By Emma Berry
Coming into the G2 Dubai City of Gold on the back of some mixed winter form, Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) held on stoically to repel red-hot favourite Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) by a rapidly diminishing margin, claiming his first victory since August 2018.
Just a short head separated the pair at the wire after Loxley swept from near the rear of the field off the home turn to pass Defoe, bumping him fleetingly in the manoeuvre. The classy grey recovered swiftly to switch into top gear under Andrea Atzeni but Mickael Barzalona's move aboard the eventual winner proved decisive as Loxley held on for glory in a tightly bunched finish. Mountain Hunter (Lonhro {Aus}) took third for Saeed Bin Suroor with the William Haggas-trained Pablo Escobarr (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a head behind him in fourth.
Celebrating a Super Saturday group-race double after Barney Roy's triumph in the G1 Jebel Hatta, trainer Charlie Appleby said, “Loxley is a horse we have always really liked, but to be honest, he has disappointed in both starts at the Carnival, so it is great to see him get his head back in front with such a nice performance.”
Assessing Defoe's first start since the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot last July, Atzeni said, “He went quite nicely. He relaxed into a nice gallop but the winner just got me for speed at a crucial time. My horse hasn't run for a while, he stayed on well all the way to the line and with another stride he would have got up.”
With the $35-million Dubai World Cup programme set to take place in three weeks' time, Defoe is likely to reappear that night in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in which he could again meet Loxley, whose previous Group 2 victory came in the 2018 Grand Prix de Deauville. Mountain Hunter will step up in trip and head to the G2 Dubai Gold Cup.
Pedigree Notes
A Godolphin homebred, the 5-year-old Loxley is out of the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Lady Marian (Ger) (Nayef), who was bred by Philipp and Marion Stauffenberg from the listed-placed Shareef Dancer mare La Felicita (GB) and is a half-sister to German Group 2 winner Lucidor (Ger) (Zafonic).
The mare's fourth foal, Loxley is a half-brother to four-time winner Forest Maiden (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). A 1.8-million gns purchase by John Ferguson from the Tattersalls December Mares' Sale following her Group 1 victory, Lady Marian, now 15, has a 2-year-old colt by Dubawi (Ire) and was barren following her 2018 covering by New Approach, whom she visited again last season.
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI CITY OF GOLD SPONSORED BY EMIRATES SKYCARGO-G2, $350,000, Meydan, 3-7, NH4yo/up & SH 3yo/up, 2410mT, 2:28.59, gd.
1–LOXLEY (IRE), 126, g, 5, by New Approach (Ire)
1st Dam: Lady Marian (Ger) (Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 9.5 to
11f, G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ger, $546,566),
by Nayef
2nd Dam: La Felicita (GB), by Shareef Dancer
3rd Dam: La Concordia (Ger), by Surumu (Ger)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-Mickael Barzalona.
$210,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, GSP-Eng, 16-5-5-0,
$542,309. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2–Defoe (Ire), 126, g, 6, Dalakhani (Ire)–Dulkashe (Ire), by
Pivotal (GB). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum;
B-Darley (IRE); T-Roger Varian. $70,000.
3–Mountain Hunter, g, 6, Lonhro (Aus)–Tamarillo (GB), by
Daylami (Ire). O-Godolphin; B-Darley (KY); T-Saeed bin Suroor.
$35,000.
Margins: SHD, 1 1/4, HD. Also Ran: Pablo Escobarr (Ire), First Nation (GB), Desert Encounter (Ire), Jalmoud (GB), Privilegiado (GB), Learn By Heart (GB), Good Trip (Ire). Scratched: Los Barbados (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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