By Heather Anderson
Nine horses contest the G2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan on Thursday, with Jan. 24 G2 Al Fahidi Fort bridesmaid and stakes winner Mythical Magic (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) one of three in the race for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, who also sends out group winner and Group 1-placed Wootton (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and stakes winner First Contact (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Mike de Kock is double-handed as South African champion and multiple Group 1 winner Marinaresco (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) looks to rebound after a ninth in the Al Fahidi Fort and stablemate Janoobi (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}), who won the 2018 edition of the Zabeel Mile before a third in the G1 Jebel Hatta on Dubai World Cup night, backs up on seven days' rest after a disengaged sixth in the G3 Firebreak S.
Australian Group 1 winner Comin' Through (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was two better than Marinaresco in the Al Fahidi Fort, although a bit one-paced in the latter stages and stands his ground for trainer Chris Waller. G3 Diomed S. hero Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) exits the Oct. 20 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. with a third and Thursday marks his first race at Meydan.
Classic glory is on the line in Thursday's G3 UAE Oaks conducted over 1900 metres. Most of the field from the Jan. 31 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas returns, among them the 9 3/4-length blowout victress Silva (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) from the barn of Pia Brandt for owner Zalim Bifov. A narrow winner in her third career appearance over the Deauville all-weather on Dec. 14, the 1000 Guineas was her maiden voyage over traditional dirt. Second that day was Godolphin's Divine Image (Scat Daddy), who went one better than Satish Seemar's three-start maiden Lady Parma (Exchange Rate).
“The distance is no problem for her,” Brandt said of Silva, who drew gate 10 of 12. “We have to live with the draw, unfortunately. You have to be a little quick to get a good position before the bend.
“She's a very backwards filly, mentally, and she doesn't give everything. She does what you tell her to do and we never really ask her to do as much as a race. She is immature in her head, but with time, she will improve.”
The first of the day's three group races, the 2000-metre G3 Dubai Millennium sees six entrants from Godolphin. Split evenly between Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby, the sextet is led by bin Suroor's multiple Group 1-placed Racing History (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), a winner of the 2015 G3 Winter Hill S. who was runner-up in the G3 Singspiel S. on Jan. 3 and ran third in the Jan. 24 G2 Al Rashidiya. Oasis Charm (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is looking for his fourth victory on the bounce for Appleby and, despite the almost nine-month absence, duly landed a course-and-distance handicap on Jan. 31, going one better than bin Suroor's Team Talk (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). Fellow stakes winner and group-placed Spotify (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) saluted in a 2400-metre turf handicap locally on Jan. 24.
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