By Kelsey Riley
With six of the eight runners in Thursday's G3 Dubai Millennium S. at Meydan carrying the Godolphin blue, the odds were always very much in favour of Sheikh Mohammed's stables, and in the end it was Charlie Appleby's Spotify (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) who made it two on the bounce at the carnival, turning back a late drive from Saeed bin Suroor's Racing History (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).
Racing as a homebred for breeders the Wertheimer brothers through his first three seasons, Spotify had been twice Group 3-placed at three and was fourth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains. He picked up a listed win at Cagnes-Sur-Mer over the all-weather just about a year ago and was picked up by Godolphin for €250,000 at Arqana's Arc Sale after finishing third in the G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte. Transferred from Christophe Ferland to Charlie Appleby, Spotify resurfaced at Meydan on Jan. 24 with a turf handicap victory and was dropped back a quarter-mile here. The bay took command down the backstretch under James Doyle and was never headed, although Racing History, after racing on his heels throughout, put in a valiant effort in the lane. The elder Racing History diminished the margin to a short head on the line, but still Spotify appeared to be holding him strongly.
“It was a great ride by James on the front end,” said Appleby. “He got him into a nice rhythm. The horse digs deep when they come to him. Full credit to him. We thought he came forward from that last start and coming back in trip would suit.
“That might be his carnival wrapped up for him. We will point him to a European campaign. As always, we'll get them back and see how they are and regroup. We had a strong team of horses in there and it was always going to be a tactical race and James got his fractions right on the front end.”
Pedigree Notes
A member of the first of two French-conceived crops for the Australian champion sire Redoute's Choice (Aus), Spotify is out of the four-time group winner Gwenseb (Fr) (Green Tune). He is one of four stakes winners for that mare, who is also responsible for multiple Group 3 winner Attendu (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}), the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein and G2 Prix de Sandringham victress Impassable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and the listed-winning Foreign Tune (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Gwenseb has a 2-year-old colt by Oasis Dream (GB) named Thirsty (Ire) and a yearling filly by Dark Angel.
Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI MILLENNIUM S. SPONSORED BY JAGUAR-G3, $200,000, Meydan, 2-21, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:05.55, gd.
1–SPOTIFY (FR), 126, h, 5, by Redoute's Choice (Aus)
1st Dam: Gwenseb (Fr) (MGSW-Fr, $297,177),
by Green Tune
2nd Dam: La Popesse, by St. Jovite
3rd Dam: Madonna Sprite (GB), by Saint Cyrien (Fr)
1ST GROUP WIN. (€250,000 HRA '18 ARQARC). O-Godolphin;
B-Wertheimer Et Frere (FR); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle.
$120,000. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP-Fr, 14-6-1-2,
$383,739. *1/2 to Foreign Tune (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), SW &
GSP-Fr, $161,614; Impassable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}),
MGSW-Fr, $269,064; Attendu (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}), MGSW-
Fr, $292,686. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: F.
2–Racing History (Ire), 126, h, 7, Pivotal (GB)–Gonbarda (Ger),
by Lando (Ger). O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Saeed bin
Suroor. $40,000.
3–First Nation (GB), 126, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Moyesii, by Diesis
(GB). O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. $20,000.
Margins: SHD, 1HF, NO.
Also Ran: Team Talk (GB), Oasis Charm (GB), Muzdawaj (GB), Vintager (GB), Connect (GB). Click for the Emirates Racing chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
