Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R2 SPONSORED BY TABLOID-G2, $250,000, Meydan, 2-7, NH4yo/up/SH3yo/up, 1900m (AWT), 1:58.19, stn.
1--HUNTER’S LIGHT (IRE), 126, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Portmanteau (GB), by Barathea (Ire)
2nd Dam: Dayanata (Ire), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Delsy (Fr), by Abdos (Fr)
O-Godolphin; B-Darley; T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Silvestre de Sousa; $150,000. Lifetime Record: GISW-Ity, GSW-Eng, SW-Tur & GSP-Fr,16-8-2-2, $641,366. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Surfer, 125, c, 4, Distorted Humor--Surf Club, by Ocean Crest. O-Zabeel Racing International Corp; B-Darley; T-S Seemar; $50,000.
3--Prince Bishop (Ire), 126, g, 6, Dubawi (Ire)--North East Bay, by Prospect Bay. (80,000gns wnlg ‘07
TATDEC). O-Godolphin; B-Thurso Ltd; T-Saeed bin Suroor; $25,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, HF, 1 3/4.
Also Ran: Saint Baudolino (Ire), Mendip, Mushreq (Aus), Jamr (GB), Mufarrh (Ire), Await the Dawn, Zain Shamardal (Ire), So Beautiful (Fr), Alpha. Click for the Racing Post result.
   Hunter’s Light has been a steady improver in the Godolphin blue, following a pair of Listed wins at three with successes in the G3 Rose of Lancaster S. over 10 furlongs at Haydock in August and the Anatolia Trophy at Veliefendi in September last term. After finding Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) far too strong when nine-lengths second to that star performer in the G2 Prix Dollar over an extended nine-furlong trip in October, he scooped a first top-level success despite running errantly in the G1 Premio Roma back over 10 furlongs the following month. Positioned near the front end early by Silvestre de Sousa in this warm-up for the Dubai World Cup, the chestnut swooped on Surfer with 300 meters remaining and stretched away to stamp his authority on the contest. "Saeed brought him here in great form and he’s getting better and better," jockey Silvestre de Sousa commented. "He had a blow there, so should improve again."