Secret Ambition, Capezzano among top favourites for Dubai Creek Mile

Racing at Meydan on Thursday evening, the track’s final meeting of 2020 is presented by pillar partner Longines and features the Group 2 Madjani Stakes, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card, as well as the Listed Dubai Creek Mile, the Thoroughbred highlight.

Run over 1600m, nine have been declared for the Listed Dubai Creek Mile presented by Longines, including last year’s winner Secret Ambition, one of two in the field for Satish Seemar.

The trainer landed the first two editions of this race, inaugurated in 2013, with Surfer, the only dual winner of the contest to date. As was the case 12 months ago, Tadhg O’Shea is in the saddle aboard the 7-year-old Exceed And Excel entire who was able to defy a penalty last year, an impost earned for his victory in the 2019 Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile.

He does not have that extra burden here, though does have a smaller penalty, and O’Shea said: “We know conditions suit him and he showed last year that he can run well fresh, so the fact it is his first run of the season is not a great concern.

“It looks a strong renewal though, but I am hoping for a big run.” Second to Secret Ambition in this 12 months ago, Kimbear is one of three in this year’s field set to be saddled by Doug Watson. The mount of Pat Dobbs, the 6-year-old Temple City entire then gained revenge on that rival, beating him by a short-head in the 1600m Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1.Watson’s charge’s previous victory, on Super Saturday 2018, was also achieved at the expense of Secret Ambition, in the 1600m Group 3 Burj Nahaar.

Penalised for his Al Maktoum Challenge victory, he will be attempting to concede weight to all eight rivals and is joined in the field by stable companions Thegreatcollection and local debutant Mount Pelion. The former, the mount of Pat Cosgrave, is one of just three runners with the benefit of an outing already this season and was, arguably, a bit unlucky when fifth in this race last season.

Mount Pelion, a dual winner in France for Godolphin and Andre Fabre, has the assistance of Sam Hitchcott in the saddle for his dirt debut. He did win his only appearance on an all-weather surface, on debut as a 2-year-old, at Chantilly in November 2017.

Watson said: “Kimbear is a horse we have always really liked, but have had a few issues with. He is in great shape, but does have a penalty and will improve from the run.

“We have not been able to find a race for Mount Pelion, so this is a good spot to get him going and try him on the dirt surface. Thegreatcollection ran well on his return and like Kimbear is proven under these conditions. Hopefully they can all run well.”

With an official rating of 117, Capezzano should be a massive danger to all over the course and distance he won last year’s Group 3 Firebreak Stakes, chased home by Secret Ambition. Salem bin Ghadayer’s charge took the scalp of dual Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow when beating the Godolphin horse ahead of his historic second victory in the UAE’s major horse race in the 2019 Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 over the same 2000m on Super Saturday. He also beat Thegreatcollection in a pair of Dubai World Cup Carnival handicaps over this 1600m in January 2019.

This is his first start since finishing stone last in the ultra-valuable Saudi Cup on the last day of February and Bin Ghadayer said: “The horses are starting to run very well and hopefully Capezzano can do the same as he has been working nicely at home.”

Casey Jones beat the aforementioned Thegreatcollection in a conditions race over this course and distance on their seasonal returns and was then third, over 2000m, in the Listed The Entisar, a fortnight ago. He is trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, as is Alkaamel, third in the race won by Casey Jones a month ago and again the mount of Dane O’Neill.

Mheiri said: “Casey Jones has already produced two good runs this season and we think is still improving. Alkaamel is also a course and distance winner and has benefitted from his run behind Casey Jones a month ago.”

For Fawzi Nass and Adrie de Vries, Salute The Soldier made a winning dirt debut on Super Saturday earlier this year with a smooth success in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar, over track and trip, on Super Saturday.

The 1900m Group 2 Madjani Stakes presented by Longines has attracted a capacity field of 16 and looks wide open. Riding for his main employer, UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, O’Shea partners AF Al Sajanjle for Ernst Oertel. The 7-year-old has not really fired in either start so far this season, but was a good third in the 1600m Al Maktoum Challenge R1 here at Meydan on dirt back in January.

O’Shea said: “He should be spot on for this after two runs and the 1900m should suit him.”

Watson saddles both Sauternes Al Maury, runner-up to stable companion Bon Baiser De Faust in the inaugural running of this race in 2016, and RB Texas Hold Em, a Grade One winner in his native US.

Watson said: “Sauternes Al Maury is always capable of a big run and has proved conditions suit him, but he is drawn very wide in a big field.

“We tried RB Texas Hold Em on turf which he seemed not to enjoy. He will be much happier back on dirt and has a nice draw.”