By Heather Anderson
Mythical Magic (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) completed a Godolphin/Charlie Appleby clean sweep of the three Meydan group races on Thursday, as he drew off by three lengths in the G2 Zabeel Mile over a good turf course. The 1600-metre $250,000 affair was the second consecutive group victory for jockey William Buick, who had piloted Divine Image (Scat Daddy) to a win in the G3 UAE Oaks one race earlier.
Sitting in fourth two back and two deep as Top Score (GB) (Hard Spun) towed the field down the backstretch, the 4-year-old gelding improved to third on his own merits and drew within a length of new leader Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) through five panels in 1:00.25. He edged up to even terms with that foe a quarter mile from home and, given a few right-handers, asserted to score by three lengths. Century Dream held second, three-parts of a length better than fellow Appleby trainee First Contact (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
“It was an excellent performance,” said Buick. “He's a beautiful, imposing horse and he's getting things together now. His last run over seven furlongs in the Al Fahidi Fort was obviously an eye-catching run. Century Dream was the horse to beat without a question, but I think Mythical Magic had a fitness edge with a run under his belt.”
Added Appleby, “I thought he would come forward. He went to his girth there and stayed on nicely in the Al Fahidi Fort and we thought the step up in trip was going to suit. We'll have a chat [about the Dubai Turf]. He could maybe go to Australia for the Doncaster, but obviously we'll get back and regroup and see where we are. Very pleasing night. When you're on the kind of roll that we're on now, the confidence certainly flows throughout the stable.”
A winner of the Listed Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville in August of 2017 prior to placing in the G2 Champagne S. and G3 Horris Hill S. later that year as a juvenile, Mythical Magic played the bridesmaid in the Listed Prix Millkom at La Teste de Buch last September and was second in the Listed Prix Matchem at Saint-Cloud on Oct. 5. The bay was runner-up to Century Dream in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort on Jan. 24 when making his Meydan debut.
Pedigree Notes…
After winning the Zabeel, the 140,000gns TATFOA grad is the 31st group winner for his sire Iffraaj, as well as one of 65 black-type winners split between both hemispheres. The ninth foal from his winning dam, Mythical Magic is a half-brother to G3 Nell Gwyn S. heroine Esentepe (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) and four other winners. Mythie, a half-sister to Prix Saraca victress Mytographie (Fr) (Anabaa), foaled full-sisters by Gleneagles in 2017 and 2018. Under the third dam is G3 Prix Perth scorer Malaspina (Ire) (Bellypha {Ire}), as well as SW and GI Sword Dancer Invitational H. third L'Hermine (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
ZABEEL MILE SPONSORED BY AL TAYER MOTORS-G2, $250,000, Meydan, 2-21, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:36.39, gd.
1–MYTHICAL MAGIC (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Iffraaj (GB)
1st Dam: Mythie (Fr), by Octagonal (NZ)
2nd Dam: Mythologie (Fr), by Bering (GB)
3rd Dam: Mondovision (Fr), by Luthier (Fr)
1ST GROUP WIN. (140,000gns Wlg '15 TATFOA). O-Godolphin;
B-Peter Kelly and Ms Wendy Daly (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby;
J-William Buick. $150,000. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Eng, SW-Fr,
9-3-3-2, $305,867. *1/2 to Esentepe (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}),
GSW-Eng, $150,934. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Century Dream (Ire), 126, h, 5, Cape Cross (Ire)–Salacia (Ire),
by Echo of Light (GB). O-Abdulla Belhabb; B-Rabbah
Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Simon Crisford. $50,000.
3–First Contact (Ire), 126, g, 4, Dark Angel (Ire)–Vanishing Grey
(Ire), by Verglas (Ire). (€300,000 Wlg '15 GOFNOV).
O-Godolphin; B-Peter McCutcheon & Andrew Rosen (IRE);
T-Charlie Appleby. $25,000.
Margins: 3, 3/4, HD.
Also Ran: Wootton (Fr), Marinaresco (SAf), Janoobi (SAf), Comin' Through (Aus), Championship (Ire), Top Score (GB).
Click for the Emirates chart, the AmWager PPs. Emirates Video.
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