'Reynaldo' scores in Dubawi; Mubtaahij, Local Time take Guineas trials

'Reynaldo' scores in Dubawi; Mubtaahij, Local Time take

Guineas trials

Sporting the colors of Zabeel Racing International, Reynaldothewizard drafted

behind the early leaders. Muarrab appeared to be traveling best of all as the

field turned for home and readily swept to the front. But Reynaldothewizard got

the split to the inside of Muarrab, began to strike top gear, and drew away to

complete about six furlongs on the fast track in 1:12 1/5.

United Color (Ghostzapper), winner of this race last year, settled for third.

Russian Soul (Invincible Spirit), the 2014 runner-up, rallied for fifth after a

poor start.

Reynaldothewizard was winning for the first time since the 2013 Golden

Shaheen, which capped a three-race skein including the Mahab al Shimaal

(UAE-G3). Not seen again until his aforementioned seventh in the 2014 Dubawi,

the bay gelding went on to finish second to Rich Tapestry in the Mahab al

Shimaal and fourth to Sterling City and Rich Tapestry in the Golden Shaheen.

Seemar mentioned that he'll likely follow the same path in 2015.

"He's a horse that needs to be lightly raced and we might only look at a

Super Saturday outing (March 7) before going back to the Dubai Golden Shaheen on

Dubai World Cup Day (March 28)," the trainer said.

Now on his fifth Carnival, Reynaldothewizard has compiled a record of

22-8-2-2, $1,738,285, also reflecting a third in the 2008 Saratoga Special (G2)

as a juvenile. He was bred in Kentucky by Gibraltar Group LP and sold twice at

auction. A $400,000 Keeneland September yearling, he brought $775,000 as a Fasig-Tipton

Florida two-year-old. Reynaldothewizard is out of the Grade 2-placed stakes

heroine Holiday Runner (Meadowlake), who is also responsible for multiple Grade

1 star Seventh Street (Street Cry) and Grade 2-placed American Story (Ghostzapper).

Mullen later teamed up with another veteran, the George Baker-trained Belgian

Bill (Exceed and Excel), to take the nightcap. Winless since landing a lucrative

handicap at Royal Ascot (the Royal Hunt Cup) in 2013, the seven-year-old

prevailed by a neck in a blanket finish. A notable also-ran was multiple South

African Group 1 winner Slumdogmillionaire (Strike Smartly), 11th in his comeback

from a 22-month layoff. Belgian Bill, who toured the metric mile in 1:36 2/5 on

good turf, has now bankrolled $447, 032 from his 39-6-8-2 line. He has placed in

four stakes, chiefly the 2013 Prix Quincey (Fr-G3).

"I felt that given the dirt, as things are, it is good to give horses

experience," de Kock said. "Experience does them no harm at all. With these

classic races you need to be hard and fit. I might leave the Al Bastakiya (March

7) and go for the Guineas ([UAE-G3] February 12) and Derby ([UAE-G2] March 28)."

Unplaced in two tries at Newmarket last fall, Mubtaahij upped his line to

4-2-0-0, $61,335. The $599,445 Arqana August yearling was produced by Pennegale

(Pennekamp), making him a half-brother to European co-champion filly Lily of the

Valley (Galileo).

In the U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas Trial, Ad Idem looked well on her way to a

front-running success, only to be nabbed by Local Time in time. The Saeed bin

Suroor filly outstayed her rival in the final yards, clocking 1:27 beneath James

Doyle. There was a chasm of 10 lengths back to Runner Runner (Dark Angel) in

third. Local Time's stablemate, Good Place (Street Cry), wound up fourth after a

troubled start, while the other Godolphin runner, Comedy Queen (Distorted Humor)

from the Charlie Appleby yard, was only sixth.

The other dirt handicap went the way of Layl (Street Cry), in similarly

decisive fashion, by 4 1/4 lengths. Making his U.A.E. debut for Doug Watson, the

four-year-old finished about 1 3/16 miles in 2:00 3/5 with Pat Dobbs aboard.

Layl, a near-miss second in a January 1 Southwell handicap for Mark Johnston,

has earned $47,993 from a record of 8-2-1-0.

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