Guns And Glory staked a claim for a spot in the G2 UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup day with an emphatic win on the final night of the Dubai Racing Carnival.
The Gun Runner colt, trained by Bhupat Seemar and ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, barely saw another rival in the 1900metre Dubai Marina Conditions race for three-year-olds.
Guns And Glory cost owners Jim and Fitri Hay Euro543,210 at the 2023 Goffs Dubai Sale and it was easy to see why on this his third start. He dominated the race from the front and turned it on further close home, beating former winner Elyabri by 12 lengths.
The win added to Zabeel Stables’ already strong team of G2 UAE Derby potentials, with Guns And Glory possibly having done enough to join stablemates Killer Collect and Mendelssohn Bay in the race. It did, however, come at a price.
GUNS AND GLORY 🚀🚀
The son of Gun Runner smoked 'em last night!#DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/YdE9U6ZnGi
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 9, 2024
“His rider [Jennifer Ferguson] fell off him yesterday and has a broken leg, because he’s a bit of a handful and spends a lot of time on his hind legs,” said O’Shea afterwards.
“I said to [owner] Dr Hay, I thought he’d win the first time, but he needed that run and then was disappointing last time. At the start of the season, I thought he was a UAE Derby horse and I’m sure if the invitation comes they’d love to take it up.”
Hay added: “He was a bit babyish last time, but tonight he’s shown that he’s come on a ton. I think with a performance like that he deserves a run [in the Derby.]”
It was an excellent evening for Seemar who picked up a five-timer, initiated when Mezzotinto got his first win at the 22nd attempt in the Oasis Maiden, race two, over 1200metres on dirt. Ridden on the lead by O’Shea, the six-year-old went further clear in the straight and ran out the uncontested winner, beating stablemate Sikorsky by four and a quarter lengths.
“He’s been very consistent but has drawn badly a lot,” said O’Shea. “He had stall one today and he’s an old pro, so he was able to make use of it. He’s a big horse and he looks after himself, so he should have plenty of longevity.
“It’s great for the [Initforthesun] syndicate, it’s their first winner and they’ve been knocking on the door.”
It was a good night for syndicates, and a second one visited the Winner’s Enclosure when Poster Paint staved off all challengers in the Valley Handicap, over 1800metres on turf.
Ridden by Sandro Paiva for Seemar, the five-year-old was winning for just the second time and first since February 2022, but he was given a good ride from the front and was always holding off second home First View.
Poster Paint is owned by Suited & Booted Racing in partnership with Falcon Racing Team, so Paiva was almost swamped by well-wishers in the Winner’s Enclosure.
“He’s improved a lot from the last race and worked well at home, so I was excited to ride him today,” said the jockey. “I wanted to send him forward, but I had some horses on my right pressuring. When I got into the straight, I asked him again and he responded well.”
It became a four-timer for Seemar when Arabian Tale showed plenty of guts to claim a first Meydan win in the Dubai Hills Estate Handicap, over 1900metres on dirt.
The five-year-old was making just his fifth start but had to be tough to hold off Saqarra King, who was a little short of room in the final furlong but challenged again close home.
“He’s a bit of an enigma and just does enough at home,” said O’Shea, completing a treble. “On his first dirt run he was third behind Nevershow Weakness who went onto win his next two.
“He’s owned by lovely people [the Chopra family], who didn’t make it to Abu Dhabi last time so it’s great that they were here tonight. He [Arabian Tale] is probably done for this season so they have a nice horse to look forward to for next year.”
Seemar made it a fantastic five when Elusive Terry took his career tally to two from two, with a tenacious win in the penultimate Emaar South Handicap, over 1400metres on dirt.
The four-year-old, winner of a Jebel Ali maiden on his previous start, was always up with the pace on the rail under Pat Cosgrave but was brave in refusing to let the closers past him in the straight, going on again and securing a two length win over Triple Venture.
“Drawn one, second start ever, first time at Meydan… he was good,” said an impressed Cosgrave. “I thought he’d run his race at 300metres but then he went on again – he’s tough.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s quite a good horse and if he goes a mile he’ll be even better. He could keep improving and go out of handicaps at some stage, he’s got no flaws.”
Reflecting on an excellent night, Seemar added; “we came here with some good horses with good chances but it all has to drop right. It’s a massive team effort, the guys at home do an excellent job and I just get to pick up the prizes.”
Botti Celebrates another Royal Win
First season trainer Lucia Botti has been one of the stories of the Carnival and she celebrated a second win with Royal Dubai.
The victory – the colt’s second of the campaign – owed a lot to the ice cool ride by Ben Coen, who had nowhere to go at the top of the straight, but weaved a path through to beat King Of Time by a neck.
“We’re absolutely delighted,” said Botti, who took out her licence just three months ago. “Not many horses have won twice this season so we’re very proud. It was a very long straight for us, watching it!”
Botti has big plans for Royal Dubai, a son of Seahenge who broke his maiden on the dirt at Meydan when trained by Seemar.
“We’re going to wait a couple of days to see if an invitation comes for the Godolphin Mile, but if not we’ll take him home and come back next year.”
Another to collect his second win of the Carnival was Vespasian who took the step back up to 1200metres in his stride in the Dubai Creek Harbour Handicap on turf.
Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, the five-year-old was a winner here two starts ago over 1000metres but never looked like being caught once hitting the front a little over 400metres out.
“I was very happy once I got a bit of cover as he travelled better,” said winning rider Pat Dobbs. “I probably went 150 yards too soon as I was in front long enough. He’s probably better over six [1200metres] than five [1000metres].
“I’d say the better the race, the better he’ll be. I don’t think stepping up in grade would be a problem for him.”
The most valuable race on the card was the AED300,000 G2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah [Sponsored by Emaar], for Purebred Arabians, which was run on turf for the first time.
Al Laith only got into the race as a reserve but was much the best here under Coen, who had a commanding lead turning for home and wasn’t stopping, beating Heros De Lagarde and AF Maqam by a length and three-quarters and half a length.
It was a twelfth winner of the season from just 59 runners for trainer Ahmed Al Mehairbi and a 26th for jockey Coen, who said: “He’s improved all season. I won on him over a mile at Abu Dhabi but it was a lower grade race.
“He’s a better turf horse than he is on dirt. He probably got there a furlong too soon but he’s won with a bit in hand and could be an exciting horse for next season.”
The final race on the card, the Arabian Ranches Handicap, over 1400metres on turf, gave Michael Costa a crucial win in the race to become Champion Trainer. The Australian had seen his lead disappear thanks to the Seemar five-timer but went one ahead again when Ajdayet bolted clear on just his fourth start and first on turf.
Ridden by Coen, completing a treble, the four-year-old tracked over to the rail once in the clear but was good value for a two length win over the closing Jumaira Bay.
Meydan next opens its doors for the $30.5million Dubai World Cup meeting, on Saturday, March 3oth.
