Discovery Island (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bounced back to his best on Super Saturday at Meydan by finishing with a flourish under James Doyle to take the $250,000 G3 Burj Nahaar Sponsored By Emirates Skywards.
In doing so, Discovery Island ensured his place in the G2 Godolphin Mile on World Cup night for trainer Bhupat Seemar, who ran four horses in Saturday's race.
But it was Discovery Island who did best for the stable. On The Warpath (GB) (Declaration Of War) got to the lead early but couldn't sustain it and Discovery Island, who benefited from a typically-cool Doyle ride, delivered a winning challenge inside the last furlong to win going away at the line by 1 1/2 lengths.
Seemar said, “He's a very talented horse and, to be honest, we were thinking of running him in the Group 1–the Al Maktoum Challenge–because he stays well. Connections, I think they were right, because they had two horses and they kept Bendoog (Gun Runner) for the other race.”
The trainer added, “He just makes it hard for himself–he's a little bit slow out of the gate and, with a big field he gets kickback, but James gave him a great ride and moved him out and he finished.”
Discovery Island led home a one-three in the race for Seemar, with Royal Mews (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) a half-length back in third behind Raaeb (Ire) (Raven's Pass).
Second to the progressive multiple group winner Algiers (Ire) (Shamarda) in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 on Jan. 6, the opening card of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, the bay was sixth in the G3 Firebreak S. to Prince Eiji (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was scratched out of this race.
Pedigree Notes
Stakes winner 251 for his sire, Discovery Island is the first foal out of listed winner Sperry (Ire) (Shamardal). A half-sister to multiple listed winner Dunelight (Ire) (Desert Sun {GB}), she foaled a sophomore colt by Kingman (GB) named Theatre Honours (GB), and has a Too Darn Hot (GB) juvenile colt still to come. Third dam Miss Gris (Hail The Pirates) was named a champion in Italy at two and three, and won both the Italian 1000 Guineas and Italian Oaks when they were both Group 1 races.
Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
BURJ NAHAAR (SPONSORED BY EMIRATES SKYWARDS)-G3, $250,000, Meydan, 3-4, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1600m, 1:36.98, ft.
1–DISCOVERY ISLAND (GB), 126, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Sperry (Ire) (SW-Eng), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Badee'a (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
3rd Dam: Miss Gris, by Hail The Pirates
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mohammed
Khaleel Ahmed; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Bhupat Seemar; J-James
Doyle. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 14-4-5-2, $342,951. Click
for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Raaeb (Ire), 126, g, 6, Raven's Pass–Kalaatah, by Dynaformer.
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Shadwell; B-Shadwell Estate
Company Ltd (IRE); T-Musabbeh Al Mheiri. $50,000.
3–Royal Mews (Fr), 126, g, 6, Siyouni (Fr)–Queen Arabella (GB),
by Medicean (GB). (€72,000 wlg '17 ARQDEC; €350,000 ylg
'18 GOFOCT). 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE.
O-Deva Racing; B-Meon Valley Stud (FR); J-Bhupat Seemar.
$25,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 3/4.
Also Ran: Celtic Prince (GB), Desert Wisdom (GB), Everfast, Street Mood, Canvassed (Ire), Secret Victory (GB), Fanaar (Ire), King Of The Match, On The Warpath (GB), Legionario (GB), Secret Ambition (GB), Mister Saint Paul (Fr), Imperial Empire (GB). Scratched: Prince Eiji (GB), Down On Da Bayou, King Gold (Fr). VIDEO.
🏝️ Life's a beach for Discovery Island
He stays on best to land the Burj Nahaar Sponsored by Emirates Skywards for @BhupatSeemar & @the_doyler #DWC23 | #RacingDubai | @emirates pic.twitter.com/3xuRqqnNME
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 4, 2023
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