Isivunguvungu hunts Dubai win

Ed Marnane

One of the most interesting races on the undercard of the Dubai World Cup is the Al Quoz Sprint, the Group 1 race South Africa has enjoyed success in the past and has hopes of landing the prize again with Isivunguvungu on Saturday.

In 2013, Shea Shea, trained by Mike de Kock, won the 1200m turf dash, two years after globe-trotting JJ The Jet Plane delighted favourite backers when overcoming minor trouble in running to take out race for trainer Lucky Houdalakis.

Isivunguvungu, trained by Graham Motion, a Dubai World Cup winning trainer, is owned by Hollywood Racing and has the services of Christophe Soumillon, who is chasing his second Al Quoz Sprint, 12 years after steering Shea Shea to victory.

Isivunguvungu, a two-time Grade 1 winner in South Africa, made an immediate impact on his US debut for Motion, winning the Da Hoss Stakes, off a 245-day break, at Colonial Downs last September.

He then tackled the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, finishing a respectable seventh of 11 behind shock winner Starlust, a performance that failed to tell the true story. He met trouble in running in the closing stages and in the circumstances to finish two lengths behind the winner wasn’t a bad effort.

Isivunguvungu was reported to have badly needed his comeback and his prep for the Al Quoz Sprint when a close third in the Turf Dash Stakes, over an inadequate 1000m, at Tampa Bay Downs in late February.  

This year’s Al Quoz Sprint is a competitive renewal and reflected in the betting. George Boughey’s smart sprinter Believing, sold by Highclere to Coolmore at the Tattersalls December Sale, and Hong Kong sprinter Howdeepisyourlove have been installed joint favourites.

Boughey’s stable star is a model of consistency and ran in many of the top sprints in Britain, France and Ireland last year. She holds sound claims of finally securing her first success at the highest level in the hands of William Buick.

Hong Kong has a decent record in the Al Quoz Sprint, winning the race three times and John Size’s Howdeepisyourlove makes plenty of appeal to give Hong Kong successive win after California Spangle landed the prize for Tony Cruz 12 months ago.

Of the others, West Acre clearly enters calculations for Newmarket-based trainer George Scott. The Mehmas gelding, the only three-year-old in the field, has made giant strides since arriving in the Emirates, impressing when winning the Blue Point and Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint. He’s blessed with a devastating turn of foot and is a lightly raced gelding who is open to further improvement, having only made his racecourse debut last October.

Audience, trained by John and Thady Gosden, should ensure a strong pace on his seasonal debut. He caught the eye when defeating European champion miler Charyn in the Locking Stakes (Group 1) at Newbury last 10 months, making all under a fine ride from Robert Havlin. Audience, owned by Cheveley Park, is a smart horse but has his quirks, often tardy at the start and has frequently disappointed on occasions.