Secret Ambition grabs Dubai Creek Mile

Racing at Meydan on Thursday, a fascinating six-race card and final meeting at the course of 2019, was highlighted by the Dubai Creek Mile sponsored by Mubadala (Listed), which was won in thrilling fashion by Nasir Askar’s Satish Seemar-trained Secret Ambition and jockey Tadhg O’Shea. The evening was sponsored by pillar partner Mubadala.

The Dubai Creek Mile looked a cracking and competitive renewal on paper and so it proved with all bar two of the seven runners threatening to win at some stage. Heavy Metal and Yulong Warrior set the speed and both seemingly still going strongly exiting the home turn. Rodaini loomed as a big danger, dashing inside the eventual winner, while well-fancied Kimbear looked for room in behind before ultimately tipping to the outside of the winner. Heavy Metal, winner of this race in 2017, was the first to crack, leaving Yulong Warrior in front for perhaps 100m before he weakened and was passed by his winning stable companion.

Rodaini and Kimbear were both closing in the final 100m, the latter snatching second at the wire, but neither made a dent in the one-length advantage Secret Ambition had established. Earning his second stakes win of the year after taking February’s Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile, the son of Exceed and Excel registered a ninth career success and eighth since joining Zabeel Stables.

The meeting commenced with the only Purebred Arabian race on the card, the upgraded 1900m Madjani Stakes sponsored by Masdar (PA G3). Making all under Fernando Jara, the grey 8-year-old mare dominated her foes, while being chased home by Ziyadd and Mawahib.

Just over an hour later, Grandstand Stables’ jockey and trainer were celebrating a double, combining with Dubai Avenue to land a 1600m maiden for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Settled in second behind Good Fighter, Jara had to get serious with his mount early in the straight, the pair striking the front fully 400m out, seemingly seeing off that rival only to be challenged immediately by debutant Far Sky.

Jara’s mount responded gamely, pulling away from Far Sky, who just retained second place from a rallying Good Fighter. Owned by Ahmed Al Sheikh, the Bated Breath colt was having his fourth career start, second locally, having finished second over 1000m on his first UAE start. The victory earned the winner an official rating of 82.

An 82 was also earned by dominant filly Down on Da Bayou, who was never tested from her rail post, winning by eight lengths on the wire over 1400m in the Yahsat Trophy for 2-year-old fillies. Royston Ffrench was in the saddle for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer and owner Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. A daughter of Super Saver, she was clueless on her debut five weeks ago, finding herself almost horizontal to the stalls after an awkward break. Recovering nicely from that run, the half-sister to the UAE Oaks (G3) champ Polar River has now made clear claims on the DWC Carnival’s 3-year-old fillies division.  

Group 3 winner My Catch returned to form with style in the 1200m Sanad Trophy handicap under top weight. From stall three of eight, the 8-year-old gelded son of Camacho was soon able to grab the rail under Pat Dobbs, who always looked happy with his mount seemingly travelling strongly with a handful of rivals trying hard to keep up. In the end, it was all in vain, as the seasoned sprinter overpowered his foes in the lane to cement his place at the 2020 DWC Carnival.

The evening ended with another win from the team of Dobbs and Watson when Golden Goal made his second start after a two-year break a winning one for owner Dale Brennan.