The G2 Zabeel Mile headlines a four graded-stake card at Meydan on Thursday, and Championship (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) looks to make it back-to-back wins at this level. The winner of the Listed National Day Cup over this trip in Abu Dhabi in December, the 6-year-old gelding was beaten a neck by Light The Lights (SAf) (Western Winter) going a furlong further in the Listed Singspiel S. on Jan. 5, and rebounded when dropped back to seven furlongs to win the G2 Al Fahidi Fort over Flash Fire (Ire) (Shamardal) and Noah From Goa (SAf) (Tiger Ridge) on Jan. 19.
Mike de Kock saddles both Light The Lights and Noah From Goa, with stable rider Christophe Soumillon opting for the latter.
“Both mine are very well and should be competitive,” said de Kock. “Noah From Goa needed his first run and has certainly improved from it. It is probably a shorter than ideal trip for Light The Lights but he is in great form and this looks a good spot to run him again before, probably, stepping him up in trip on Super Saturday.”
Also saddling a pair is Charlie Appleby. In addition to Flash Fire, the Godolphin trainer sends out the Group 1-placed Cymric (Kitten's Joy), winner of a course and distance handicap on Feb. 2.
“Flash Fire produced a career best in the Al Fahidi Fort and has since produced another strong performance back in a handicap [when second on Feb. 9],” said Appleby. “Like Safety Check, who won this race for us twice, he is a very good 1400 metre horse who stays the easy 1600 metres at Meydan.”
Appleby added, “We were very pleased with Cymric's first run and he has come out of that race in good order. He has solid Group 1 form so, if returning to anything like that level, he is going to be a serious contender.”
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