Uruguayan trainer Antonio Cintra's first season with a satellite yard in Dubai continued in successful fashion with victory for Quality Boone (Arg) (Daniel Boone {Brz}) in the Listed Al Bastikaya, giving the colt his second win at Meydan this carnival.
Race favourite Bendoog (Gun Runner) got first jump and dominated the early stages in the lead on the rail under Tadhg O'Shea, with Get Back Goldie (Goldencents) pestering him for a short while but visibly weakening on the turn. With Bendoog's advantage appearing to increase off the bend, it wasn't long before the front-runner also started to look leg-weary in the straight.
The Fawzi Nass-trained Withering (GB) (Mondialiste {Ire}) was the first to take up the challenge and as he closed on the leader, Quality Boone swept past him down the centre of the track to win by a length and a quarter, with Withering snatching second, a nose in front of Bendoog. The international flavour of the race was highlighted by runners from four different countries filling the first four places: Withering represents Bahrain, while Bendoog is trained in Dubai, and the fourth-placed Final Dance (Tur) (Declaration Of War) in Turkey.
Quality Boone triumphed on his first start at Meydan over seven furlongs on Dec. 23 and has been a model of consistency since then, finishing runner-up next time at the same trip and then taking third in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas when stepping up to a mile last month. Carrying 10 pounds more than his northern hemisphere-bred rivals to allow for his slight age advantage, the winner will likely head next to the G2 UAE Derby on the Dubai World Cup card.
His jockey Vagner Leal said, “The horse is improving race by race and winning these races is very important for us. We know that each race is more difficult but I hope after this one he can improve and run well [in the UAE Derby].”
Leal took fifth in last week's G1 Saudi Cup aboard Aero Trem (Brz) (Shanghai Bobby), who is also trained by Cintra.
Pedigree notes
A half-brother to Argentinean Grade 1 winner Quiz Kid (Arg) (Forestry), Quality Boone is from the first crop of the Brazilian-based stallion Daniel Boone, a grandson of Wild Again who won the GI Grande Premio Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado. He is the ninth foal and fourth winner of his unraced dam Quindici (Crafty Prospector), a half-sister to the minor stakes winners Scolara (Elusive Quality) and Platinee (Gulch). The 19-year-old Quindici also has a 2-year-old full-brother to Quality Boone named Quibbler.
Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
AL BASTAKIYA (SPONSORED BY EMIRATES HOLIDAYS)-Listed, $170,000, Meydan, 3-5, NH3yo & SH3yo, 1900m, 2:00.91, ft.
1–QUALITY BOONE (ARG), 131, c, 3, by Daniel Boone (Brz)
1st Dam: Quindici, by Crafty Prospector
2nd Dam: Millie's Delight, by El Gran Senor
3rd Dam: Defer, by Damascus
1ST STAKES WIN. O-Stud Guara Del Sur; B-Haras Santa Maria
de Araras (ARG); T-Antonio Cintra Pereira; J-Vagner Leal.
$102,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, $148,226. *1/2 to Quiz Kid
(Arg) (Forestry), G1SW-Arg, $212,708.
2–Withering (GB), 121, c, 3, Mondialiste (Ire)–Just Jealous (Ire),
by Lope de Vega (Ire). (€25,000 wnl '19 GOFNOV; £50,000 yrl
'20 GOFSEP) O-Victorious; B-Elwick Stud (GB); T-Fawzi Nass.
$34,000.
3–Bendoog, 121, c, 3, Gun Runner–Nellie Cashman, by
Mineshaft. O-Mohammed Khaleel Ahmed; B-Calumet Farm
(KY); T-Bhupat Seemar. $17,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, 2HF.
Also Ran: Final Dance (Tur), Violent Justice, Get Back Goldie, Sari Dubai, Conglomerate (Ire), Mujeer, Quality Humor, Secret Image (Ire), Sed Maarib. Scratched: Qarnas. Click for the Racing Post result. VIDEO.
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