Racing at Meydan on Thursday was highlighted by a 1600m rated conditions event, where Ramzan Kadyrov’s Cosmo Charlie ran out an emphatic winner under Pat Dobbs, just as he had done in the equivalent race 12 months ago.
Trained by Doug Watson, the 4-year-old gelded son of Stay Thirsty overcame a poor start to rush up from his low draw and lead from the rail from the 1200m onward.
Though Connor Beasley and mount Radaini drew level at the top of the straight, the end was barely in doubt, as Dobbs soon settled the matter with a flick of the reins. Beasley’s mount weakening in the final 100m, losing second to Watson-trained Etijaah.
Victorious in the middle leg of the UAE Triple Crown, the 1900m Al Bastakiya (Listed), in 2017, Cosmo Charlie’s best 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival effort was when chasing home subsequent Godolphin Mile Gr.2 winner Heavy Metal in the Firebreak Stakes Gr.3 over the same 1600m.
Well beaten on his seasonal debut, after suffering a rough trip over 1400m at Jebel Ali four weeks ago, he had clearly benefitted from that outing and proved too classy for his rivals. He will now head to the Listed Dubai Creek Mile over the same trip, while Etijaah will stretch back out to his customary 2000m trip in the Listed The Entisar both on Dec. 20.
He is a very nice horse on his day and hopefully he can build on this and be competitive back at the Carnival.
he meeting began with the first Purebred Arabian contest at Meydan this season, the 1400m Bani Yas sponsored by Gulf New Gr.2 and, despite being drawn widest of all in 14, ES Ajeeb powerfully took command from the start and held a large lead that finally began to dwindle in the final 100m.
Tough 5-year-old mare Mawahib, consistent as always, closed resolutely to finish second by the slimmest of margins, ultimately passing her rival one stride too late.
This Meydan victory was by far the biggest for trainer Ibrahim Aseel. A homebred by Sheikh Abdulla bin Majid Al Qassemi, ES Ajeeb is only a 4-year-old and an exciting prospect who now boasts a record of four wins from seven career tries.
The Baby & Child Trophy, a 1200m maiden, was won by local debutant Kawasir, who had proven consistent, if not victorious in his previous six starts; never finishing off the board for trainer Roger Varian. Making his first start for Musabbeh Al Mheiri, the newly gelded charge was never far off the speed under Dane O’Neill, who was riding for his main employer, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Ultimately, he hit the front with about 250m out, but had to work to repel Beachcomber Bay, who led for the majority of the contest and fought back bravely when headed.
An enthralling card concluded with Wheels, a handicap over the same 2000m course and distance as the world’s most valuable horse race, the $12 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline.
A long way out, the race appeared to be a possible breakout performance by Sandeep Jadhav-trained Gundogdu, but a heady rail-skimming ride by Fernando Jara on Quartier Francais provided the consistent Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained son of Street Cry a powerful two-length victory.
Winning his third race from nine career starts, the longwinded Mohd Khalifa Al Basti-owned charge simply out-staying his tiring rivals and proved a horse to watch as he enters his 5-year-old season in 2019.
Credit: Dubai Racing Club