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CAT SPARKLES IN DUBAI |
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3/10/2006 9:25:09 AM |
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Godolphin new recruit Discreet Cat will be back at Nad Al Sheba in two weeks for the UAE Derby after running out the facile winner of the mile conditions race on dirt.
A three-year-old son of Forestry who was purchased after winning his sole start in the USA as a juvenile, he was always in charge and could not have won more impressively under Frankie Dettori.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor explained: "He is a very nice colt and has been improving all the time in his work.
"We were very hopeful of a big run and he has done it very well. That will have done his confidence the power of good and next step is the UAE Derby.
"How he gets on there will determine whether he goes to Kentucky (Derby) or not."
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford added: "We are really pleased and that is a very nice introduction. Hopefully he will come back for the UAE Derby as long as he is OK in the morning.
"He is a really nice colt who had been training well and we were hopeful he would win well. It is a relief when they actually do it though."
William Hill introduced the winner at 12-1 for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, while Coral go 25-1 from 40s.
Johnny Murtagh made every yard of the running in the 10-furlong dirt handicap on Dhruba Selvaratnam's Remaadd.
Allowed to dictate a modest pace, the five-year-old responded well when asked to quicken and never really looked like being caught in the long straight.
Murtagh said: "He loved it in front out of the kickback. He had been a bit disappointing last time but has found plenty tonight and done it well."
Thirty minutes later the pair combined again when Seihali hopefully booked his place in the Dubai Duty Free in just over two weeks' time when running out a convincing winner of the mile grass handicap.
The horse has now won all four of his starts over the Nad Al Sheba turf mile and is a genuine course and distance specialist.
"He is a lovely, genuine horse and has done it very well. Hopefully that will be good enough to get a run on the big night," Murtagh said.
With Weichong Marwing in South Africa, Kevin Shea has proved a capable deputy and was seen at his best in the extended six-furlong grass handicap on Mike De Kock's Candidato Roy.
It was a first UAE win for the five-year-old, much to the delight of Trevor Brown, assistant to De Kock.
"Obviously we are very pleased. We were hopeful of a big run as he showed he was coming back to form last time when unlucky in running," he said.
"Sadly it is the end of the Carnival but he has shown that he retains his ability and that he is a grass horse.
"We are delighted for the owners who have been very patient and supportive and deserved that."
Doug Watson's Shakis is another hoping for an invite to the Dubai Duty Free after his comfortable win in the 10-furlong grass handicap under Richard Hills.
The six-year-old entire son of Machiavellian has been knocking on the door in his three outings this season and deserved a change of luck.
Hills explained: "The visor has been a big help to the horse and he has done that well. He ran in the Duty Free last year but may not quite get in this time. He is a nice horse and will always pay his way."The UAE Oaks was won in good style by Herman Brown's Imperial Ice, who went one better than her previous effort when second to Jeremy Noseda's Vague in the UAE 1000 Guineas.
Never far off the pace, she had to work hard to pass Quality Special from Brazil but won well enough in the end.
"The Carnival has been brilliant and very kind to us," Brown said. "It was a fifth start for the filly but we had to run once we knew Vague was out. It was not a great race and we knew that we had the best filly. Kevin (Shea) has ridden her well."
Shea added: "She is a brave filly and has dug deep when I asked her. She did not quicken instantly but has run all the way to the line. It has been a good night and it's nice to ride a Classic winner."
Stan Moore's Don't Dili Dali plugged on for third.
"I have to be pleased with that. It was an excellent effort and the target is now the Italian Oaks," Moore said.
"Both the dam and second dam were placed in the race so it would be nice to improve on that. We will also look at the Irish 1000 Guineas as she is in that."The second of the mile grass handicaps, technically the last race of the International Carnival with only World Cup night to follow, was delayed when two horses were withdrawn at the start after refusing to load.
But it was worth the wait for Moore as he triumphed with Azarole.
Bought out of James Fanshawe's yard last autumn, the five-year-old had been placed in all three of his previous Carnival starts and responded well to the urgings of John Egan to provide Moore with a first UAE winner - in the same colours of Mrs Fitriani Hay as carried into third by Don't Dili Dali.
An ecstatic Moore said: "That is brilliant. The whole Carnival experience has been amazing and that is the icing on the cake. Superb."
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