By Heather Anderson
Isolate (Mark Valeski) gave trainer Doug Watson a truly Festive Friday, leading home stablemate and G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 winner Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the AED1-million G2 Al Maktoum Mile at Meydan Racecourse.
Already a winner over track and trip in the G2 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night at the end of March, the bay, making his first start back, settled in a good rhythm in second under Tyler Gaffalione for a few jumps. He took over a handful of strides later while shadowed by Listed UAE 1000 Guineas and G3 UAE Oaks heroine Mimi Kakushi (City Of Light), with Golden Goal to his outside in third. At the half-way point, he appeared to be just putting in a paid workout, with most of his rivals being asked to keep pace.
Barely extended, he surged away from his pursuers with a mere tap from Gaffalione, and won with every appearance of more to come. Golden Goal stayed on for second 3 1/2 lengths back, with Celtic Prince (GB) (Shamardal) getting up for third, 2 1/4 lengths to the good of Desert Wisdom (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who rallied past Mimi Kakushi for fourth.
“It's a pleasure to be here and thanks to connections for bringing me over,” said multiple Grade I-winning jockey Gaffalione. “He took control early and he seems a lot stronger this year. I have a ton of confidence in this horse and the way he ran today I don't think stepping up in distance would be a problem.”
“I take everything with a little bit of pressure, so I'm glad it's over,” added Watson. “He showed today that he's pretty classy and he should improve for the run. I'll leave it up to everyone else to decide if we go to Saudi [in February].”
A winner of the Tale of the Cat S. by six lengths at Saratoga last August, Isolate ran second by a nose in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. in September prior to packing his bags for the desert. He filled the runner-up spot in both the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint in February, and the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal in March, prior to his Dubai World Cup night heroics in the G2 Godolphin Mile.
Pedigree Notes
One of four stakes winners and two Pattern race winners for his Arkansas-based sire, Isolate is one of six winners from seven to race out of Tranquil Song (Unbridled's Song), who won as a 3-year-old. Since foaling her star progeny, her 3-year-old filly My Aunt Snookie (Cloud Computing) has won, while her Enticed juvenile colt For Your Pleasure has been placed. Her latest is a weanling colt by Tacitus, and she was bred to Cyberknife this spring.
His second dam, Travelator (A. P Jet), was a six-time stakes winner on the East Coast, before foaling two stakes winners in Hollywood Jet (Uncaptured) and Stone Silent (Adios Charlie). Another half-sister, the Forestry mare Fantasy Forest, is the dam of GIII Challenger S. winner Last Judgment (Congrats).
Friday, Meydan, Middle East
AL MAKTOUM MILE-G2, AED1,000,000, Meydan, 12-22, NH3yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1600m, 1:37.21, ft.
1–ISOLATE, 128, h, 5, by Mark Valeski
1st Dam: Tranquil Song, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Travelator, by A. P Jet
3rd Dam: Rajadiddle, by Raja's Revenge
($70,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-RRR Racing; B-Woodford
Thoroughbreds (FL); T-Doug Watson; J-Tyler Gaffalione.
AED600,000. Lifetime Record: MSW & GSP-US, 16-8-4-2,
AED1,587,015. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Golden Goal (Ire), 126, g, 9, Dark Angel (Ire)–Golden Rosie
(Ire), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). (£240,000 Ylg '15 DNPAUG).
O-Dale Brennan; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Doug Watson.
AED200,000.
3–Celtic Prince (GB), 126, g, 8, Shamardal–Opera Comique (Fr),
by Singspiel (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
O-Bouresly Racing Syndicate; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Rashed
Bouresly. AED100,000.
Margins: 3HF, 2 1/4, 2 3/4.
Also Ran: Desert Wisdom (GB), Mimi Kakushi, Road Bloc, Mr Raj, Quality Humor, Royal Mews (Fr). Scratched: Secret Ambition (GB). Click for the ERA chart & video.
Wow …
Isolate, last seen winning the @godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup Night, makes a wonderful return under @Tyler_Gaff ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Doug Watson's five-year-old was simply operating on another level in the Group Two Al Maktoum Mile …#DubaiCarnival | #FestiveFriday pic.twitter.com/Q6osNOw2Vq
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) December 22, 2023
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