on World Cup Day in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, however they suffered a frustrating reverse this time around.

The Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Prize Money under Adrie de Vries Prize Money and Postponed were both held up, with the field taken along by King Bolete, a stablemate of Postponed and also owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.

Frankie Dettori made a dash for victory on the home turn, driving Dylan Mouth to the lead, but Godolphin’s Emotionless hit the front a furlong out, with Postponed, who had been forced wide off the home bend, surrounded by riders wearing blue.

With the race favourite was sandwiched between two Godolphin horses in the straight, Atzeni angled him towards the rail to throw down a final challenge. Postponed kept on but could not quite make up ground lost as Prize Money held on to take the winner’s purse.

Emotionless ran on at the same pace to finish third, with Rembrandt Van Rijn a never-nearer fourth. Dylan Mouth was fifth ahead of the other two Godolphin horses, Memorial Day and Famous Kid.

A new race on the Super Saturday card this year was the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, a 1200 metre conditions contest which was won by the Charlie Appleby-trained Jungle Cat.

In what was the prep for the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint which has been extended from 1000 metres this year, a maximum field of 16 contested matters which was run at a furious pace with Caspian Prince towing the field along until beyond halfway.

He was headed by Fabulous One with Final Venture another giving chase at the head of affairs. However, having been settled well off the pace by jockey William Buick, Godolphin’s Jungle Cat was making ominous progress and swept to the front with more than 200 metres left to run.

They shot clear with only French challenger, The Right Man, appearing a danger but he started to tire in the final 150 metres and it was left to Godolphin’s second contender, Baccarat, also trained by Appleby, to chase home his stable companion.

He made some inroads under Colm O’Donoghue but was unable to repeat his course and distance handicap victory over the same horse achieved in January.

Super Saturday at Meydan also featured the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3, one of four dirt races on the card, which went the way of Long River who was sporting the silvery blue silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

Drawn in stall two in a field of eight, the Salem bin Ghadayer-trained Long River was soon in front under Mickael Barzalona, but was chased throughout by Special Fighter. The latter was seeking to become the first dual winner of a race he landed 12 months ago and was having his first start since an excellent fourth in the 2016 Dubai World Cup.

Entering the straight, the pair had the race to themselves with Fernando Jara and Special Fighter throwing down a serious challenge before tiring about 200 metres from home when Barzalona’s mount started to pull away.

Victory for Long River by a length and quarter ensured they registered a first 2000 metre success and completed his initial breakthrough in the UAE.

In the process he completed a memorable double for connections who had already landed the Group 3 Burj Nahaar thanks to Heavy Metal.

With Barzalona again at the helm, Heavy Metal came in six and a half lengths clear of Ross in second and Alabaster in third for a comfortable success.

The meeting opened with the Listed Al Bastakiya, the trial for the UAE Derby over the same 1900 metre distance and restricted to three-year-olds.

Fawree unseated Bernard Fayd’Herbe as the stalls opened, while Pat Dobbs and the Doug Watson-trained Cosmo Charlie broke well and went straight to the front. From there, they were never headed, bouncing back from a disappointing sixth in the UAE 2000 Guineas to win by a length from Qatar Man in second and Capezzano a distant third.

Chris Hayes then employed the same tactics on the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained Morawij to win the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal.

Run over the same 1200 metre trip as the Group 1 Golden Shaheen , Morawij arrived in town having won the 1000 metre Listed Jebel Ali Sprint on his previous start. And they showed good form again, coming home in front of Cool Cowboy in second and Dundonnell in third.

The next racing at Meydan Racecourse is on Thursday 9 March, ahead of the Dubai World Cup Day on Saturday 25 March.