Dubai: Surfer, trained in the heart of Dubai at the picturesque Zabeel Stables, left the rest of the field battling in his dust to win the Al Maktoum Challenge’s return to dirt on the first day of the 2015 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse.
A Darley homebred by Distorted Humour, Surfer pulled away under stable rider Richard Mullen at the 700m mark to complete a resounding 2 1/4 length victory over Frankiefourfingers, the mount of Epsom Derby-winning jockey Mickael Barzalona, in a race that offers valuable clues to the imminent big races.
Eight-year-old Haateq, a veteran of five seasons in the UAE, delivered a huge effort under jockey Dane O’Neil to finish a 1 ¼ back in third, while Gold City was just ½ length back in third for apprentice Marc Monaghan.
Back to dirt
This was the first time in six years that the Al Maktoum, a race that is regarded as an early pointer to the $10-million Dubai World Cup (G1), was being run on dirt following the removal of the Tapeta all-weather track at the iconic venue.
“I’m absolutely delighted he’s done it because he has always shown us what he’s capable of at home,” said Mullen, who was winning a first Al Maktoum Challenge.
“The horse really deserved that. The last couple of years he’s been in every dogfight – he’s been second in the Maktoum Challenges, been placed in Derby trials and run in the Dubai World Cup.
“He’s run in everything but always seemed to come up short on the Tapeta, which was never to his liking. I think more so the style of running on the surface wasn’t to his liking, they weren’t going that quick. He was a non-stayer on the Tapeta.
“But we knew this year that the dirt was going to be to his liking.”
Talking about future plans for Surfer, Mullen said: “I’m sure the boss (Satish Seemar) will decide what’s best for him, but a crack at the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge could be in his range.”
Godolphin handlers Saeed Bin Surour and Charlie Appleby got their Carnival off to a rousing start winning three races between them, while in-form Dubai trainer Doug Watson also had the pleasure of picking up some silverware on the auspicious opening day’s racing at the $38-million Carnival which runs over ten weeks and culminates in the $30-million Dubai World Cup meeting on March 28.
Bin Surour, a seven-time champion handler at the Carnival, helped himself to a double when I’m Back won the Longines Prima Luna Handicap over 1900m and followed it up with a thumping victory with the potential Carnival star True Story in the Listed Singspiel Stakes over 1800m.
Appleby was kept waiting until the last of the seven races on the evening before Safety Check landed the Longines Classic Conquest Handicap under a well-judged ride by leading British apprentice Cam Hardie.
Earlier, jockey Wayne Smith teamed up with Bigg N Rich to win the first round of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge for Purebred Arabians, the opening race of the 2015 Dubai World Cup Carnival.
