Godolphin provided a preview of some potential stars targeting both Europe and America while winning four of the five turf races on the Feb. 2 program of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse.
The powerhouse performance, engineered by trainer Charlie Appleby, followed a Godolphin sweep of the four turf events a week earlier at Meydan racecourse.
Sheikh Mohammed’s forces had two of the top hopes in the featured Dubai Millennium Stakes (G3) at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) on the grass in New London and Warren Point . New London, with William Buick up, was the better fancied but it was Warren Point, under Mickael Barzalona, threading through traffic from last of eight to get up and win by a short head. New London, accustomed to a bit more distance, finished fourth.
Absolute thriller! 🤯
Sean looked to have done enough in the Group Three Dubai Millennium Stakes Presented by Al Tayer Motors.
But Warren Point and Mickael Barzalona had other ideas to bring up a Meydan treble for @godolphin and Charlie Appleby 🔵🔵🔵#DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/qjpmloeRXx
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 2, 2024
Both are 5-year-old Dubawi geldings and thus grandsons of one of Godolphin’s best and the one after which the race was named, Dubai Millennium, winner of the 2000 Dubai World Cup (G1), whose promising stud career was cut short by his death at age 5.
Warren Point, a four-time winner at age 3, won in Bahrain and finished second in Qatar to start his 2023 campaign, but then missed the frame in the Man o’ War Stakes (G1T) and the Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park.
“He lost his way a bit over there in America,” Appleby said. “We’ll hope this restores his confidence. Mickael gave him a great ride.”
Mischief Magic Back In Form in Co-Feature
Buick waited to find room for Mischief Magic midway through the co-featured Dubai Sprint, squeezed through between rivals near the 200 meters and rolled home on top by three quarters of a length. The 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) winner went 1-for-5 as a 3-year-old but Buick said the Exceed and Excel gelding might be back to form now.
🪄 Mischief Magic! 🪄@godolphin‘s Grade One-winning four-year-old charges clear in the Listed the Dubai Sprint Presented by Lincoln Navigator 🔵#DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/z1sHxwrWh3
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 2, 2024
“I knew the gap would be there for him eventually,” Buick said. “If you look at his form, that’s the way he won as a 2-year-old … Hopefully he’s back to that now.
Cinderella’s Dream rallied from the back of the field to lead a Godolphin 1-2 finish in the Jumeirah Fillies’ Classic, improving her record to 3-for-3. The Shamardal filly won easily, by 2 3/4 lengths, under a hands-and-heels ride by Buick.
Buick pointed out Mawj won the same race last year and went on to win the One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) at Keeneland before just missing to Master of The Seas in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T).
“I wouldn’t want to rule anything out” for Cinderella’s Dream, the jockey said. “She’s still learning on the job. This was a very nice performance from her.”
Appleby wasn’t having any comparison to Mawj—not yet, anyway—but said Cinderella’s Dream will return for the Jumeira One Thousand Guineas at 1,600 meters on Super Saturday. “She’s got a great heart and a decent engine,” he added.
Legend of Time, a Sea The Stars colt, was much the best in the Jumeirah Guineas at 1,600 meters on the turf, again for Godolphin, Appleby, and Buick. The colt scored his second win on the season and Buick said he has “progressed the whole time and I think he’s going to be a nice horse for the future.”
Pressed whether Legend of Time might be good enough to become a Derby (G1) contender, Buick said, “It’s a long way to go and it’s hard to stand here in early February and say so. But we hope so.”
But look out, America.
Appleby said Legend of Time, indeed, “is building a profile that could fit the Derby trials. But he might suit America better, perhaps the Saratoga Derby.”
A Godolphin turf sweep was averted in the final race of the night as three runners carrying the blue silks never got to contention in the Lincoln Corsair Race after tracking a middling pace early in the 1,800 meters.
American Pharoah Colt Wins Presidential Race
On the dirt, Elyabri, an American Pharoah colt, led gate-to-wire in the night’s first Thoroughbred contest, the Lincoln Presidential Race, drawing off to report first by three lengths over Tactical Bound. The 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) was his third start and first win. Trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri and jockey Bernardo Pinhiero both said Elyabri could stretch out and might be a candidate for the Al Bastakiya or the UAE Derby (G2).
No-nonsense from Elyabr 💪
Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s inmate gamely makes every yard under @JockeyBPinheiro to land the Lincoln Presidential Race 😯#DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/KFe3Owighv
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 2, 2024
Tapit’staleofverve, a Charles Fipke homebred making his first start, trailed the field into the turn in the Presidential Race, then made up significant ground to finish fifth. Trainer Doug Watson said the colt was loaded early in the big field “and I think he kind of fell asleep in there. He made a huge middle move even though he was getting all kinds of kickback. Mr. Fipke sends us some nice horses every year and he’ll go back to America.”
