NEWS
Mendip bests Vale of York in Al Bastakiya at Meydan
Posted: Thursday, March 04, 2010 5:56 PM
MENDIP
Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
by Steve Bailey
Godolphin Racing’s Mendip won the $250,000 Derrinstown Stud Al Bastakiya on Thursday at Meydan Racecourse (video) to stamp himself as a favorite for the $2-million United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2) later this month.
The three-year-old colt by Harlan’s Holiday is perfect in two career starts after defeating 13 opponents, including Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and stablemate Vale of York (Ire). Both are nominated to spring classics in the U.S.
The race was one of six Thoroughbred events on the Dubai International Racing Carnival’s Derrinstown Stud Super Thursday card. The annual Super Thursday card, the first at the new Meydan Racecourse, features races that are used as final preps leading into the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) card three weeks later. This year’s Dubai World Cup card is scheduled for March 27.
Mendip covered 1,900 meters (9.44 furlongs) under Frankie Dettori in 1:59.42 on the synthetic Tapeta Footings surface, followed by runner-up Della Barba and third-place finisher and stablemate Enak. Vale of York, making his first start since his 30.60-to-1 Breeders’ Cup triumph on November 7 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park, finished fifth.
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor said Mendip will try to keep his record perfect on World Cup day.
"He is a horse we have always really liked, and the UAE Derby is his main target,” Suroor said.
Japan-based filly Red Desire shot from last to first in the stretch to nail Group 1 winner and last year’s Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) runner-up Gloria de Campeao (Brz) in the closing strides to win the $300,000 Derrinstown Stud Maktoum Challenge-Round 3 (UAE-G2) (video), the centerpiece of the Super Thursday card.
Red Desire won three of seven starts last season, including her classic victory Shuka Sho (Jpn-G1), before finishing third to two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Vodka, who also was entered in Thursday’s race, in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) in her season finale on November 29 at Tokyo.
The four-year-old Manhattan Cafe filly raced at the back of the 14-horse field as Gloria de Campeao, the winner of the Invasor Shadwell Farm Maktoum Challenge-Round 1 (UAE-G3) on January 28, took command early and continued to lead as the horses made the final turn into the lane.
As the field straightened out into the stretch, Red Desire and jockey Olivier Peslier angled out into the middle of the track and began to take aim on the leaders. Driving with determination, she overtook Gloria de Campeao in the closing strides to win by a quarter-length, covering 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) on the Tapeta Footings surface in 2:02.62 for trainer Masahiro Matsunaga.
"I rode her work the other day and she really pleased me,” Peslier said. “That was a very good performance when you consider what she has beaten. She will hopefully improve from that outing and be a live [Dubai] World Cup contender."
Vodka, who raced in third midway through the lane, tired in deep stretch and finished eighth in her tuneup for the $10-million Dubai World Cup.
Godolphin’s Campanologist won the first turf race on the night, the $250,000 Derrinstown Stud Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G2), taking over in midstretch and holding off a late bid from Pan River to win by a quarter-length under Dettori. (video)
The five-year-old Kingmambo horse, a multiple group stakes winner in England, covered about 2,500 meters (about 12.43 furlongs) in 2:37.36 on turf rated as good.
"He is a nice and game horse who will hopefully be back on Dubai World Cup night for the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1),” Suroor said. “We have enjoyed a great Carnival to date and hopefully can keep it going."
Godolphin and Dettori did keep it going as Grade 2 winner Desert Party, the runner-up in last year’s UAE Derby who finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and subsequently was sidelined with a bone chip, scored a 1¼-length victory in the $200,000 Derrinstown Stud Mahab al Shimaal (UAE-G3) (video), a prep for the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1).
The four-year-old Street Cry (Ire) colt, who won the 2008 Sanford Stakes (G2) and last year’s Gulf News United Arab Emirates Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3), covered 1,200 meters (5.97 furlongs) in 1:10.82 on the Tapeta surface in his first start since the Derby.
"He has been off a long time so that is a very pleasing effort,” Suroor said. “Hopefully, there is improvement left as he would have needed the outing."
Cat Junior snapped a 13-start losing skid dating back to 2007 as he won the $200,000 Derrinstown Stud Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3), a prep for the Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2), by 1¼ lengths over Green Coast. (video)
The five-year-old Storm Cat colt had not won since his career debut on August 5, 2007, at Newbury and had been unplaced in two starts this season at Meydan for trainer Brian Meehan.
Cat Junior covered 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) in 1:35.95 under jockey Richard Hills for his second victory from 15 career starts.
In the final Thoroughbred race of the night, last year’s $5-million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) runner-up Presvis was successful in his prep for this year’s 1,777-meter (8.83-furlong) turf test with a 1½-length victory in the $250,000 Derrinstown Stud Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2). (video)
Trained by Luca Cumani, the six-year-old Sakhee gelding, a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, took over in the final 200 meters and covered 1,800 meters (8.95 furlongs) in 1:52.93 under jockey Ryan Moore.
Multiple Group 3 winner Alexandros finished second, a length in front of Grade 2 winner Tam Lin (GB) while multiple Group 2 winner Justenuffhumor finished fifth in the field of 12.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
