Muntazah hot in Firebreak Stakes, Appleby and Buick land treble at Dubai World Cup Carnival

The Doug Watson-trained horse was a clear winner over a quality starting field to raise connection’s hopes for Dubai World Cup success next month. 

The evening also saw the trainer-jockey combination of Charlie Appleby and William Buick take out half of the remaining races on the card, including the pair of Group 2 $250,000 events, the Meydan Sprint and the Balanchine.

Having finished third behind North America in the Grade 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 last month, Muntazah got back to winning ways in some style with an easy victory.

The six-year-old broke well from his outside draw under Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s retained jockey Jim Crowley and settled into a handy position for the first half of the race. The early pace was fast enough, with Heavy Metal pushed to the lead by Mickael Barzalona. He was tracked by Satish Seemar’s Behavioral Bias and Secret Ambition before the former challenged Heavy Metal for the lead around the bend.

Despite looking comfortable Behavioral Bias stopped quickly as Muntazah, always in control, cruised past the leader into the home straight and kicked away to win by an impressive four and a half lengths. It was also a first win in the race for both Watson and Crowley.

Secret Ambition ran on well in second, with beaten favourite and 2018 winner Heavy Metal in third and Watson trainee Kimbear in fourth perhaps a little disappointing particularly given their pre-race backing. Godolphin’s Silent Attack finished last of the seven.

Speaking afterwards, Crowley said, “He showed last year that he has a lot. I thought he was a bit unlucky in the Godolphin Mile and that was his first time on dirt. Obviously, the Dubawis love (the dirt).

“I was a little bit disappointed with him first time out this season and I think there were genuine excuses for that. He ran a good race last time and he is a big horse who likes to get rolling. There was a bit of speed in that race and it caught him out and it got a bit messy. I felt he would come on a lot for that one and he did tonight.

“We went quick, as you would expect and I’d like to think there is a bit more to come from him, as well. He is versatile. Although he is a big horse, he jumps well from the gate and he is quick into his stride.

“Horses like Heavy Metal were going a fair nick and I was traveling easily on the side. I didn’t want to get involved too early and I probably could have waited a bit more, but we always felt that he would get a little further.

“He feels a better horse than 12 months ago. I still don’t think he is there yet and there is still a lot to work on. I am sure he will keep progressing.”

Watson added: “We thought he was in great shape last week and we really wanted to try him over the 1900 metre (of the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2), but he couldn’t.

“He has come back and done that well. It was a tough race. He had to sit three-wide the whole way and picked up nicely when he went by (Heavy Metal). He’s in great shape and last year he got better at around this time and that showed it right there.

The evening’s opener, the Group 2 $250,000 Meydan Sprint sponsored by Gulf News (G2) was turned into a one-horse show courtesy of Charlie Appleby’s Blue Point

The five-year-old made amends under William Buick for his second placing behind the late Ertijaal in last year’s edition and provided handler Appleby and owner Godolphin with a first win in the feature after finishing second in the last five renewals.

Australia’s Faatinah confiscated the lead from Mujaafy (under Pat Cosgrave) early on in the 1000 metre contest, with Blue Point settling midfield before easing into the final 600 metres to win by five lengths

Faatinah stayed on well behind the winner for second with Portamento (Fernando Jara) holding his own for Ali Rashid Al Rayhi to take third. Mike de Kock’s Mujaafy in fourth, Rebel Streak (Mickael Barzalona) and Johann Strauss (Royston Ffrench) completed the running order.

The inaugural running of the $100,000 Meydan Trophy provided the first chance for three-year-old turf runners to showcase their talent and Godolphin’s Appleby-trained Art du Val did not disappoint.

After stalking nicely throughout the 1900 metre affair, the winner cruised to victory by four lengths to earn trainer and jockey Buick a double on the night, and in Buick’s case riding his 100th UAE winner.

Fawzi Nass’ Bila Shak finished a promising second, while the consistent Trolius for trainer Simon Crisford was a neck’s distance behind to complete the top three of the 12 runners.

Appleby and Buick completed their treble and another inaugural stakes victory on the night in the Group 2 Balanchine sponsored by gulfnews.com thanks to another comfortable victory, this time by Godolphin’s Poetic Charm.

Settling comfortably at the rear of the 1800 metre turf contest under Buick, the Dubawi filly went four-wide in the home turn to hit the front with 300 metres left to go. It was a position they would not relinquish and what was an eventual dominant two and three-quarters of a length success completed a Group 2 Cape Verdi and Balanchine double for trainer and jockey.

Late-closing Charlie Fellowes charge Mia Tesoro (with Christopher Hayes aboard) held on for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Turkish horse Peri Lina in third who played up in the stalls before the start. Asoof (under Christophe Soumillon) jumped to the front before settling just off the speed to finish fourth, with South American G1 winner Furia Cruzada (Antonio Fresu) in fifth. Front-running Monza (Carlos Lopez) completing the field.

The penultimate race of the meeting, the $135,000 Inside Out Handicap over 1200 metres on dirt, was an intriguing contest and supplied Satish Seemar with his sole victory of the evening.

In what was a competitive looking encounter on paper, Lavaspin, drawn in stall two and ridden by Richard Mullen, took the initiative from the off holding a prominent position on the rail before being joined by Steve Asmussen’s Switzerland on his outside. A challenge at the 400 metre mark from Doug Watson’s Pop the Hood was fended off and Lavaspin drew clear of the one-paced American raider to win by two and a quarter lengths with Nine Below Zero running on well for third.

In the evening’s finale, the Wheels Handicap, Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor struck with Mountain Hunter who was given a beautiful ride by Christophe Soumillon to win by one and a half lengths over stablemate Red Galileo. Walton Street completed a top-three finish for the royal blue.

The next racing at Meydan is next Thursday, 21 February, with the eighth meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, where the build-up continues to the Carnival’s Super Saturday meeting on Saturday 9 March and Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday 30 March.