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Singapore-based trainer Steven Burridge has made a flying start to the 2012
Dubai World Cup Carnival after he saddled his third winner (after
Dark Matter and Captain Obvious) from only four runners when Ip Man broke
the track record in the featured 1400m Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah
Group handicap at Meydan on Saturday evening on a card which was
sponsored by the Al Naboodah Group like Friday's.
Ip Man was produced with a withering late
run by Oscar Chavez (pictured) who now has the enviable
record of two winners from two rides in the UAE.
Burridge said: ˇ°That is only the horse's fifth start and we did not
know what to expect from him here in Dubai.
We could well look at the UAE 2000 Guineas with
him now as he is only three and hopefully has a lot more to offer.ˇ±
Ip Man (Oscar
Chavez) wins the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group
on Saturday (photo courtesy of Dubai Racing Club and Andrew
Watkins).
It was the second track record on the
night after Bawadi had earlier broken the 1900m all-weather mark in the
Swaidan Trading Company Peugeot. The record had previously been set by
Allybar in the second round of the 2010 Al Maktoum Challenge.
Originally the first reserve, Pat
Cosgrave was in the saddle for his main employer Mubarak bin Shafya and
they beat fellow reserve Bin Shamardal in a driving finish.
Cosgrave said: ˇ°There was plenty of
pace on early which has really helped us as the field was strung out and we
had plenty of gaps to aim at. I tracked the runner-up through and was
always pretty confident.ˇ±
The trainer completed a double when
Xavier Ziani partnered Iguaza Falls to
win the only turf race, the 1600m Al Naboodah Construction Group handicap.
Never far off the pace, Ziani's mount quickened clear early in the straight
and always looked likely to hold on.
Ziani said: ˇ°This horse is a real
favourite of mine and it is great to win on him here at the Carnival. The
horses are running well and it has been a good evening for the yard.ˇ±
Tadhg O'Shea took his UAE tally to 200
when Tanfeeth won the 2200m Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism handicap
on his UAE debut for trainer Musabah Al Muhairi. With several runners
enduring torrid passages, O'Shea was able to weave through runners to gain
a decisive lead about 200m out.
The jockey said: ˇ°I had not realised
that was 200 so I am delighted. It is a good milestone and hopefully there
will be plenty more.
ˇ°This is a nice new horse with some good form in the UK.
It would be nice to think he will improve and he clearly relishes (the
all-weather).ˇ±
Al Muhairi then completed a double when
James Doyle steered Trojan Nights to win the 1600m Swaidan Trading Company
- VDL handicap.
The pair were virtually last turning for
home and Doyle explained: ˇ°I would have settled for being in the first
three at the top of the straight as I was well behind with nowhere to
go.
ˇ°Once we found daylight he picked up very well and about 200m out I thought
we might get there. Luckily the leaders folded and we caught them close
home.ˇ±
The opening 1400m SMKA - MK By Honeywell
handicap was won by the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Rutland Boy under a
great ride from Jamie Spencer who said: ˇ°We had a poor draw out wide
so I wanted to get across and near the speed. I was able to kick on early
in the straight and the horse has responded very gamely.ˇ±
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