Equilateral drops name in Al Quoz Sprint mix, Appleby retains Zabeel Mile and Balanchine titles
- Duane Fonseca
- Feb 19, 2021
- 3 min read
Dubai: Andrea Atzeni believes Equilateral should be able to handle the extra furlong of the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night after the Charles Hills’ trainee turned in a career best performance to win the Group 2 Meydan Sprint one of the features of Thursday night’s DWC Carnival card at Meydan.
The 6yo Equiano gelding stretched nicely to make it two in two starts in the UAE this term as he nailed the 1000m turf affair in an effortless manner under Atzeni, who picked up the ride after Frankie Dettori decided to ride race favourite A’Ali, trained by Simon Crisford.
Second behind Waady in the race last year, Atzeni worked Equilateral at the right time and he stormed to head the field of five rather comfortably at the halfway stage. A’Ali pushed hard, but Hills’ 2020 Dubai Dash winner had a bit left in reserve and held on to win by a length from Meydan newcomer Acklam Express, who breezed to finish second in the final strides for trainer Nigel Tinkler under Rowan Scott. A’Ali took third a further neck behind.
It was Equilateral’s first career Group level success and Atzeni feels he could definitely go the extra furlong of Al Quoz Sprint or its Super Saturday course and distance prep the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Sprint. “Where he goes next is a decision that will be taken by his trainer, but he definitely seemed to handle it well and seemed to have a bit left in him,” Atzeni reported after the ride.
Watson’s Mnasek justified her top billing in the Group 3 UAE Oaks. Ridden by Pat Dobbs in fifth along the rail, the Empire Maker filly looked happy with the pace set by Salem bin Ghadayer’s Jumeirah Beach, who faded just before the field turned for home. Dobbs applied pressure 600m out bringing Mnasek to a share of the lead. She drew level fourth wide and in a strong position to strike and with Dobbs tightening the screw, she kicked clear to win by six and a half lengths at the wire. Nicholas Bachalard’s Nayefah with Ryan Curatolo up stole second ahead of Last Sunset who ran in third for Bin Suroor in the hands of Dettori.
Watson and Dobbs would sign off with a brace after Jebel Ali Sprint winner Al Tariq showed a lot of heart as he stepped up in class to happily snatch the card ending Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint over 1200m by a half length from Important Mission.
Godolphin made sure they were on the scorecard with trainer Charlie Appleby delivering a quick double with D’bai winning the Group 2 Zabeel Mile under William Buick and Summer Romance upsetting the odds to deliver the 1800m Group 2 Balanchine under James Doyle, who won last year’s race with Magic Lily and was also victorious in the 2020 Zabeel Mile with Zakouski. It was Appleby’s third consecutive win in both races. He won the Zabeel Mile with Mythical Magic and Zakouski in 2019 and 2020 respectively and the Balanchine with Magic Lily who followed in Poetic Charm’s footsteps.
Hypothetical dropped his name in the mix for the Group 2 Godolphin Mile when producing a sweeping run to win the card opening handicap over the course and distance of the aforementioned race. Ridden by Mickael Barzalona for UAE Trainers’ Championship leader Salem bin Ghadayer, the 4yo Lope de Vega entire, delivered a three fourths length success ahead of the Harry Bentley driven Bright Start, trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin. A further length and three fourths back in third was Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s Sandro Paiva ridden Alkaamel.
The Curlin Stakes, a Listed Handicap over 2000m, coughed up a surprise victor in the form of Ahmad bin Harmash’s Dubai World Cup alumni New Trails. A course and distance winner from November 2018, the 7yo Medaglia D’Oro gelding turned up two clear of Dubai Icon, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Dettori, with stable companion and bannermate Real World a shorthead back in third under Pat Cosgrave.
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