Hypothetical (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) showed improvement throughout last year's carnival to finish second in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 and fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup, and the 5-year-old continued his ascent on Saturday with a win in the latest renewal of Round 3 to become the 13th Group 1 winner for his first, and Lope De Vega's first top-level winner on the dirt.
Breaking prominently from his wide gate, Hypothetical was driven forward by Mickael Barzalona and put his head in front as they passed the finish line for the first time. The 2019 GI Preakness S. runner-up and now locally trained Everfast (Take Charge Indy) refused to let Hypothetical get an early lead, however, and dueled with that rival on the rail through the first turn and into the backstretch. Hypothetical at last shook off Everfast midway down the backstretch to lead by a length, with Dubai Icon (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in striking distance on the outside and Remorse (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) poised on the rail. Everfast moved to re-rally and Remorse was driven up the rail as they straightened for home, but Hypothetical had more to give. He held off a persistent Remorse under a drive to win by a length, with Everfast edging out Kafoo (Curlin) for third 6 1/2 lengths back.
A 550,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, Hypothetical broke his maiden in his lone start at two in December of 2019 for John Gosden but was soundly beaten in three starts at three, joining Salem bin Ghadayer for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed after finishing last, beaten 39 lengths, in a Doncaster handicap in September of 2020. He had a busy carnival last year, making six starts including a winning debut before his aforementioned Group 1 exploits. Hypothetical beat just two home in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 on Jan. 14, but rebounded to win the G3 Firebreak S. on Feb. 4.
Pedigree Notes
Hypothetical is the second foal out of G3 Prix Fille de l'Air second Peut Etre (Ire) (Whipper), who is a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and GIII Honey Fox S. victress Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and two other stakes-placed horses. They are out of Zut Alors (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was third in the G3 Prix Miesque. The third dam Zieting (Ire) (Zieten) was a listed winner in the U.S. and France and produced three middle-distance pattern race winners in Combat Zone (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Royal Empire (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), as well as the dam of G3 Tattersall S. winner La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). It is the further family of the G1 Commonwealth Cup scorer Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and his Group 2-winning and Classic-placed half-brother Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Peut Etre's most recently reported foal is a 3-year-old filly by Dark Angel (Ire) named Pourquoi Pas (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R3 (SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE)-G1, $450,000, Meydan, 3-5, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 2000m, 2:04.79, ft.
1–HYPOTHETICAL (IRE), 126, h, 5, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Peut Etre (Ire) (GSP-Fr), by Whipper
2nd Dam: Zut Alors (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Zeiting (Ire), by Zieten
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (550,000gns yrl '18 TATOCT) O-Sheikh
Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Knocktoran Stud
(IRE); T-Salem bin Ghadayer; J-Mickael Barzalona. $270,000.
Lifetime Record: 13-5-2-0, $1,145,906. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Remorse (Ire), 126, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Jealous Again, by
Trippi. (70,000gns HRA '20 TATOCT) O-Al Rashid Stables LLC;
B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Bhupat Seemar. $90,000.
3–Everfast, 126, g, 6, Take Charge Indy–Awesome Surprise, by
Awesome Again. ($47,000 yrl '17 KEEJAN) O-Kildare Stud –
Frankie O'Connor; B-Extern Developments (KY); T-Doug
Watson. $45,000.
Margins: 1, 6HF, SHD. Also Ran: Kafoo, Go On, Salute The Soldier (Ger), For The Top (Arg), Appreciated, Sanad Libya, Ugurtay (Tur), Dubai Icon (GB), Roman Rosso (Arg), Thegreatcollection, Prevent (GB). Scratched: Avant Garde.
Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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