Dubai Duty Free (Group 1): storming the track

TRADE STORM

A big, strong five-year-old trained by David Simcock in Newmarket, England, Trade Storm burst into the Duty Free picture with a powerful display in the Zabeel Mile (G2) over 1,600 metres here at Meydan four weeks prior to World Cup night. He is an attractive thoroughbred and well worth a trip to the paddock to see. After the Zabeel Mile many form experts also expect to see him in the winners’ enclosure after the Duty Free.

This would not have been the case prior to his win over Musir and Fulbright, but doubters were silenced in no uncertain manner as Trade Storm came from dead last, attacked between horses, then swooped past Musir to win comfortably by 1½ lengths. Trade Storm had shown smart form previously, with a good win in England last year and an easy success over 1,800 metres at Meydan in February, but those wins both came in handicap company. Humiliating Musir was something else. And his win was no fluke. Trade Storm, like so many big horses, has simply been a late developing runner and he is clearly thriving under the Dubai sun.

SAJJHAA

This is Godolphin’s 201st winner in Group Ones when quickening up smartly late in the day to win the Jebel Hatta (G1) over 1,800 metres, the full Duty Free distance, three weeks ago. This was Sajjhaa’s third straight win at the Carnival and she is an improving mare who has taken her game to a high level this season. She was good last year as well, but not up to Group One winning form.

Now she is, and just 35 minutes after the ‘boys in blue’ had celebrated G1 win number 200 with World Cup contender Hunter’s Light, she set them off to a good start on the next hundred. William Buick rode the daughter of King’s Best and gave her a perfect ride just off the pace. Just as Mike de Kock’s The Apache was set to win the race, looking to mend the damage done by stable companion Igugu’s lack of form, Sajjhaa shot forward by the inside rail. She was much the best and beat the South African by ¾ length.

IGUGU

Trained by Mike de Kock, Igugu is an intriguing contender. A champion in South Africa, she has had two dull runs at Meydan this term and it seems anybody’s guess how she will perform on World Cup night. If back to form, well, then she’s right there in the mix. An Australian bred daughter of Galileo, Igugu justified odds-on favouritism when beating 14 rivals in the prestigious J & B Met (G1) over 2,000 metres at Kenilworth in January 2012.

Jockey Anthony Delpech partnered her to a half-length win over Bravura, with Gimmethegreenlight third and Run For it a close fourth. Igugu has become the darling of South African racing, not only through her win in the J & B Met. The mare, whose name means ‘famous’ in Zulu, also became the first filly to collect the South African Triple Tiara.

MUSHREQ

This horse has blossomed at this year’s Carnival and the five-year-old is an improving performer with experience. Judged on his last outing, when he slammed Master Of Hounds by 3¼ lengths in the Al Fahidi Fort (G2), he has a good chance in the Duty Free. The Al Fahidi Fort was run over 1,600 metres and the Duty Free is over 1,800 metres but this extension in distance will not bother Mushreq’s supporters, as he has also won over 2,000 metres at Meydan this season and won over 1,800 metres in South Africa.

His regular pilot Paul Hanagan had him in the middle of the field early on in the Al Fahidi Fort, and when he asked Mushreq to go 500 metres from the winning post, the response was a very positive one. The Australian bred son of Flying Spur hit the front inside the last 200 and then quickened up well for a win.

This was his fourth win from 15 starts and also his best performance to date. Mike de Kock also trains Master Of Hounds and Musir, the latter who went on to take second behind Trade Storm in the Zabeel Mile (G2) next time out, and the South African trainer holds a particularly strong hand in this division. He has names to choose from for a Duty Free challenge. His words after Mushreq’s win, “it is important to get him to the Duty Free”, were therefore quite significant.