Dubai: Polar River, last season’s mightily impressive UAE 1000 Guineas and UAE Oaks (Group 3) winner, could only finish fourth on her much anticipated return to action at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday evening but trainer Doug Watson stood by his charge following the shock defeat.
Partnered by Watson’s retained rider Pat Dobbs, the three-year-old filly, who was giving weight to her older male rivals, was unable to reproduce the stunning turn-of-foot that saw her very nearly shatter the 1200 metre track record on her debut last December.
She finished over six lengths behind the winner, the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Need To Know, who put in a blazing performance to see off Heavy Metal, trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer and Ahmad Bin Harmash’s Ennobled Friend.
Watson was typically stoic and convinced that Thursday’s effort will stand Polar River in good stead: “This was her first run of the season and clearly she was not one hundred per cent ready.
“But we’ll have to see how she comes out of the race and we look forward to her next outing. Whatever happens we are hopeful that she will give a better account of herself next time up.”
Last season Polar River went from strength to strength winning three more races including the Guineas and Oaks before she fell 3/4 of a length short of capturing the Group 2 UAE Derby in March, a race which was won by Japanese raider Lani.
Bred in Kentucky, the daughter of Congrats was a $25,000 bargain purchase at Keeneland’s September sales in 2014 before she was pinhooked for $40,000 at the 2015 OBS April Sale to Russian owners Valentin Bukhtoyarov and Evgeny Kappushev.
Watson was confident that Thursday’s effort will bring her on and said that he is hopeful of Polar River delivering the goods on her subsequent outing.
The race was won by the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Need To Know who put in a gutsy effort to see off Heavy Metal, trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer and Ahmad Bin Harmash’s Ennobled Friend.
It was the South African-bred eight-year-old’s 40th career start and his first success at Meydan. He has posted three wins at Jebel Ali and another at Al Ain.
UAE Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, who rode a confident race aboard Need To Know commented: Settled in midfield, Need To Know was asked to chase the leaders on the home turn. He only hit front 100m from the line yet ultimately posted a relatively comfortable success.
“This is a really tough horse. Just look at his form; he has been to Jebel Ali, China, Korea, Abu Dhabi and back to Meydan in his last five starts.
“He has always been a model of consistency and really appreciated the fast pace early on tonight.”
The Al Raihe-O’Shea would complete a double on the seven-race card sponsored by Gulf News when Trinity Force claimed the 2000m gulfnews.com Handicap.
Earlier, the meeting had been dominated by a Satish Seemar treble.
The opening Xpress Maiden for juveniles over 1400m was won in impressive fashion by stable jockey, Richard Mullen on Mufeed.
“He has a big, strong, powerful, raw horse who is very much on a learning curve but has the ability to win on debut here,” said Mullen.
“He is a winner now so will have to go up in grade and I imagine we will wait until next year and perhaps the Guineas Trial.
“He has plenty of speed but was running on again at the end and I struggled to pull him up. We will learn an awful lot more about him next time.”
The second maiden, the Property Weekly over 1600m, was also won by a Seemar, North America, powered by
Dutchman Adrie de Vries.
“We were drawn wide but he jumped very quickly so I was happy to go to the front,” said De Vries. “He is a very big horse and, hopefully, will only improve.”
Mullen teamed up with Sky Jockey to land the Inside Out Handicap over 1600m handicap and then said: “Hopefully this horse has started to grow up because he has always had the ability but has not always been the most straightforward.
“He did it well tonight and, hopefully, can build on this.”
First season trainer Beverley Deutrom celebrated her first Meydan winner with Ticket Holder, winner of the tabloid! Handicap over 1200m.
“I rode him last season over 1400m and thought a drop to 1200m would be just the ticket,” said winning rider Royston Ffrench. “He travelled really strongly before digging deep when he need to.
“It is a great result for the trainer and her team.”
Jockey Dane O’Neill and the Ahmad bin Harmash-trained Fitzgerald took the penultimate event, the Friday Handicap over 1400m. One of four abreast with 300m left to run, Fitzgerald produced a telling turn of foot to win comfortably and was chased home by stable companion, Bannock, who flashed home too late under Xavier Ziani.
“I did not ride him but he ran a great race here a fortnight ago over 1200m,” said O’Neill. “That gave him a massive chance tonight and he has delivered the goods in style.”
Results
Race 1. XPRESS Maiden Stakes 1400m
1. Mufeed (trained by S Seemar) ridden by Richard Mullen; 2. Kahrab; 3. Al Madam; 4. Voice Of The North.
Winning distances: 3lengths, Short Head. Head.
Race 2. Tabloid Handicap 1200m
1. Ticket Holder (B Deutrom) Royston Ffrench; 2. Centrifugal; 3. Zalzilah; 4. Forevertheoptimist.
Winning distances: 1.75lengths, 3.75, 3.25.
Race 3. Property Weekly Maiden Stakes 1600m
1. North America (S Seemar) Adrie De Vries; 2. Scandicci; 3. Dehbashil 4. Still Life.
Winning distances: 8lengths, 1.25, 1.25.
Race 4. InsideOut Handicap 1600m
1. Sky Jockey (S Seemar) Richard Mullen; 2. Street Act; 3. Rockley; 4. Entifaadha.
Winning distances: 1.25lengths, 1.5, 6.5,
Race 5. Gulf News Conditions Stakes 1600m
1. Need To Know (A Al Raihe) Tadhg O’Shea; 2. Heavy Metal; 3. Ennobled Friend; 4. Polar River.
Winning distances: 2lengths, Neack, 4.
Race 6. Friday Handicap 1400m
1. Fitzgerald (A bin Harmash) Dane O’Neill; 2. Bannock; 3. Desert Force; 4. Philosopher.
Winning distances: 1.75lengths, 1.25, 2.75.
Race 7. gulfnews.com Handicap 2000m
1. Trinity Force (A Al Rahie) Tadhg O’Shea; 2. Muhtaram; 3. Cry Joy; 4. Tried And True.
Winning distances: 2.5lengths, 6.5, 7.
