By Emma Berry
SAKHIR, Bahrain–In front of a lively crowd back to full strength after the interruptions of Covid, jockey Danny Tudhope gained his just desserts in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy, winning aboard Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Godolphin and Saaeed bin Suroor having missed out on glory in last year's race through injury.
Tudhope had not quite returned to full strength in time to partner Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) to victory 12 months ago but he took full advantage of the opportunity handed to him by bin Suroor, who saddled the first two home in the race, with Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Richard Kingscote bringing up the one-two when finishing half a length back in the £600,000 contest.
Tudhope said of missing out on success with his old friend Lord Glitters, on whom he had previously won the G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Jebel Hatta, “Obviously it was disappointing not to be here last year but it was great to see the old horse do it as he's been such a star for connections. So it was great to come back here. Godolphin had such a strong hand, so I'm delighted that one of them has won, and that it was the one I was on.”
For the six-year-old winner Dubai Future it was a case of returning to familiar territory. In his previous appearance in this race in 2021 he could manage only eighth place but he has had fruitful period since then, winning his next start in Dubai in January and then starring at Royal Ascot in June where he won the Wolferton S., also with Tudhope, before adding group placings in the G2 York S. and G3 Legacy Cup.
The jockey added, “I was hopeful. His last run wasn't too bad and he's been in good form. He likes fast ground as well and he's a handy little horse to have. The race went to plan. We went an even gallop and had a nice position. It was a better draw for him this year and he picked up well. He travels so well and relaxed nicely.”
Godolphin, who fielded four horses from three different stables, including the Andre Fabre-trained Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro) and Royal Fleet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) trained by Charlie Appleby, took three of the first four places. The front-running Magny Cours faded to finish fourth, having been third in the race last year, while the Grand Prix de Vichy winner Riocorvo (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}), one of three French challengers, interrupted the swarm of blue jackets by running home strongly in third for trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias.
Bin Suroor, who had arrived from Dubai a few days earlier to oversee the final preparations of his two runners, said, “Both horses ran a big race. Dubai Future was here last year and physically he has improved. I talked to the jockey before the race and told him that he was a different horse to last year and to keep him handy. He's a tough horse and competitive over further as well.
“I'm very happy with the result; it's great for Godolphin to come to these international races and do well.”
Pedigree Notes
A second-generation homebred for Godolphin, Dubai Future is the second foal of Anjaz, a treble winner in the UK who went on to win the GIII Orchid S. at Gulfstream Park. The 13-year-old mare, thus far the dam of four winners, is a daughter of Playful Act (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the Robert Sangster-bred three-parts sister to Group 1-winners Nathaniel (Ire) and Great Heavens (GB), both by Galileo (Ire), who was bought for $10.5 million at Keeneland in 2007. Anjaz's youngest offspring is the juvenile Winter's Love (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who has so far run once for Charlie Appleby.
Friday, Sakhir, Bahrain
BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL TROPHY-G3, £600,000, Sakhir, 11-18, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:02.12, gd.
1–DUBAI FUTURE (GB), 128, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Anjaz (GSW-US, $195,378), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Playful Act (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Magnificent Style, by Silver Hawk
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin; T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Daniel Tudhope; £360,000. Lifetime Record: MSW & MGSP-UAE, SW & MGSP-Eng, 25-7-5-3, $1,765,217. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Passion And Glory (Ire), 128, g, 6, Cape Cross (GB)–Potent Embrace, by Street Cry (Ire). O/B-Godolphin; T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Richard Kingscote; £120,000.
3–Riocorvo (Ger), 128, h, 6, Pastorius (Ger)–Rio Cobra (Ger), by Silvano (Ger). (€11,000 Wlg '16 ARQDEC). O-Mrs Georgiana Cabrero; B-Stiftung Gestuet Faehrhof; T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Olivier Peslier; £60,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2, HD.
Also Ran: Magny Cours, Monty (Fr), King David (Den), Insinuendo (Ire), Royal Fleet (GB), Pensiero d'Amore (Ire), Dilawar (Ire). Scratched: Alflaila (GB), Litigator (Ire).
Click for the Bahrain Turf Club chart and VIDEO.
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