Godolphin was already a Grade I winner of the Manhattan Stakes in the USA and the G1 Jebel Hatta on this course earlier this year and was home-bred Measured time (UK) (Frankel {GB}) set a novel course record on Friday when defending his title in the G2 Al Rashidiya in Meydan.
The Charlie Appleby trainee made his first start since his runner-up finish in the GI Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga in August and shot straight to the lead under William Buick. The colt always went easily but his speed was disingenuous and he sailed seven lengths across the finish line to win the G3 Killavullan Stakes and runner-up G1 Irish 2000 Guineas Cairo (Irish) (Quality Road) with a novel course record of 1:45.11 for the 1800 meters over good grass. The four-year-old broke Just A Way (Jpn)'s (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) G1 Dubai Duty Free 2014 record of 1:45.52. Royal Dubai (Fri) (Seahenge) finished third, a further two lengths behind.
It was Buick's third win of the night and Appleby's second. Appleby had three other Al Rashidiya winners in his saddle before Friday: Barney Roy (GB) (2020), Zakouski (GB) (2021) and Valiant Prince (Ireland) last year.
“It felt a little too good,” Buick said after his third Al Rashidiya. “He's super competitive and I was elated to be at the front with him, but we didn't need to put in such a substantial performance to win. But that's what you get with him; He is an energetic, exuberant horse.
“He's proven both here and in America that he's at the highest level – he's a first-class horse and we're hoping there will be some improvements from that.”
Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner of the Jebel Hatta in January, half-brother to the multiple top winner and two-time Breeders' Cup Turf hero, was fourth in the G1 Dubai Turf in June's Manhattan take the previous March.
Family tree notes
Measured Time is one of 35 Group 1 winners for Juddmonte sire Frankel. Frankely Awesome (Aus), who placed twice in the Australian Group 1, also comes from a Street Cry (Ire) mare.
The latest foal from the award-winning Minidress (GB) is a full brother to Rebel's Romance. Second dam Compact Skirt (Diktat {GB}) enjoyed her finest days in the sun when she won the Musidora Stakes and St Simon Stakes, both Group 3. She also finished second in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and third in the G1 Oaks Epsom.
Friday, Meydan, Middle East
AL RASHIDIYA (SPONSORED BY EMAAR) – listedAED850,000, Meydan, 12-20, 3yrs/over, 1800mT, 1:45.11 (NTR), gd.
1–Measured Time (GB), 128, c, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st mother: Minidress (GB) (SP-Eng), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd mother: Compact Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd mother: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB)
O/B Godolphin (GB); T Charlie Appleby; J William Buick. 510,000 AED. Lifetime record: G1SW-UAE, GISW-US, SP-Eng, 10-7-2-0, AED5,738,330. *1/2 to Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Hwt. 3 years – UAE at 9 1/2-11f, G1SW-HK & UAE, MGISW-US & MG1SW-Ger, SW-Qat, $11,777,574; and Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), SP-Ire. Click for that Free catalog style pedigree from Equineline.com. Work Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for that eNicks report and 5-cross family tree.
2–Cairo (Irish)126, c, 4, Quality Road–Cuff (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
O-Refai Alghraiban; B-Coolmore (IRE); T Alice Haynes. 170,000 AED.
3–Royal Dubai (Fri)126, c, 4, Seahenge–Sand Rose (Fr), from
Australian rules. O Saeed Sultan Al Rahoomi; B-Societa Agricola Gem SRL & Societa Agricola La Pluma SS (FR); T Lucie Botti. 85,000 AED.
Margins: 7, 2, HF.
Also running: Sean (Ger), Daramethos (Ire), Home Brew, Franz Kafka (Ire), Natural World (Ire). Scratched: Alfareq (Irish). Click for that ERA chart and video.
“It’s sensational!”
breaks the course record with a deadly success in Group Two Al Rashidiya sponsored by @emaardubai ⏱️#DubaiCarnival | #RacingDubai | #FestiveFriday pic.twitter.com/opxeVYJ6Hu
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) December 20, 2024
