Meydan report: Fort George stands tall for Ed Walker

It was a brilliant night for international raiders at Meydan’s tenth Dubai Racing Carnival meeting of the season, highlighted by a thrilling win by Fort George in the Group Three Dubai Millennium Stakes.

Trained in the UK by Ed Walker, Fort George was on and off the lead in the ten-furlong turf contest, losing it to Arabian Light inside the final 100metres, only to get back up on the line when that rival drifted right across the track.

It was a dramatic third win of the Carnival for jockey Kieran Shoemark, who said: “I’m thrilled. Ed Walker sent two horses over here and they’re both winners. Eloise who has been looking after them has done a brilliant job.

“He [Fort George] has really improved since he’s been over here. We thought we would change it up a little this time as he has a habit of being slowly out of the gates and I was further back than ideal last time, so the plan was to try and slide forward.

“He showed a willing attitude in the closing stages as I think the second [Arabian Light] went three quarters of a length up on us, but he battled hard. I think he could step back up in trip again – he’s pretty versatile.”

“That was fantastic,” added owner Dr Jim Hay. “Kieran couldn’t pull the horse up! Alex [Cole, Racing Manager] and Ed Walker will put their heads together and come up with a plan, but it was always the intention to keep him here right up until World Cup night.”

Title Role is highly regarded by trainers Simon and Ed Crisford and he made his second Meydan start a winning one in the opening Jumeirah Guineas Trial [sponsored by DP World].

Ridden by James Doyle, the Coolmore-owned colt was ridden up with the slow early pace from his wide draw in 10 and asserted 300metres from home. He crossed the line a length and a quarter ahead of the staying-on Sword Maker.

“The slow pace did suit him, as the little worry was going up in trip,” said Doyle. “He was the one to beat so the guys were happy to follow me rather than pitch me out, which was nice. I wanted to go as slow as I could for as long as I could before I let him go and then he ran home well.

“The way he galloped through the line and galloped out suggests [this trip] is no problem at all.”

Ed Crisford, enjoying an excellent season, added: “Early doors he was a bit gassy, but once James got him behind horses he settled well. He’s a nice horse going forward and we’ll head to the [Jumeirah] Guineas on Super Saturday.”

Salloom looks a UAE Derby contender after a devastating performance in the JAFZA Logistics Park Maiden, over 1600metres on dirt.

The imposing son of Authentic, ridden by Tadhg O’Shea for Bhupat Seemar, was quickly away and then content to dispute the lead with Music Lad. O’Shea hit the ‘go’ button at the 400metre and the colt responded well, powering away for a near seven-length win over National History.

“He’s a horse I’ve had in high regard since I got back this season,” said 12-time UAE Champion Jockey O’Shea. “A lot of credit goes to [starter] Shane Ryan and the stalls team who have done a lot of work with him after he flipped in the gates in December.

“He’s done there what he was showing me all the time at home. I wanted him to have a good smooth run and I was happy to take a lead and let Bernardo’s horse [Music Lad] do his thing. He’s very straightforward, apart from his blip in the gates.

“I think he’s a horse with a big future.”

The Crisfords enjoyed a double when Telemark collected his second win of the season in the DP World Logistics Handicap, over a mile on dirt.

Ridden by William Buick, he was positioned in midfield behind a fast early pace and came with a powerful late run to collar Mount Kosciuszko on the line.

“He’s not the biggest horse, but he’s got a very big heart,” said Buick. “When I hit the front the horse that finished second came to run me down and he sensed it and he found again. Those races are tough, so credit to him.”

Ed Crisford added: “When he won here in November, William said a mile was what he wants, but there weren’t any races here for him. He’s a seriously tough horse, it was a proper ‘ding dong’ battle to the wire, but he did well.”

Father/daughter trainer and jockey duo Jamie and Saffie Osborne continued their excellent Carnival when The Fingal Raven arrived late on the scene to claim the closing Dubai Auto Market Handicap, on turf over a mile

“I’m just very grateful that Dominic and David, his owners, have been so patient with him as we’ve always thought a lot of him, so it’s great it’s finally come to fruition,” said Saffie Osborne.

“We always had faith that he might turn into a Group horse one day. He’s quite a quirky horse - in the past he’s sometimes run too keen - and Dad’s team have done a great job of getting him to settle down.

“He has a wicked turn of foot for a horse over this trip and it’s nice to see it put to good use today.”

A superb night for European raiders included a double for Denmark. Jockey Oliver Wilson celebrated his first Dubai Racing Carnival win and trainer Soren Jensen his second when Taifuu caused a shock in the Mawj Stakes [sponsored by DP World].

The three-year-old fillies’ contest, over 7f on turf, looked competitive on paper and it was the locally trained Miss Yechance who took them along, with favourite Dance To The Music looming up in the straight. Over the top of them all came Taifuu, who collected her third win in a row, beating Fairy Oak by three-quarters of a length.

“I’m a bit surprised and very happy!” said Wilson. “I wasn’t expecting her to win today as she hasn’t run for three months so to deliver this performance straight away is very exciting. I’m sure there’s more to come, too, as she’ll be even better over 1600metres.

“She can be quite energetic in training and they’ve done a brilliant job of getting her nice and relaxed for today.”

Things got even better for Denmark when trainer Bent Olsen became a Carnival winner after a decade of trying thanks to Great Wish in the Listed Dubai Sprint [sponsored by DP World.]

Ridden by Mickael Barzalona, the five-year-old survived a bump at the start and settled just behind the pace, hitting the front more than two furlongs from home and staying on well to beat Two Tribes by a length and a half, with West Acre in third.

“The question mark was whether he would be fast enough to follow the speed but he did and stayed on well at the end,” said Barzalona after his second winner of the Carnival. “The instructions were to break good and not to give away too much ground, so everything went pretty well.

“It’s great to be here and I’m staying now until Super Saturday.”

Doug Watson unveiled another exciting dirt horse in Tap Leader, a Russian Group One winner, who made his UAE debut a winning one in the JAFZA Handicap.

An eight-time winner in Russia, the five-year-old son of Tapiture came with a sustained run in the hands of Pat Dobbs to deny Generous Tipper close home.

“He wasn’t enjoying the kickback in the first half mile, but when I got him out of it he traveled well,” said Dobbs. “He was a little bit lit up, got a bit warm, as it was his first time here.

“At home he’s very docile, you could put your kid on him. They’re very tough horses when they come from that part of the world. He should sharpen up for this run, so I’m sure there’s more to come.”

He added: “I think a smaller field would suit him as well, make life a bit easier. He’s got a high cruising speed and he was very impressive at the line.”