Imperial Emperor (pictured) was flagged as a G2 Godolphin Mile prospect when he won first up this season, but now connections may aim even higher after another dominant display on week four of the Carnival.
Deva Racing’s smart recruit, who is trained by Bhupat Seemar, could head to the G1 Maktoum Challenge on 24 January after this latest impressive success. Despite carrying top weight of 62kg in the Palm Jebel Ali Handicap over 1600metres, he was given a confident ride by Tadhg O’Shea, disputing the lead early on and going it alone from 900metres.
From there, it was never in doubt, and he stormed home for a seven and a quarter-length win over Khanjar, with Al Jaddaf third.
“He trains like a smart horse and he broke on terms tonight,” said O’Shea. “He settles and he’s easy, and like the majority of these Dubawis he’s very good on dirt. We’ll have to go back to the drawing board and see if we stretch out beyond a mile and aim for the Maktoum Challenge or something like that.”
“As a horse he’ll give himself every chance to stretch out. The dream is alive.”
The dream is also alive for another syndicate-owned horse, Mendelssohn Bay, who left it until the line to steal victory from stable companion Killer Collect.
The two squared off in the concluding Dubai Islands Conditions Stakes, over 1900metres, which was a fascinating race to watch; O’Shea on Killer Collect taking the lead early and looking to have it won turning in, only for Mendelssohn Bay to go ahead, be headed and fight back for a nose success.
“He flew the gates,” said winning jockey Pat Cosgrave. “He’s a talented horse but he’s not straightforward – he’s not a fan of kickback but he doesn’t want to lead.
“I had to give Killer Collect weight and he’d had a run. It’s not easy to produce a horse late on the dirt, but hopefully he’ll improve a bit from tonight. He’s still very immature, but he’s got talent and I’m sure Bhupat will get it out of him.”
Unleashed an Arabian to Follow
Unleashed has had a steep rise to near top of the Purebred Arabian ranks and the five-year-old picked up a first Group race success when landing the G2 Madjani Stakes (sponsored by Nakheel) – the evening’s official feature.
Trained by Dr Jaber Bittar, he made the running from stall six and got stronger as the race went on, never looking like being passed by either Kanaille De Faust or AF Yatwy, second and third.
“This horse has been knocking on the door,” said rider Richie Mullen. “His last race was always going to be tough, as it was over 1400metres, but they had to start him somewhere.
“This trip is the minimum he wants to go. I didn’t want to take him back behind Tadhg [O’Shea’s] horse [RB Yas Sir] as sometimes he can get a little intimidated.
“He’s a horse you probably won’t see in Round 1 of the Maktoum Challenge over a mile, but Round 2 and 3 would suit him, over further, if that’s the route connections want to take.”
Doug Watson had been excited about running Oasis Boy and his faith in the colt was well-founded when he made a winning Red Stables debut in the Nad Al Sheba Gardens Conditions race, over 1400metres.
The son of Asiatic Boy is in his second season in the UAE, having previously been with Julio Olascoaga, and he was tenacious here under Pat Dobbs, despite being hit in the face by a whip in the closing stages. The result was a battling quarter-length success over Magic Petition, with Straight And Level third. Strobe could be one to watch, having been an unlucky fourth.
“I was delighted tonight,” said Dobbs. “I thought the draw [8] was a bad draw, but it was a good draw and neither me nor the horse really wanted to let Adrie [de Vries, on Strobe]out.
“He [Oasis Boy] could have easily laid down in the straight but he switched leads and then finished strong. He held his line very well – he’s a tough horse.”
Oasis Boy completed a double for Dobbs and Watson, after the earlier victory of Nyaar in the Como Residences Handicap, over 1400metres. He made all the running from stall three and was a comfortable winner, beating Atlantic Sky by four and a half lengths.
“As long as he jumps he’s very good,” said Dobbs. “Sometimes he gets agitated and misses it half a beat.
“Obviously backing up after a week isn’t ideal, but Carl Hodgson who rides him at home was very happy with him. He’s a horse who always looks like he needs a run, because he’s quite stocky.
“I’m delighted for the owner [Vaibhav Shah] who is a nice fellow, and had a big winner in Hong Kong this week too [Giavellotto, G1 Hong Kong Vase.]”
Good Night for Seemar
There was a dramatic result in the first of the Thoroughbred races, the Palm Beach Towers Conditions Stakes, for non-winners of two, which went to debutant Noogool.
Ridden by Andrew Slattery for Seemar, the son of Tonalist was outpaced and adrift in the early stages of the 1200metre contest, but motored home off the final turn and passed his five rivals easily enough in the end, beating Golden Redemption by just under a length.
“I was thinking, turning in, that they weren’t getting any further away! But he picked up well – he’s a nice horse,” said Slattery, who rides Noogool each morning.
“I won’t say it was a complete surprise, but with a fine, big horse, you wonder if they are mentally and physically strong enough to do it.”
Another first-time winner was Valdivia, who broke the heart of long-time leader Cupid’s Dream when swooping late in The Acres maiden, over 2000metres.
The Demarchelier colt was making his fifth start and was gritty where it mattered, reeling in his rivals close home and beating stablemate Al Mukhtar by three-quarters of a length.
“He showed plenty last season without winning,” said winning jockey Connor Beasley, riding for Ahmad Bin Harmash. “He’s a big gross horse and he’s obviously been crying out for this trip – the further he went, the better he got.
“Our other horse [Al Mukhtar] was second and I had him in my sights and then Danny’s [Tudhope] horse [Cupid’s Dream] looked like he had tired legs so I had something to aim at.”
With form figures of 3-2-2 ahead of tonight, Aldhaja was another who deserved a change of luck and he kept up Musabbeh Al Mheiri and Tudhope’s good form in the City Walk Handicap, over 1900metres.
Naser Askar’s five-year-old pecked slightly on leaving the stalls and had to do it the hard way, leaving it until late in the straight to pass Fall Of Rome for a half-length success.
“He just kind of flopped out of them,” said Tudhope of the starting stalls. “He picked up well in the straight, but I wasn’t sure I was going to get them. We know it’s hard to come from behind here, but if they handle the kickback then you’ve got a chance.”
Romantic Warrior’s Trainer Danny Shum Visits Meydan
An excellent evening of racing was given added gravitas thanks to an appearance by Danny Shum, trainer of Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior.
In Dubai to check out the facilities ahead of the horse’s arrival on Tuesday, Shum was impressed with what he saw.
“Dubai is very popular, it has lots of the best racing in the world,” he said. “I’ve had a good visit [to international quarantine]this morning and I’m enjoying the racing tonight.
Of nine-time Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior, he added; “He loves racing, especially when James McDonald is onboard – he has all of his best form with him onboard. He’s a strong, wonderful horse.
“He’s going to leave his stable in Hong Kong 4am on the 17 December and arrive 11am in the morning to Dubai.”
Romantic Warrior will line up in the G1 Jebel Hatta on Fashion Friday, 24 January. Meydan is in action four times prior to that, however, next hosting Festive Friday, 20 December. and racing each week in January.
