Godolphin's crack sprinter Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) was very much a man among boys when strolling to a facile victory in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, three lengths clear of Sheikh Hamdan's Ekhtiyaar (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}).
Sent off as odds-on favourite for his second start at Meydan this carnival, the 5-year-old sat just off the pace in the hands of William Buick as Australian speedball Faatinah (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) made the early running with Log Out Island (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) giving chase. Those two would fade to the rear, however, as Blue Point took the step back up to six furlongs well within his stride, quickening immediately when asked at the halfway mark and soon shooting through the pack to take charge two furlongs out. Ekhtiyaar stepped up again from his easy handicap victory on Feb. 21, with Mazzini (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) getting the better of 80/1 outsider Riflescope (Ire) (Raven's Pass) in a tight battle for third place.
“He felt great. He's just a lot more professional now,” said Buick. “This was another stepping stone to the Al Quoz. It was just lovely that he's channelling all his ability and strengths. The team has done a fantastic job with him. He's always been an exciting horse. His confidence has grown. He knows how good he is.”
Blue Point will return to Meydan on World Cup night for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, for which he was favourite last year before being withdrawn at the start when blood was spotted in one of his nostrils.
Pedigree notes
A three-parts brother to G2 Railway S. winner Formosina (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), Blue Point was bred by Oak Lodge Stud from the Royal Applause (GB) mare Scarlett Rose (GB), herself a half-sister to five-time Group 3 winner Tumbleweed Ridge (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). Sold for 110,000gns as a foal, Blue Point was snapped up by John Ferguson during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale for 200,000gns and is now the winner of eight of his 17 races and more than £1 million in prize-money.
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
NAD AL SHEBA TURF SPRINT SPONSORED BY ARABIAN ADVENTURES-G3, $350,000, Meydan, 3-9, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:10.15, gd.
1–BLUE POINT (IRE), 126, h, 5, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Scarlett Rose (GB), by Royal Applause (GB)
2nd Dam: Billie Blue (GB), by Ballad Rock (Ire)
3rd Dam: Blue Nose (Ire), by Windjammer
(110,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; 200,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT).
O-Godolphin; B-Oak Lodge Bloodstock (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby;
J-William Buick. $210,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng,
16-7-3-3, $1,379,210. *1/2 to Formosina (Ire)
(Footstepsinthesand {GB}), GSW-Ire & GSP-Eng, $111,514.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ekhtiyaar (GB), 126, g, 5, Bated Breath (GB)">Bated Breath (GB)–Bayja (Ire), by
Giant's Causeway. (110,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Sheikh
Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-James Ortega Bloodstock
(GB); T-Doug Watson. $70,000.
3–Mazzini (GB), 126, g, 6, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Firenze (GB),
by Efisio (GB). (90,000gns HRA '18 TATAUT). O-Ahmed
Al-Qattan & Fawzi Nass; B-Jan & Peter Hopper (GB); T-Fawzi
Abdulla Nass. $35,000.
Margins: 3, 2 3/4, NO.
Also Ran: Riflescope (Ire), Ajwad (GB), Gifted Master (Ire), Hit the Bid (GB), High On Life (GB), Portamento (Ire), Faatinah (Aus), Log Out Island (Ire). Click for the Emirates Racing chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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