|
|
Soneva prevails in Cape Verdi; Allybar upsets Presvis on undercard
"She is a nice filly who I used to ride in France," Soumillon said. "That was a nice performance." Aspectoflove, who narrowly failed to become Godolphin's third winner on Friday, pulled 1 1/4 lengths clear in second. A stubborn Synergy hung on for third from Cheyrac and the slow-starting Purple Sage (Danehill Dancer). Next came the Mike de Kock-trained Zirconeum (Jallad), KwaZulu-Natal's reigning Horse of the Year, who found her 129-pound impost and a bump at the top of the stretch too much to overcome. Nevertheless, the South African star still finished with some interest for sixth. Fourpenny Lane (Efisio), Indiana Gal (Intikhab), Yana (Razeen), Vattene and Ahla Wasahl (Dubai Destination) rounded out the order of finish. Soneva's scorecard now reads 10-4-4-0, $339,837. Formerly trained by Yves de Nicolay, the dark bay captured the 2008 Prix d'Aumale (Fr-G3) at two and the Prix de Lieurey (Fr-G3) and Prix la Camargo last season at three. Her resume also includes close runner-up efforts in the Prix de la Grotte (Fr-G3) and Prix Amandine, along with a respectable fifth in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1). Soneva was coming off the only poor performance of her career, a non-threatening 13th in the October 3 Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1). Bred by Mineola Farm II Limited Partnership, D.R. Houchin, J.W. Hirshmann et al. in Kentucky, Soneva brought $170,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. She is out of the Nureyev mare Lakabi, who is also responsible for multiple stakes winner Coronado Rose (Coronado's Quest). This is the family of recently-crowned Canadian Broodmare of the Year Pico Teneriffe (Red Ransom), the dam of two-time Canadian champion older horse Marchfield (A.P. Indy).
With this sparkling bow for Saeed bin Suroor, Allybar boosted his bankroll to $253,214 from his 13-4-1-4 line. The $539,238 sales topper at the Arqana Arc Sale in October, the chestnut had landed the Prix Francois Mathet in early 2009 for previous trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. He also placed in the Prix Greffulhe (Fr-G2), Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (Fr-G2), Prix Daphnis (Fr-G3) and the September 19 Prix du Prince d'Orange (Fr-G3) last out. Bred by Wertheimer et Frere in Ireland, the four-year-old Allybar is out of the winning Irika (Irish River [Fr]). His dam is a half-sister to multiple French Group 2 queen Ithyka (Secretariat), who has produced Grade 1-winning millionaire and French classic-placed Atticus (Nureyev). Irika is also a full sister to the unraced Toujours Irish (Irish River [Ire]), the dam of Italian co-highweight and Group 1 heroine Dubai Surprise (King's Best). Bin Suroor and Ajtebi made a winning combination again in the 3RD race, when ANMAR (Rahy) rallied to a 1 3/4-length decision over Godolphin stablemate Emirates Champion (Haafhd). "It has been a good night and it is great to ride my first Meydan winners," Ajtebi said. The Saudi-based SO SHINY (Indygo Shiner), last year's U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas queen, kicked off the Friday action by defeating males in an about six-furlong handicap. After collaring the pacesetter Frosty Secret (Put It Back), So Shiny staved off the late challenge from fellow distaffer Oasis Star (Senure) by a half-length. "She is a naturally speedy filly and battles hard," winning rider Olivier Peslier said. Trainer Doug Watson saddled the winners of the other two sprints on the card -- FORCE FREEZE (Forest Camp), who pounced to a 1 1/2-length verdict in the 4TH race, and BARBECUE EDDIE (Stormy Atlantic), who set up shop on the front end in the 5TH and powered home by 2 1/4 lengths. "We thought both would run well, and Force Freeze is a horse we really have high hopes of," Watson said. "Willie (Supple) has stolen that race on Barbecue -- it was a great ride." Fading to a disappointing 10th behind Barbecue Eddie was West Side Bernie (Bernstein). Last seen finishing ninth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Grade 3 veteran was making his first start for Godolphin here. Dubai Group 3 victor SNAAFY (Kingmambo), sidelined since his seventh in last year's Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), made a triumphant return for trainer Musabah al Muhairi in the 7TH race. Reverting to turf for the first time in more than two years, Snaafy scored by 1 1/4 lengths in the metric mile affair. "He is a much improved horse and that gives us plenty of options," jockey Richard Hills observed. "The 1,800 meters of the Dubai Duty Free ([UAE-G1] on March 27) would really suit him." In the 8TH and nightcap, KAL BARG (Medicean) was along in time in the about 1 3/16-mile Tapeta test, his second start for horseman Dhruba Selvaratnam.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
