Already a Grade I winner of the Manhattan Stakes in the U.S. and the G1 Jebel Hatta over this course earlier this year, Godolphin homebred Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) set a new course record when defending his title in the G2 Al Rashidiya at Meydan on Friday.
Making his first start since a runner-up effort in the GI Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga in August, the Charlie Appleby trainee zipped straight to the head of affairs under William Buick. Always going easily, the colt's speed was deceptive, and he sailed across the line 7 lengths to the good of G3 Killavullan Stakes winner and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas second Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) in a new course record of 1:45.11 for the 1800 metres over good turf. The 4-year-old broke the record set by Just A Way (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the 2014 G1 Dubai Duty Free of 1:45.52. Royal Dubai (Fr) (Seahenge) was third, another two lengths in arrears.
It was the third win for Buick on the night and second for Appleby. Appleby had saddled three other Al Rashidiya winners prior to Friday–Barney Roy (GB) (2020), Zakouski (GB) (2021) and Valiant Prince (Ire) last year.
“It felt a little bit too good,” said Buick after taking his third Al Rashidiya. “He's super competitive and I was happy to lead with him, but we didn't need to put in that big a performance to win. But that's what you get with him; he's a high energy, exuberant horse.
“He's proved himself at the top level both here and in America–he's a class horse and hopefully there's some improvement to come from that.”
A winner of the Jebel Hatta in January, the half-brother to multiple top-level winner and two-time Breeders' Cup Turf hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was fourth in the G1 Dubai Turf in March prior to taking the Manhattan in June.
Pedigree Notes
Measured Time is one of 35 Group 1 winners for Juddmonte sire Frankel. Dual Australian Group 1-placed Frankely Awesome (Aus) is also out of a Street Cry (Ire) mare.
The stakes-placed Minidress (GB)'s latest foal is a full-brother to Rebel's Romance. Second dam Short Skirt (Diktat {GB}) enjoyed her biggest days in the sun when winning the Musidora Stakes and St. Simon Stakes, both Group 3. She was also runner-up in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and third in the G1 Oaks at Epsom.
Friday, Meydan, Middle East
AL RASHIDIYA (SPONSORED BY EMAAR)-Listed, AED850,000, Meydan, 12-20, 3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:45.11 (NTR), gd.
1–MEASURED TIME (GB), 128, c, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Minidress (GB) (SP-Eng), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Short Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. AED510,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-UAE, GISW-US, SP-Eng, 10-7-2-0, AED5,738,330. *1/2 to Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-UAE at 9 1/2-11f, G1SW-HK & UAE, MGISW-US & MG1SW-Ger, SW-Qat, $11,777,574; and Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), SP-Ire. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cairo (Ire), 126, c, 4, Quality Road–Cuff (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
O-Refai Alghraiban; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Alice Haynes. AED170,000.
3–Royal Dubai (Fr), 126, c, 4, Seahenge–Sand Rose (Fr), by
Aussie Rules. O-Saeed Sultan Al Rahoomi; B-Societa Agricola Gem SRL & Societa Agricola La Pluma SS (FR); T-Lucie Botti. AED85,000.
Margins: 7, 2, HF.
Also Ran: Sean (Ger), Daramethos (Ire), Home Brew, Franz Kafka (Ire), Natural World (Ire). Scratched: Alfareeq (Ire). Click for the ERA chart & video.
“It's sensational!”
breaks the track record with a lethal success in the Group Two Al Rashidiya, sponsored by @emaardubai ⏱️#DubaiCarnival | #RacingDubai | #FestiveFriday pic.twitter.com/opxeVYJ6Hu
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) December 20, 2024
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