Before the gates flew, all of the attention was focused on Godolphin's Master Of The Seas, a winner of the G2 Superlative S. and fourth in the G1 National S. at two, however, his stablemate Naval Crown had other ideas and fended off that rival's late charge to win the Listed Meydan Classic over 1600 metres on Thursday.
Breaking better than his fellow Charlie Appleby yardmate, Naval Crown was content to make the running through the early going and opened up on the field before the far turn. Master Of The Seas, however, had been noticeably fired up and very keen from fifth. The son of Come Alive traveled beautifully at the head of affairs as Master Of The Seas still tugged in fourth entering the straight.
Saving all of the ground at the fence, Naval Crown had built up enough cushion that despite Master Of The Seas's best efforts once tipped out to make his run in midstretch, the final margin was 1 3/4 lengths. The latter's earlier exertions undoubtedly blunted his finishing punch. Yurman was a distant third, 9 3/4 lengths back.
“The horse was fit today and that's the reason he won,” said hoop Michael Barzalona. “Today we had a nice rhythm, and I think I was pretty well in front and the horse was confident, and it was better to be in front. I am sure Charlie will be able to drop the horse in trip, and the horse had done well today.”
“Naval Crown–we pitched him in at group level as a 2- year-old, and he was well-placed twice there,” said Appleby. “We were not planning to run him in the 2000 Guineas, but he was working nicely in the dirt and therefore we felt we would give him a chance, and he ran a very solid race. Returning to turf was always going to favour him. He came into the race race-fit with conditions to suit, and he has gone and done it nicely. Personally, I think the horse will come back in trip when we get back to Europe.”
Regarding the heavy favourite Master Of The Seas, “With Master of Seas–he is fresh and well, and he showed that this evening. William [Buick] said he will come on a bundle for that. At least he learnt something this evening, William got him into a rhythm, he was here to win his race, but he got tired down the straight, but I am happy we got him out. He is very much a work in progress for Europe.”
Third at second asking in the Listed Pat Eddery S. at Ascot last July, the colt saluted in a York maiden over seven furlongs and then improved further to take third in both the Sept. 6 G3 Prix la Rochette at ParisLongchamp and the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint-Cloud on Oct. 2. Shelved for the year, Naval Crown was third after tracking the pace in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas on Feb. 4.
With his victory, Naval Crown is the 197th black-type winner for his Darley sire, who now has five stakes winners-three at the group level–out of Dansili mares led by G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Nezwaah (GB). Come Alive, who scored her biggest win in the Listed Prix Amandine and was also second in the Listed Prix Lilas, threw Naval Crown as her first foal. Her latest produce is a Lope de Vega (Ire) filly. The daughter of Dansili is out of English listed winner Portrayal (Saint Ballado), who also filled the frame in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, G2 Prix d'Aumale and G3 Middleton S.
The extended family is flush with black-type winners, all tracing to fourth dam and G3 Prix de Royaumont conqueress Truly Special (Ire) (Caerleon). G1 Irish Oaks heron Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), as well as G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) are both among their number, as is boom G1 Australian Oaks victress Colette (Aus) (Hallowed Crown {Aus}) among many others.
MEYDAN CLASSIC (SPONSORED BY AGNC3)-Listed, $88,000, Meydan, 2-25, NH3yo & SH3yo, 1600mT, 1:36.52, gd.
1–NAVAL CROWN (GB), 121, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Come Alive (GB) (SW-Fr), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Portrayal, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: True Glory (Ire), by In The Wings (GB)
1ST-BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby;
J-Mickael Barzalona. $52,800. Lifetime Record: SP-Eng, MGSP-
Fr, GSP-UAE), 7-2-0-5, $116,231.
2–Master of the Seas (Ire), 121, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Firth of
Lorne (Ire), by Danehill. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie
Appleby. $17,600.
3–Yurman (Arg), 131, c, 3, Asiatic Boy (Arg)–Qilaada, by
Bernardini. O-Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum;
B-Phalaris SRL (ARG); T-Mike de Kock. $8,800.
Margins: 1 3/4, 8, 1 1/4.
Also Ran: Mayehaab (GB), Nibras Passion (GB), Sharp Spun (GB).
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