Local Time doubles up in U.A.E. Oaks; Safety Check finds no problem in Zabeel
Local Time brought a five-race winning streak into the Oaks. Concluding her juvenile campaign with a victory in the Oh So Sharp (Eng-G3) at Newmarket, she transitioned to Meydan's new dirt track with a last-gasp score in a January 15 conditions race, the Guineas trial. Local Time moved forward second time over the surface to dominate the February 5 One Thousand Guineas at a metric mile, and once again appeared in a league of her own on the stretch-out in trip here. Under regular rider James Doyle, the British-bred sophomore readily stalked Australian-bred Shahrasal (Shamardal) before clearing away to a 4 3/4-length decision. Shahrasal outdueled Runner Runner (Dark Angel) to save second, and bin Suroor's other runner, Good Place (Street Cry), was well back in fourth of five. Yodelling (Medaglia d'Oro) was scratched after spiking a temperature. |
Although Local Time's final time for about 1 3/16 miles was a rather slow 2:00 4/5, it was more than sufficient to collect her sixth consecutive win.
"I was always confident," Doyle said. "She has thrived this year in Dubai and that is her third win of the season and second classic.
"She is uncomplicated and a joy to ride. She makes my job easy."
Bin Suroor told godolphin.com that plans were yet to be determined, with her options being a tilt versus males in the March 28 U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) or heading to Newmarket's One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) May 3.
Local Time, who hasn't lost since her debut, more than doubled her career earnings to $294,618 from her 7-6-0-0 line. A Darley homebred, the bay is the first registered foal from Group 3-placed stakes victress Marie de Medici (Medicean). Local Time's second dam, Group 3 scorer Mare Nostrum (Caerleon), is a half-sister to Grade 1 queen Aube Indienne (Bluebird).
Jockey William Buick settled him just about midpack early, and delivered him at the right time in the stretch to prevail by a length. Safety Check established another course mark in 1:35.53 to crown his Dubai venture. "This horse has just really thrived since arriving in Dubai," Appleby said. "I still feel he is better over 1400 meters, but he has certainly seen out the trip well tonight. William gave him a perfect ride and that will see him finished for the Carnival. "He deserves a break so we will get him back to England and probably aim him at Glorious Goodwood where the (July 29) Lennox S. (Eng-G2) looks a suitable target." Red-hot handicapper Dark Emerald (Dark Angel) rallied for second, capping a brilliant Carnival which saw him win two straight handicaps, miss narrowly in his first, and now earn a Group 2 placing. Earnshaw (Medaglia d'Oro) held third in his Dubai bow. |
Darwin (Big Brown) dead-heated for fourth with a stablemate from the Mike de Kock yard, Johann Strauss (High Chaparral). Unfortunately, the Emirates Racing Authority reported that Darwin came up lame in his left front.
Safety Check's resume now reads 20-8-5-0, $573,250. Prior to this breakout season, the chestnut's only stakes credit was a second in the 2013 Silver Tankard as a juvenile.
Bred by Malih al Basti in Ireland, Safety Check was sold for $202,689 as a Tattersalls December weanling. He was produced by the unraced Doors to Manual (Royal Academy), an unraced half-sister to Group 1-winning sire Marchand de Sable (Theatrical).
"I am absolutely delighted," said Long, who also bred Volatile in Sweden. "We were hopeful of a big run as he ran really well behind Mastermind in the 1400-meter trial for this race. "William has given him a great ride and this is a massive result for our yard and Sweden." Mastermind crossed the wire with 2 1/4 lengths to spare over Wychwood Warrior (Lope de Vega) in third. Quarterback (American Post) took fourth, and Australian shipper Tashbeeh (Commands) wound up a one-paced fifth in a dead-heat with Good Contact (Teofilo). |
Volatile boosted his bankroll to $110,722 while improving his record to 5-2-1-1. The bay gelding has gone on his travels since trouncing a maiden field in his homeland on the Jagersro dirt last September. He next appeared on the turf at Newmarket in the October 17 Cornwallis (Eng-G3), finishing a solid third. Volatile tried the Meydan dirt in the January 15 trial for the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas, but never factored in fifth, and has reverted to turf.
Out of the Souvenir Copy mare Look That Chick, Volatile hails from the extended family of French highweight mare Ana Marie (Anabaa) and Group 1 victor Morandi (Holy Roman Emperor).
De Kock snared a win in the nightcap, an about 10-furlong turf handicap, when Flying the Flag (Galileo) just got up over Godolphin's Tha'Ir (New Approach) in a blanket finish. Under Johnny Geroudis, the five-year-old forced his neck in front in 2:01 4/5.
Other than the glaring exception of Local Time, the Meydan dirt was so fast Thursday that handicappers set track records in the other three races on the surface. The about six-furlong mark was lowered to 1:10.86 by Price Is Truth (Distorted Humor), who helped himself by getting off to a good start. "He broke well today," apprentice rider Marc Monaghan said, alluding to his past two tardy starts. "He was always traveling strongly and quickened nicely when I asked him. He can improve on his." Trained by Satish Seemar, Price Is Truth claims a record of 17-3-1-1, $118,239. |
Mashaaref (Cape Cross) spearheaded a trifecta for Sheikh Hamdan in the about seven-furlong handicap, going wire to wire in a record time of 1:23.54.
"He broke very well and I was able to get straight to the front," winning rider Silvestre de Sousa recapped. "He enjoyed himself and quickened nicely to settle matters in style."
The Musabah al Muhairi charge, who won on a non-Carnival card two starts back February 14, upped his line to 26-5-5-2, $168,681.
The metric mile record on dirt likewise fell, courtesy of longshot Pit Stop (Iffraaj), who snapped a losing streak dating back to last summer in Ireland. Making his third start for Salem bin Ghadayer, the four-year-old mowed down Not a Given (Any Given Saturday) in the final strides and clocked 1:36.59.
"They went a really good gallop," jockey Mickael Barzalona said of the non-Carnival race. "That fast pace has really helped him, and he was running on well in the final 300 meters, and we hit the front where it mattered."
Pit Stop's scorecard stands at 10-3-0-0, $67,441.