Godolpin's Safety Check has been a revelation at this year's Carnival and made it three wins from as many outings when defying a penalty in the featured Group 2 Zabeel Mile on the Meydan turf on Thursday night.
Having already won twice over 1,400 metres, the extra 200m was a question coming into this race. Nobody told the horse, who received a patient ride by William Buick, just as he had when winning the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort five weeks ago.
Buick settled his mount in midfield before they made smooth headway on the outside as the field swung for home. The jockey did not ask for an immediate effort, content to take his time, and the pair only hit the front about 100m from home and they won going away.
“Every year at least one horse goes from strength to strength at the Carnival, and Safety Check is another,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “Personally, I still think 1,400m is his optimum, but he does stay this extra 200m.
“To give weight away in a field like this is a great effort. He will have a break and go back to England, where we will probably look at Glorious Goodwood with him in late summer.”
The win was one of four track records set on the evening.
It was a big turf-race double for Buick, who had already won the Listed 1,600m Meydan Classic, a 3-year-old turf feature, on Volatile, representing Sweden and trainer Jessica Long. The pair tracked old rival Mastermind, who beat him in the seven-furlong trial three weeks ago, before Buick drove his mount to the front 100m out.
“This is a dream come true,” Long said. “We thought he had a decent chance and William has given him a great ride. It is a great result for us and Sweden.”
Local Time provided trainer Saeed bin Suroor with his 10th victory in the Group 3 UAE Oaks, over 1,900m on dirt. In doing so, she became the fifth filly to complete the UAE 1,000 Guineas/Oaks double.
Facing only four rivals, she was far too good with jockey James Doyle, who asked her to quicken about 400m from home.
“She did that nicely and is a lovely filly to ride, as she has a great attitude and is totally uncomplicated,” Doyle said.
The track record was lowered in the opening 1,200m dirt handicap with apprentice Marc Monaghan aboard Price Is Truth for Satish Seemar.
Just over 30 minutes later, the dirt 1,600m track record was broken by Pit Stop, ridden by Mickael Barzalona for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer.
If that was not enough, Mashaaref and Silvestre De Sousa made all in a 1,400m dirt handicap, lowering the track record in the process.
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