Capponi serves notice with win

Dubai: Godolphin's Capponi stormed into the Dubai World Cup (G1) reckoning with a runaway victory in the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) at Meydan yesterday, propelling Emirati jockey Ahmad Ajtebi back into the spotlight.

Ajtebi, who achieved international fame and recognition at the 2009 Dubai World Cup meeting when he scored a big race double aboard Gladiatorus and Eastern Anthem, only had to nudge Capponi to the front in the straight and the five-year-old responded with a rattling run to pull clear of the field for a four-length victory over ex-French trained Silver Pond, ridden by Olivier Peslier.

Prince Bishop, the mount of Frankie Dettori, was half a length back in third while Capponi's stable-companion Monterosso, ridden by French teenager Mickael Barzalona, was fourth, a further two lengths in arrears.

Capponi is trained by Mahmoud Al Zarouni and the Emirati handler said the obvious plan would be the Dubai World Cup on March 31.

"I was quite confident coming into the race as Capponi goes well on the Tapeta. He's won on the surface twice already including one win pulling away," he said. "The are no definite riding plans at this stage but Inshallah if he does run in the World Cup Ajtebi will be on him.

‘Big exam'

"Monterosso may have needed the run, but he's another to consider for March 31. We have some nice horses, Opionion Poll, Simon De Montfort, so we'll have to wait and see what develops in the coming days before we finalise our plans for the Dubai World Cup meeting."

Ajtebji was delighted to win his first Al Maktoum Challenge and said of the winner: "He won two races before this so he was ready to challenge the top horses today. We did not know if he was a Group One horse until tonight. This was a big exam for him, and he did very well." Bold Silvano, one of the leading contenders for the race, could only finish 12 of 14.

Meanwhile, De Kock's Master of the Hounds marked himself out as a leading contender for the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (G1) when he won the Jebel Hatta (G1) under South African jockey Kevin Shea.

RESULTS

Race 7. Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) Thoroughbreds 2,000m (All-Weather):

1. Capponi (M al Zarouni) Ahmad Ajtebi; 2. Silver Pond (D Watson) Oliver Peslier 3. Prince Bishop (S Bin Surour) Frankie Dettori 4. Monterosso (M Al Zarouni) Mickael Barzalona.

Distance: 4Length, 0.5L, 2L. winning time: 02:03:05.

Also ran: Richard's Kid, Fly Down, Haatheq, Irish Flame, Al Shemali, Treble Jig, Mendip, Bold Silvano, Biondetti, Green Destiny.

Winner owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid al Maktoum.