Super Saturday wrap, II: Turf prep winners on upswing but internationals tough on Dubai World Cup night

Continued from Part 1 on the Super Saturday dirt preps

The biggest upset of Super Saturday came in the first turf race, the Dubai City of Gold (G2), the stepping stone to the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1). Postponed made history last year by becoming the first horse to sweep both, but the odds-on favorite was foiled here by Godolphin’s up-and-coming Prize Money.

A combination of factors contributed to his defeat. Postponed’s pacemaker could have helped him out by going a little faster. Although they’d gone slower last year, Postponed was able at that time to set up shop in striking distance in a smaller field. This time, he was drawn widest of all in post 10, and jockey Andrea Atzeni didn’t have the luxury of parking where he wanted. To avoid being hung out for the duration of 1 1/2 miles, he had to drop back. That wouldn’t have been a problem if there was a strong enough pace to string out the field, or at least create enough space to maneuver. But his pacemaker actually began slowing down by the mile mark, and by the time he’d gone about 1 1/4 miles, his split was slower than the 2016 City of Gold (2:04.72 versus 2:04.49).

To compound the problem, Postponed was stuck in a sea of Godolphin blue. When Emotionless went forward nearing the final turn, Adrie de Vries executed the perfect maneuver on Prize Money by smoothly moving up into his vacated spot, thereby keeping Postponed hemmed in.

But even with the post, the pace, and the traffic, I think the Postponed of early 2016 would probably have muscled through once he saw a glimmer of daylight. On Saturday, the now six-year-old took a fraction longer to unwind in his comeback, and the door was shut. Atzeni had to scramble to the inside, where Postponed quickened and nearly got up. But Prize Money was staying on too strongly, and the Saeed bin Suroor trainee kept his neck in front.

 

“I can't say I thought he had a serious chance,” de Vries freely admitted, “but I thought was going to improve again.

“He must be a serious horse, he’s just improving. I knew if Postponed wasn't 100 percent, there was a small chance for me. I was afraid I’d got there a little too soon but he lasted until the end.”

Atzeni took consolation in the fact this was just a tune-up for Postponed.

“It was his first run of the year and the race was a bit messy,” his rider said. “He finished the race off really well, today was a prep race.”

Despite all of the logic that excuses Postponed, this reverse may imply that he’s not quite the force he was this time last year. The internationals who weren’t seen at the Carnival – notably Godolphin’s Jack Hobbs from the John Gosden yard, Aidan O’Brien’s Highland Reel, and to a lesser extent Japan’s Sounds of Earth – can feel emboldened ahead of the Sheema.

Indeed, the Godolphin brain trust knows that however progressive Prize Money is, he’s yet to reach the level of Jack Hobbs. If their Carnival success story can beat Postponed, that ought to boost the stock of their 2015 Irish Derby (G1) hero, last seen finishing third to Almanzor and Found in the Champion (G1) at Ascot.

In any event, Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby doesn’t see the need to press on to World Cup night with Emotionless. He told godolphin.com that he’ll point to a summer campaign in Europe. I’d been mischievous enough to imagine that Emotionless would wheel back on dirt for the World Cup, but no.

***

The about six-furlong Nad al Sheba Sprint is an addition to Super Saturday, switching with the about five-furlong Meydan Sprint (G3) as a more fitting prep for the newly lengthened Al Quoz Sprint (G1).

As hoped, the best horse won in the form of Godolphin’s Jungle Cat, who comprehensively reversed form with Appleby stablemate Baccarat. French invader The Right Man was an encouraging third in his seasonal reappearance.