By Heather Anderson
One of the key pointers to the G1 Dubai World Cup in March went to Military Law (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) on Thursday. The 6-year-old gelding stalked and pounced on his foes before sustaining a determined late drive in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 at Meydan.
Able to secure a handy spot in third against the fence as Capezzano (Bernardini) opened up on the field and Emblem Storm (English Channel) was just ahead, the first quarter was covered in :23.82. Capezzano's lead shrank with 600 metres to travel. A hole opened at the quarter pole and Military Law quickly dashed through, before taking over at the 250-metre mark from the pacesetter, and, although he drifted towards the stands in the shadow of the wire, he crossed the wire 1 1/4 lengths ahead. Thegreatcollection (Saint Anddan) made up some late ground, but his effort fell short. Salute the Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}) was the same distance back in third. Roman Rosso (Arg) (Roman Ruler) completed the superfecta, a short head behind.
A winner over the Newcastle all-weather in June of 2019 in his final start for Qatar Racing, Military Law resurfaced in Dubai under new ownership after selling for 100,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls July Sale. The Nasir Askar colourbearer ran sixth in a Meydan conditions race there in November. Wheeled back that December in the Listed The Entisar, the bay was a smart three-length winner before continuing to thrive in the desert. His final two runs before Thursday's triumph were a pair of twos in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 on Feb. 6 and a distant second to Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass) in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on Mar. 7.
Pedigree Notes
Dubawi has been firmly entrenched as one of the top sires in the world and Military Law is one of 193 black-type winners worldwide and the 128th group winner for the Darley sire. The most distinguished offspring of his German Group 3-winning dam, Military Law is a full-brother to G3 UAE 2000 Guineas third Wednaan (GB), and a half-brother to French listed winner Marina Piccola (Ire) (Halling). Successful in the Prix de Thiberville, Marina Piccola has already thrown the G1 Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin hero French King (GB) (French Fifteen {GB}).
Marine Bleue's broodmare career does not end with Military Law, as she has the winning Frankel (GB) gelding New King (GB), the unraced Kingman (GB) filly Queen of The Waves (GB), Swoon (Fr), another filly by Frankel and an unnamed juvenile filly by Siyouni (Fr) as her last reported foal. Herself a half-sister to French stakes winner Mystic Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Marine Bleue's granddam is responsible for a host of black-type winners, the best being G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud victor Mirio (Fr) (Priolo) and G1 Falmouth S. scorer Nahoodh (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), while San Marino Grey (Fr) (Clodovil {Ire}) was second in the G1 Prix Jean Prat. The fourth dam is a Tom Rolfe half-sister to storied GI Alabama S. heroine White Star Line (Northern Dancer).
Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R1 SPONSORED BY MINA BY AZIZI-G2, $228,000, Meydan, 1-21, NH4yo/up & SH 3yo/up, 8f, 1:36.42, fs.
1–MILITARY LAW (GB), 126, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Marine Bleue (Ire) (GSW-Ger, SW-Fr, GSP-Ity,
$137,413), by Desert Prince (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mirina (Fr), by Pursuit of Love (GB)
3rd Dam: Mirea, by The Minstrel
1ST GROUP WIN. (900,000 RNA Ylg '16 TAOCT; 110,000gns
HRA '19 TATJUL). O-Nasir Askar; B-Qatar Bloodstock Ltd (GB);
T-Musabbeh Al Mheiri; J-Antonio Fresu. $136,800. Lifetime
Record: 11-5-3-0, $430,626. *1/2 to Marina Piccola (Ire)
(Halling), SW-Fr; and a full to Wednaan (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}),
GSP-UAE. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk
Nick Rating: A+.
2–Thegreatcollection, 126, g, 7, Saint Anddan–Cactus Cadillac,
by Cactus Ridge. O-Zaur Sekrekov; B-Kathleen Amaya,
Alexandro Centofanti & Raffaele Centofanti (FL); T-Doug
Watson. $45,600.
3–Salute the Soldier (Ger), 126, g, 6, Sepoy (Aus)http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/progeny-pps/?sire=Dubawi (Ire)#tot–Street Fire
(Ire), by Street Cry (Ire). (380,000gns HRA '19 TATAUT). O-
Victorious; B-Alan Spence (GER); T-Fawzi Nass. $22,800.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, SHD.
Also Ran: Roman Rosso (Arg), Ajuste Fiscal (Uru), Mark of Approval, Capezzano, Kimbear, Quip, Emblem Storm, Gifts of Gold (Ire). Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. ERA Video.
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