By Heather Anderson
Godolphin's NAVAL POWER (GB) (g, 4, Teofilo {Ire}–Emirates Rewards {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) showed no signs of rust when closing in taking style to win the AED850,000 G2 Singspiel S. Presented by Longines on Friday. San Donato (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) gave a good account of himself to take second by two lengths.
Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) streaked to the vanguard while monitored by Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for the backstretch run. Meanwhile, Naval Power was perched well off the fence and in perfect cover in the back third of the field. The Godolphin grey still held a commanding advantage just outside the final quarter-mile, but his lead evaporated as Make Me King gained with every stride and Erzindjan (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) briefly loomed a danger was coming up the fence. Mickael Barzalona cued Naval Power for his run, and the duo began to shift out to the centre of the course. Motoring past all comers in a few jumps, the winner avoided the stretch antics of Make Me King to secure the victory.
The 1800-metre turf affair was not clear cut for all runners, however, as Sean (Ger) (Excelebration {Ire}) was mounting a clear challenge before the stalking Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) drifted directly into his path, forcing the Jamie Osborne-trained gelding to be taken up and temporarily halting his forward momentum. The German-bred recovered to finish third another 1 1/2 lengths back.
“I found a good spot very easily and in the end he showed plenty of quality,” said Barzalona. “It was a huge performance and I'm sure for Charlie and the team to get him ready for this race after a break, they must have expected something.”
Admirably consistent throughout his career, the bay won his first four starts and a pair of English listed races by September of his juvenile season. He ran sixth to subsequent G1 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Dewhurst S. in October, and made only one more start–a win in the Listed Jumeirah Classic last January before going missing for over a year. Gelded in the interim, the Singspiel was his first start back.
Pedigree Notes
Already one of his sire's 113 stakes winners, with his victory on Friday, Naval Power is Teofilo's 64th group winner.
One of four winners from five to race for his dam, Naval Power is by far her best runner. Emirates Rewards's 3-year-old filly Emirates Angel (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) has won, while she has fillies by Raven's Pass and Ardad (Ire) to come in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The GI Spinster S. heroine Asi Siempre (El Prado {Ire}), also the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner and sire Outstrip (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), foaled Emirates Rewards.
Friday, Meydan, Dubai
SINGSPIEL S. PRESENTED BY LONGINES-G2, AE$850,000, Meydan, 2-23, 3yo/up, 9fT, 1:48.57, gd.
1–NAVAL POWER (GB), 126, g, 4, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Emirates Rewards (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Asi Siempre, by El Prado (Ire)
3rd Dam: Siempre Asi, by Silver Hawk
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby;
J-Mickael Barzalona. AED510,000. Lifetime Record: 7-6-0-0,
AED676,926. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–San Donato (Ire), 128, g, 8, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Boston Rocker
(Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (500,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT).
O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-J Hanly, A Stroud
& Skymarc Farm (IRE); T-Doug Watson. AED170,000.
3–Sean (Ger), 126, h, 7, Excelebration (Ire)–Sharin (Ger), by
Areion (Ger). (€43,000 Ylg '18 BBAOCT; €23,000 RNA HRA '20
BBAOCT). O-Barratt Racing; B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Jamie
Osborne. AED85,000.
Margins: 2, 1HF, NK.
Also Ran: Make Me King (Fr), Royal Dubai (Fr), Highland Avenue (Ire), Erzindjan (Ire), Ottoman Fleet (GB), Alfareeq (Ire), Marbaan (GB), Quip, Celtic Prince (GB), Moqtarreb (GB), Maydanny (Ire). Click for the ERA chart and video.
What. A. Comeback! 👀
Naval Power, whose only defeat came in the Dewhurst @NewmarketRaces two years ago, defies a 392-absence in the Group Two Singspiel Stakes Presented By @Longines 🔥#DubaiCarnival | @godolphin pic.twitter.com/AP57z0aMZ8
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 23, 2024
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