Dettori dominates with Godolphin four-timer
Report: Nad Al Sheba, Thursday
FRANKIE DETTORI was in unstoppable form on Thursday when the Godolphin team totally dominated the sixth meeting of the 2009 Dubai Carnival with a sparkling four-timer, headed by an impressive victory for Desert Party in the UAE 2,000 Guineas.
Dettori rode all four Saeed Bin Suroor-trained winners and the pair are well clear at the top of their respective lists for the carnival as a whole this year, although Bin Suroor's total of 14 exceeds that of the jockey by two.
Highlight of Thursday's quartet was Desert Party in the Group 3 feature. With bad vibes for Kentucky Derby favourite Vineyard Haven, Desert Party was sent off 6-5 favourite before drawing clear of another Godolphin colt Regal Ransom inside the final furlong to win going away by nearly five lengths.
The pair had occupied the same positions in a 7f conditions race three weeks previously and it was the fourth time in five years the winner of that race came on to win this UAE Classic.
A son of Street Cry, who won this in 2001 before winning the following year's Dubai World Cup, Desert Party looks a likely sort to try to go one better than his sire in the UAE Derby, where Street Cry was second to stable companion Express Tour.
Dettori, having treated the crowd to a flying dismount, explained: "Listening to the vibes among the team I had to stick withthis fellow as Vineyard Haven really was not showing much at home.
"That was perhaps down to the surface and I was concerned switched to dirt he would be a big danger. But we felt he would be ring-rusty anyway and I think that has appeared the case.
"My horse has always travelled nicely and then picked up well. The extra furlong for the UAE Derby should not be a problem and we have Midshipman as well, remember."
Dual US Grade 1 winner Vineyard Haven, keen early, lost his pitch after turning into the straight before finishing staying on into fourth.
All three Godolphin horses are nominated for the American Triple Crown, as is City Style who also justified favouritism in style in the GNB Plate, a 6½f conditions race on turf. Dettori always looked confident on the three-year-old who quickened well just over a furlong out towin by almost three lengths.
Yamal was another winning favourite for the Godolphin team as he took the 4Men Trophy over 1m on the dirt, having raced up with the pace throughout.
Racing manager Simon Crisford said: "That was a good ride from Frankie as he kept him out of any kickback. He is a nice horse and one we will campaign in Europe."
The Godolphin four-timer was completed as Kirklees took the concluding Xpress 2000 handicap. Sent off 15-8, he was yet another winning favourite on a night when punters for once seemed to have a chance.
The Mike De Kock team, out of luck as they chased a hat-trick in the UAE2,000 Guineas after winning it with Asiatic Boy and Honour Devil, had a double elsewhere on the card with Warsaw and Art Of War.
Johnny Murtagh rode both of them, starting off with Warsaw in the opening GNAds4U handicap. Never far off the pace, Murtagh asked his mount to quicken two furlongs out and they were always going to hold on.
Johnny Murtagh
Murtagh credited the trainer, saying: "Mike has switched him too dirt after a good run on turf last week and now we know why."
He carried the colours of owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, as did Art Of War who was committed for home almost three furlongs out by Murtagh in the Wheels 2000 handicap.
The De Kock horse was clear a furlong later and Murtagh was able to coast home in the final half furlong.
De Kock explained: "We took the blinkers off and stepped him up in trip. It has worked but Johnny has given him a great ride."
However, there was a major disappointment for De Kock in the Insideout Trophy, a 5½f conditions race when South African champion sprinter JJ The Jet Plane was well beaten on his first start on conventional dirt.
A winner at The Vaal in his homeland, which is a more sand-based surface, he was expected to win here having handled the conditions in his work but, after showing up well for a furlong, he was soon beaten.
Jockey Kevin Shea was succinct: "The dirt beat him; he just did not handle it. We tried and we had to but it has not worked out."
The race was won by the Doug Watson-trained Force Freeze under Fernando Jara who fought off a determined challenge from Rashed Bouresly's Star Crowned. Both are being targeted at the Golden Shaheen on World Cup night.
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