Championship (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was shaping up as one of the stars of last year's carnival before injury ruled him out of Super Saturday and Dubai World Cup night. The 7-year-old gelding is back after almost a year on the sidelines on Thursday in Meydan's G2 Al Fahidi Fort, a race he won by 3 1/2 lengths last year before besting Noah From Goa (SAf) (Tiger Ridge) in the G2 Zabeel Mile.
“He's doing very, very well,” trainer Ahmad bin Harmash said. “He looks the same as always and is a fresh horse. His handicap [rating] is so high, we had to save him for this spot. Don't forget that last year he started at 102 and now we are 117, so you can't run him in handicap races because of the weight.”
Noah From Goa finished third behind Championship in last year's Al Fahidi Fort and second in the Zabeel Mile, and the Mike de Kock charge was third on seasonal debut in a Jan. 11 handicap behind Godolphin's D'Bai (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). In winning that track and trip race, D'Bai lowered Championship's course record set in the Al Fahidi Fort. D'Bai is trained by Charlie Appleby, who has won this race twice with Safety Check (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and who also saddles Jungle Cat (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).
“D'Bai, just like Safety Check did, has really thrived in Dubai and we are following the same route,” Appleby said. “He should have strong claims, while Jungle Cat is something of a carnival veteran. Stepping him up to 1400m seemed to suit him last year and he is working well.”
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