Godolphin’s blue-blooded Magic Lily romped to victory in the Gr.2 $250,000 Cape Verdi, a 1600m turf feature for fillies and mares.
The daughter of classic winners New Approach and Dancing Rain was victorious on her juvenile debut, she was then third in the Gr.1 Fillies’ Mile behind Laurens and September. Magical Lilly became one of the world’s top middle-distance horses. Magic Lily then missed her entire sophomore and most of her 4yo season with an injury. She returned with a second in Listed company in France in the autumn before a poor performance last out after a bad barrier draws in Listed Lingfield company.
The secondary feature of the evening was the inaugural US$175,000 Zabeel Turf, which was won in driving fashion by Mick Channon trainee Certain Lad, who was ridden by Ben Curtis for owner C. R. Hirst, who was in town for the race.
Fractious in the preliminaries and sent to post early as a result, the 4yo Clodovil-sired winner was settled well off the pace by Curtis before making stealthy progress throughout the early part of the straight, then quickening clear passing the 200m pole. Simsir was gaining at the line but never looked like denying Curtis his 21st winner in the past 14 days. Certain Lad equalling the track record when finishing three-quarters of a length clear.
Dirt sprinters had their chance in the next race, a 1200m dirt handicap, the $135,000 Al Furjan Handicap, which was contested at a furious gallop with at least four of the 11 runners wanting to lead but it was Bochart and Richie Mullen, well-berthed install four, who was soon in front and once kicked clear early in the straight they were never going to be caught.
The Mina, a US$135,000 1600m dirt handicap, was another to produce an exciting finish with Pat Dobbs and Midnight Sands leading close home to provide Doug Watson a 600th career winner, denying British challenger Ambassadorial who had appeared to have opened up a telling advantage when committed for home by John Egan leaving the home turn.
The concluding 1600m turf handicap, the $135,000 Aliyah, produced a one-in-a-million finish when David O’Meara-conditioned Gr.1 winner Suedois fought to the wire to win by the scantest of noses over Crisford-trained Epic Hero.
Curated From Press Release by DRC