Charlie Appleby’s FIRST CONQUEST underlined his rising class with an emphatic victory in the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes (sponsored by Emaar), the feature race of Friday’s Carnival meeting at Meydan. Having looked a cut above handicap company when landing the Lord North Handicap three weeks ago, he confirmed his credentials by powering home under William Buick.
Settled towards the rear in the 2000-metre contest, FIRST CONQUEST produced a decisive turn of foot in the closing stages, drawing level inside the final 100 metres before stretching clear to defeat Cairo by a length and a half, with Highbank finishing third.
“I wanted to ride him as Mickael [Barzalona] did last time, that’s how he enjoys racing,” Buick explained. “The pace wasn’t strong, and with the rail out, it’s never easy to make up ground, but he’s improving rapidly.” The victory was part of a memorable evening for Appleby and Godolphin, who secured a treble on the card.
Earlier, MOUNTAIN BREEZE showcased her class in the inaugural running of the Mawj Stakes, a race for three-year-old fillies. The well-bred daughter of Lope De Vega, a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Pinatubo, proved a cut above her rivals, surging to an easy six-and-a-half-length victory over Octans. “She was expected to win and did so in style,” Buick noted. “She was a very forward two-year-old last season and has now won over different distances. A mile should suit her well, and the Jumeirah 1000 Guineas on Super Saturday looks a natural next step.”
Godolphin’s treble was completed when ROMANTIC STYLE impressed in the Listed Dubai Sprint (sponsored by Emaar). After finishing second over 1600 metres in the G2 Cape Verdi, the four-year-old thrived over the shorter 1200-metre trip, travelling smoothly before asserting in the final furlong for a two-and-a-half-length victory over Haasim. “The Cape Verdi didn’t work out, and Charlie’s team were confident a return to sprinting was the right move,” Buick said. “She’s always had natural speed, and today she showed her class.”
Meanwhile in another major development, it was also a night of celebration for jockey Richie Mullen, who rode his 600th UAE winner aboard HALLASAN in the Jumeirah Guineas Trial (sponsored by Emaar). Despite stablemate AL QUDRA attracting much of the pre-race attention, it was HALLASAN who prevailed, using his race fitness to hold off his better-fancied rival by a length. “My first win here was for Godolphin in 2000, and it feels fitting that number 600 comes for the same operation,” Mullen reflected. “I owe so much to the Maktoum family, both professionally and personally.”
Besides this in another significant event, local trainer Ali Al Badwawi got off the mark for the season as SMART SYSTEM claimed the Oasis by Emaar Handicap under Bernardo Pinheiro. Bhupat Seemar’s UNDEFEATED and GUNS AND GLORY both impressed, the latter breaking the 2200-metre dirt track record in the Emaar South Handicap with a dominant ten-length victory under Tadhg O’Shea.
Jim Crowley also made a successful return to Dubai, guiding KHANJAR to victory in the Dubai Creek Harbour Handicap for Musabbeh Al Mheiri. Meydan’s Carnival action continues next Friday, February 7th, with another competitive eight-race card, featuring the Lord Glitters Handicap and the Dubai Trophy.
