Meydan report: Brotherly Love stars for Osbornes

Jamie Osborne loves an overseas jaunt, and he could be set for the biggest race in America after Brotherly Love won the Listed Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby [formerly Al Bastakiya] at Meydan on Friday.

There was drama before the nine-and-a-half furlong contest when favourite Salloom burst through the gates and was scratched.

The remaining 11 runners went a good pace early on which played to the strengths of Brotherly Love, who was cajoled throughout by Saffie Osborne. She got there with plenty in hand, however, her mount finding a lot close home and beating Duke Of Immatin by two lengths. In doing so he went one better than his half-brother, Heart Of Honor, who was second in this race a year ago.

“He’s becoming like his brother in ability and demeanor,” said Saffie Osborne. “They both like making life difficult for me, but when I came out into the straight and he switched leads I always felt like I was going to pick them up. He stays all day, this horse, and has a lot of class.

“It was gutting to get pipped in this race last year with Heart of Honor so it’s great to avenge that for Jim and Claire [Bryce, owners], it’s very special for them. That’s Dad’s sixth winner of the Carnival and I’m not sure people realise how hard that is to do.”

“Sweet revenge!” added Osborne Sr. “Last year we were very frustrated so to avenge that with Heart Of Honor’s little brother is pretty incredible really.

“Everything about this horse last summer screamed dirt and when they went hard early on that suited us.”

Al Nayyir is spending his fifth winter at Meydan with a third trainer but he picked up his first Dubai win since 2023 in the Group Three Nad Al Sheba Trophy [sponsored by Al Tayer Motors].

Now handled by Newmarket-based Tom Clover, the eight-year-old had been off the track since August but made light of that here under Rossa Ryan, collaring favourite Sunway in the straight and charging to a half-length win.

This 14-furlong turf contest gives automatic entry to the 2m Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup day, the next port of call for the gelding.

“I think he just got a gallop,” said Ryan. “I thought his York run behind Trawlerman was the best form on paper. He settled really well down the pack and I tracked up Pat Dobbs [on Kihavah] and it opened up lovely.

“It’s his first run of the year and he’s going to come on a lot, as he didn’t do much in front. It’s a Win and You’re in for the Dubai Gold Cup and an extra two furlongs will suit even more, although a lot will depend on what sort of field turns up.”

Ryan was completing a double, having earlier guided Dividend to success in the Touch The Future Handicap –the gelding’s second win in a row.

Trained by Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, the Lord Glitters Handicap winner was positioned perfectly on the rail and was in the ideal spot to strike when they turned in, beating Masai Moon and War Socks by a length and a quarter and a length and three quarters.

“If they were all like that it would be easy!” said Ryan. “He got a great turn of foot and he knows how to use it. We didn’t go much of a gallop but he’s deadly around here.

“He’s probably a horse who will be very good over fast ground and who is ready to step into Stakes company. He’ll get a mile and a quarter [2000metres] well now.”

There was more British success in the 5f DEEPAL S07 handicap, in which trainer Richard Spencer and owner Rebel Racing ran three. Their endeavour paid off when their homebred Run Boy Run got the job done.

Ridden by George Wood on his only mount of the night, the five-year-old made smooth progress from 300 metres out and had just enough left to hold off Major Cinnamon by a head.

“He’s a great old boy, he’s so tough,” said Wood. “Dropping down to five has been the key today and he’s still improving. He relishes racing and is still popping up every week.”

Another consistent sort is Khanjah, who benefited from a drop in grade and picked up his first win in just over a year in the DEEPAL Super Hybrid Handicap, over 7f on dirt.

Ridden by Danny Tudhope for Musabbeh Al Mheiri, the seven-year-old beat Strobe by three-quarters of a length and is now likely to head to the G3 Ras Al Khor in two weeks’ time.

“He definitely deserved it as he ran well in a Group 2 [Al Fahidi Fort] the last time,” said Tudhope. “He doesn’t half give you everything and every time he runs a cracking race. Turf, dirt, it doesn’t matter - he always turns up and he’s quite versatile, whether it’s six or seven furlongs [1200 or 1400metres.]”

The opening DEEPAL S05 Maiden, over 1400metres on dirt, went to Magic Art, for Bhupat Seemar and Tadhg O’Shea. He turned it into a procession, traveling up with the pace and committing for home off the final turn, clearing away for an eight-length victory over stablemate Raasil.

“He got a bit upset in the gates, which isn’t like him, but thankfully all four feet were on the ground when they opened and he jumped well and I was able to get the rail,” said O’Shea. “I didn’t realise he won by eight [lengths], as the last furlong felt a little bit stagnant.

“He can go back to 1200metres – I wouldn’t be going up in trip with him.”

50 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points were up for grabs in the UAE Oaks and Labwah has connections who might just pursue that dream.

Ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro, as she was when winning the Cocoa Beach Stakes on her previous start, the Charlatan filly was given an easy lead and never looked in danger, powering away for a seven and a half length win over Yuno.

“She broke well and I got into a good pace, everything went very well,” said Pinheiro, riding his 37th winner of the season and 190th in the UAE. “Thank you to the whole team who put a lot of work in - I’m glad to be a part of it.

“I got a soft lead, to be honest, but she has a wonderful mind – she sits, relaxes, does everything I ask. She has a bright future as she’s proved she stays the distance. It will be interesting to see how far she goes.”

“She’s out of a middle-distance dam and a ten-furlong stallion so the distance was an advantage for her - we came here confident,” said trainer Salem bin Ghadayer after his third UAE Oaks win.

On whether the filly will pursue the Kentucky Oaks or face colts in the UAE Derby, he said: “I will go back to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan [bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, owner] as she was his pick from the breeze-up sale. I will ask him what he wants to do, but she is ready for both options.”

It turned into an excellent night for Sheikh Hamdan when his Fairy Glen won the G2 Balanchine Stakes [sponsored by Al Tayer Motors] in the hands of Mickael Barzalona.

Blue Nazare was sent off favourite for the 1800metre fillies and mares contest but she pulled her chance away early on and faded fast in the straight. Fairy Glen was stepping down in trip and got home better than the closing Riyabovka, winning by half a length for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford.

“The trip was a question mark beforehand, but she traveled well during the race and pressed the pace,” said Barzalona. “Before, we didn’t think there would be much pace, so we were happy to lead, but we had to go to plan B and she stayed very well.”