NEWS
Argentine classic winner stars at Nad al Sheba, Discreet Cat scratched
Posted: Thursday, March 01, 2007 4:08 PM
EU TAMBEM
Andrew Watkins photo
On a Super Thursday that the 2007 debut of undefeated Discreet Cat was postponed, Argentine classic winner Eu Tambem grabbed the spotlight with a five-length romp in the $300,000 Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G2) at Nad al Sheba.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum’s Brazilian-bred easily put away runner-up Singing Poet, who improved one spot off his third-place finish in Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (UAE-G3) last month. The easy victory in the 2,000-meter (9.94-furlong) prep for the March 31 Emirates Airlines Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) impressed winning rider Kerrin McEvoy.
“That was impressive,” McEvoy said. “He was always in control and he should have a big future.”
The victory marked the first start in Dubai for the Wild Event colt, who had not started since registering a clear victory in the Nacional (Arg-G1) (Argentine Derby) on November 11.
While Eu Tambem displayed plenty of promise, fans will have to wait a bit longer on the next start of Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile (G1) winner Discreet Cat. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said the 2006 United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2) winner was scratched from the Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3) because of a fever.
“He was a bit quiet this morning and we found he had a bit of a temperature,” bin Suroor said. “It’s a real shame as he was working well and in good condition.”
The Godolphin star already has shown signs of improvement and bin Suroor said the Forestry colt remains on track for his first try at 2,000 meters in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1).
“He has other options on the Dubai World Cup night but we are still thinking about the Duabi World Cup itself,” bin Suroor said. “He’s a relaxed horse, which should help him stay the extra distance.”
With Discreet Cat out of Thursday’s 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) race, Fawzi Abdulla Nass’s Boston Lodge picked up the first stakes win of his career. Boston Lodge, who defeated Vortex by three-quarters of a length, won a handicap at Nad al Sheba on February 22.
In other races on the card, which offered prep races for the Dubai World Cup day races:
* Champion sprinter Thor’s Echo finished off the board in his first start of ’07 and first start for new owner Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum. Squeezed a bit halfway through the 1,200-meter Mahab al Shimaal (UAE-G3), Thor’s Echo finished more than four lengths behind Kentucky-bred Terrific Challenge, who also was making his first start for Sheikh Rashid.
Terrific Challenge, a son of Royal Academy, registered three straight stakes wins last summer at Monmouth Park.
“Terrific Challenge has got a lot of natural speed and it’s turned out to be a great race for us,” said winning trainer Doug Watson.
* In the $150,000 Bahri Al Bastakiya, Nashua Stakes (G3) winner Day Pass suffered the first setback of his career in his first try beyond one mile. Godolphin Racing’s Day Pass finished fourth in Thursday’s 1,800-meter (8.95-furlong) race won by Asiatic Boy, who took another strong step toward the UAE Derby with a seven-length score over Victory Tetsuni.
Group 1-placed in Argentina, Southern Hemisphere four-year-old Asiatic Boy improved to three-for-three at Nad al Sheba as he entered Thursday’s race off a 4 1/2-length victory in the United Arab Emirates Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3).
“He’s a very exciting horse, there’s no doubt about it,” said trainer Mike de Kock, who previously won the UAE Derby with Victory Moon and Lundy’s Liability.
* Rounding out the card, last year’s Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) third-place finisher Seihali looked ready for another try at that race after winning the $250,000 Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2), and German-bred standout Quijano won his tenth straight race and third straight on the Nad al Sheba turf with a clear victory in the Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G3). He will be pointed to the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1).
To watch replays of the races, click here.
