It’s Legend’s time to strike at Meydan

Ed Marnane

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has made a terrific start to 2024 and can continue his good run at Meydan on Friday, seven days after winning all four races on turf at the Dubai track, highlighted by the impressive victory of Measured Time in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta.

Appleby has dominated the Jumeirah Guineas in recent years, winning seven of the last eight runnings, and Legend Of Time holds sound claims in this year’s renewal. Winner of two of his three races, he created a good impression on his Meydan debut last month when defeating Shamrock Glitter and 14 others in the trial.

He was value for more than the official margin of a length, having been drawn out wide and forced to cover extra ground. Legend Of Time, the highest rated horse in the eight-runner field, is a smart colt and will take plenty of stopping under William Buick.

Race 6, the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes, named in honour of the 2000 Dubai World Cup winner, sees the useful mare Trevaunance make her UAE debut for Irish trainer Jessica Harrington. A winner at Group 2 and 3 level at Deauville in 2022, she failed to win last year but ran well in defeat, most notably when a battling second to India in the Preis von Europa, Group 1, in Germany, her final run of the season.

She faces a strong local challenge, headed by Godolphin pair New London and Warren Point, representing Appleby. The former, the choice of Buick, makes his local debut and returns after a four-month break.

By Dubawi, he is a smart stayer and at three was second to Eldar Eldarov in the St Leger at Doncaster. Restricted to three appearances last year, he came close to victory on his final outing when beaten a head in the Listed Dubai Godolphin Stakes, just narrowly failing to reel in the enterprising ridden winner, Tregony.

He can avenge that defeat on his first start since being gelded and provide Appleby with eighth victory in nine years.

Lightly raced Warren Point, Appleby’s second runner, enjoyed success in the Middle East last year, winning a Listed race at Bahrain before splitting Russian Emperor and Bolthole in the Amir Trophy, a local Group 1 in Qatar.

He failed to make an impression in two runs in the US, both in Grade 1 company, before rounding off his campaign when disappointing in the Listed James Seymour Stakes, a dull effort that can be forgiven, having raced too freely. Warren Point has the services of Mickael Barzalona and shouldn’t be underestimated on his seasonal reappearance.

Of the rest, Sean is one to consider at bigger odds. Trained by Jamie Osborne, he shaped nicely behind San Donato in the Zabeel Mile, keeping on nicely in the closing stages when finishing less than four lengths behind the Doug Watson-trained winner.

A Group 2 winner in Italy, he will enjoy the step up to 2000m and the in-form Adrie de Vries rides the eight-year-old.

A field of 14 go to post for the Dubai Sprint (Listed), five are trained overseas and it’s a trappy event. It’s easy to make a case for Walbank, owned by Amo Racing, he was a smart juvenile but struggled in two starts last year.

He bounced back to form when winning a 16-runner handicap here last month on his debut for George Boughey, defeating Yonafis and Democracy Dilemma and landing a gamble. He makes plenty of appeal stepping up in grade in the hands of David Egan, Amo Racing’s new retained rider who has made the trip from Florida to ride the gelding.

Yonafis, trained by Michael Costa, renews rivalry but is worse off at the weights with Walbank. However, he’s very unexposed and is entitled to be sharper for his comeback, so can’t be ruled out in a race that lacks strength in depth.

Godolphin’s Mischief Magic, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in 2022, stayed on late to finish a never-nearer seventh behind front-running winner Ponntos in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash on his Meydan debut six weeks ago. He was tardy at the gates and never landed a blow behind the Czech trained winner. He will be suited stepping up to 1200m and should be in the mix under Buick for Appleby.

Earlier on in the card, Appleby and Buick team up with the undefeated Cinderella's Dream in the Jumeirah Fillies Classic, Race 3. The daughter of Shamardal, owned and bred by Godolphin, won a Lingfield maiden on her debut when sent off favourite.

Not seen for 94 days, she followed up winning a minor event at Thirsk, leaving the impression she appreciated the step up to a mile when giving weight to her rivals. This looks a golden opportunity to start her three-year-old season with a bang on her Meydan debut.

Beautiful Love, winner of novice race at Newmarket, gives Appleby a strong hand in the 1400m event on turf. Rated 89, she may have been unsuited by testing ground when fourth in Listed company at Newmarket, the final run of her juvenile campaign, in November. Back on a sound surface, she ought to be the shake-up.

Amy Murphy-trained Geologist, rated 95, is the pick of the international challenge, despite having to concede weight to her nine rivals. A winner of a Listed race in Germany last September, she made a respectable comeback behind Legend Of Time in the 16-runner Jumeirah Guineas Trial at Meydan last month. She will need to take a step forward but this is a weaker race. She holds each-way claims.

BEST BET

Race 8 No 4 Legend Of Time

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 8 Triple Venture

BEST SWINGER

Race 4: 4-Mayaadeen and 13-One Vision

JACKPOT

(Races 6-9)

R27

Leg 1: 1, 3, 5

Leg 2: 7, 8, 11

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 13