Muwakleh captures UAE 1,000 Guineas race

Muwakleh, so impressive in the Moonshell Mile three weeks ago, repeated the dose in the first running of the $250,000 UAE 1,000 Guineas at Nad Al Sheba last evening.

Saeed bin Suroor's brilliant three-year-old filly, perfectly at home on the dirt, came through to beat stablemate Zahwah by five lengths with Laoub a short head away third.

"There is no doubt that she is a very exciting filly," winning rider Richard Hills said of the full sister to the 1999 Dubai World Cup winner Almutawakel. "She has done everything asked of her, winning two good races in her only two starts, she is certainly top class."

This was a performance worthy of comparison with any in recent times, and some seasoned observers, not least Suroor, talking of Muwakleh going on to win the English version of this race two months from now.

Hills was all for hitting the front on Muwakleh as there was no early pace on the race and the rest of the script proved utterly reliable. The Machiavellian filly has electric pace and soon had everything in control before stretching out at the two furlong pole to post a handsome win.

"It didn't worry me going to the front, from there I had the race in control and when I put pressure on her at the top of the straight she let down in the style of a very good horse," Hills said.

Suroor said he was thoroughly pleased with the filly performance and indicated that her next target could be the $250,000 UAE Oaks on April 14.

Just preceding Muwakleh's performance, Just Call Me, the Dhs 2 million purchase at the inaugural Pearls of Dubai Auction last October, produced a devastating run to land the inaugural Dhs1,000,000 Pearls of Dubai Sales Graduate Stakes.

Just Call Mehas now won four of her five starts, having only been beaten just the once by Gayer, who was an eight length second yesterday.

Commenting on her impressive performance trainer Satish Seemar said: "She was more relaxed today and that's why we saw a much better performance from her. She's an easy filly to train and she should get better.

Though yesterday's win gave her an automatic qualification for the $2million Group III UAE Derby Seemar was not inclined to believe that it was the right race for her at this stage of her development. "We are still to decide and I will discuss it with Sheikh Rashid tonight," he said.

"The Derby does come up quickly and ideally I would like to wait for the Oaks however it is Sheikh Rashid's decision."

Earlier in the evening Erwan Charpy retained the Godolphin Seven Stars trophy when he sent out the nicely-built Elghani to beat Godolphin's Dubai 2000 in a close finish. Charpy won last year with Opera King.

"He's progressing well," said Charpy after the race. "I was a little worried when they took the turn as Richard (Hills) had to push him hard. He may have been effected by the sudden kick-back and took a while to settle down again. But once he did I knew he had that little extra."

Earlier Godolphin continued to dominate the Maiden category when the Frankie Dettori ridden Dubai Vision, a half brother to Dubai Millennium, held out to beat Desert Falcon in a competitive race.

Kiaran McLaughlin, a master at winning distance races, saddled Nadeem to win the two mile event from last year's winner Shaalayn, representing the Jebel Ali Stables.

McLaughlin completed a treble with Borneo Boy and Tannoy also winning.


Race results

1. The Cyclone Cup
Purebred Arabians 0-70 (6f):
1. Dreamerr (L Y Carter Jr) Willie Ryan; 2. El Hadzin Deleyre (S Seemar) Keith Dalgleish; 3. Arakhan D'Aroco (D J Selvarantam) Pat Smullen; 4. Sabear (L Y Carter Jr) Michael Hills
Dist: 3/4L, 3/4, 1 1/4. Time: 1:17.12
2. Al Nasr Leisureland Cup
Thoroughbreds Maidesn (6.5f):
1. Dubai Vision (S bin Suroor) Frankie Dettori; 2. Desert Falcon (P L Rudkin) Michael Hills; 3. Conceal (Peter Brette) Willie Ryan; 4. Royal Ambition (Tim Pinfield) Kieren Fallon
Dist: 1 1/2L, 4, 7. Time: 1:43.66
3. Dubai Racing Club
Thoroughbreds 0-80 (12f):
1. Borneo Boy (K P McLaughlin) Willie Supple; 2. Rasmussen (P L Rudkin) Michael Hills; 3. Anschluss (S Seemar) Tony Whelan; 4. Mailk (S Seemar) Gaven Birrer
Dist: 7L, Nose, Nk. time: 2:31.23
4. Greenline Interiors
Thoroughbreds 0-90 (16f):
1. Nadeem (K P Mclaughlin) Ted Durcan; 2. Shaalayn (D J Selvaratnam) Pat smullen; 3. Rajjaaf (P L Rudkin) Richard Hills; 4. Rasin (K P McLaughlin) Willie Supple
Dist: 1 1/2L, 1/2, 1 1/2.
5. Godolphin Seven Stars (Prestige)
Thoroughbreds (10f):
1. Elghani (E Charpy) Richard Hills; 2. Dubai Two Thousand (S bin Suroor) Frankie Dettori; 3. Entisar (S bin Suroor) John Carroll; 4. Pentagonal (K P McLaughlin) Ted Durcan
Dist: 1 1/2L, 2 1/4, 3. Time: 2:03.38
6. Pearls of Dubai Sales Graduate Stakes (Prestige)
Thoroughbreds (9f):
Just Call Me (S Seemar) Ted Durcan; 2. Gayer (P L rudkin) Michael Hills; 3. Maybe A Chance (G Rogerson) Darryl Holland; 4. Flying Springbok (G Rogerson) Anthony Delpech
Dist: 8L, 3, 1/2. Time: 1:50.82
7. UAE 1,000 Guineas (Prestige)
Thoroughbreds (8f):
1. Muwakleh (S bin Suroor) Richard Hills; 2. Zahwah (S bin Suroor) John Carroll; 3. Laoub (S bin Suroor) Frankie Dettori; 4. Dubai Visit (S bin Suroor) Darragh O'Donohoe
Dist: 5 1/2L, Sh. Time: 1:35.93.
8. Fillies & Fashion
Thoroughbreds Miadens (8.5f):
1. Tannoy (K McLaughlin) W Supple 2. La Mandragola (P Rudkin) M Hills; 3. Alabjer (P Brette) W Ryan.
Dist: 5 1/2L, 5 1/2. Time: 1:44.64.