By Daithi Harvey
The Godolphin team fielded a typically strong squad for Saturday's G1 Jebel Hatta, and while they duly claimed the spoils it was with the relatively unconsidered Charlie Appleby trained Blair House (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) who got the better of fellow Godolphin-owned, Saeed Bin Suroor-trained favourite Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The winner got a lovely ride from James Doyle, waiting patiently and hugging the rail towards the rear of the nine furlong contest before seizing an opportunity when a gap appeared one off the rail a furlong from home. At that stage, Benbatl had gotten to the lead but there were a few challengers waiting to strike, none more obvious than Blair House. When Doyle pressed the button a furlong out the 5-year-old responded generously and burst through to go a length clear. Kept up to his work by Doyle, the gelding maintained his advantage to the line as Benbatl held off Mike de Kock's South African challenger Janoobi (SAf)) (Silvano {Ger}) for second.
For Charlie Appleby it was the middle leg of a treble and he said, “It wasn't totally expected, but we thought he'd run a big race as he was so well. They've gone nice fractions and it was a great ride by James Doyle. For him to get a Group 1 on the board, I'm delighted. The horse had gained so much confidence here, it's not the first time we've seen it, a bit of sunshine on their backs, we just feel a bit better for it.”
Amazingly, before Saturday Blair House had never run in a stakes race let alone in a Group 1, so it must go down as quite a training performance by Appleby to eke out such improvement from a seemingly exposed 5-year-old. In Britain, a debut maiden win as a 3-year-old at Nottingham was supplemented solely by a handicap victory at Pontefract the same season. He was winless in three starts last year but has been consistent and progressive in three handicaps at the Carnival this year prior to Saturday, finishing runner up on his first two starts before beating Mountain Hunter (Lohnro {Aus}) in a nine furlong handicap on Feb. 17, a performance which saw him line up in the Jebel Hatta rated 107, seven pounds below the runner up.
Pedigree Notes…
Home bred by Darley, Blair House is one of two winners out of Patroness (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who no doubt owes her place among her breeder's broodmare band due to the exploits of her full-brother, the G1 QEII S. winner and successful sire Poet's Voice (GB). The pedigree is also responsible for some high-class Japanese stakes winners including Staphanos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Gold Tiara (Seeking The Gold) and Golden Hind (Jpn) (Kurofune {Jpn}). Coming through the ranks for Patroness include a 2-year-old unnamed filly by Invincible Spirit (Ire) and a yearling colt by New Approach (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
JEBEL HATTA SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE-G1, $300,000, MEY, 3-10, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 9fT, 1:47.53, gd.
1–BLAIR HOUSE (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Pivotal (GB)
1st Dam: Patroness (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Bright Tiara, by Chief's Crown
3rd Dam: Expressive Dance, by Riva Ridge
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Charlie
Appleby; J-James Doyle. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 13-4-6-0,
$394,586. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: B.
2–Benbatl (GB), 126, c, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Nahrain (GB), by Selkirk.
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor. $60,000.
3–Janoobi (SAf), 126, c, 4, Silvano (Ger)–Shasta Daisy (SAf), by
Rakeen. (R1.2 million Ylg '15 CAPJAN). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin
Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd (SAF);
T-Mike De Kock. $30,000.
Margins: 3/4, HD, 1.
Also Ran: Promising Run, Eqtiraan (Ire), Folkswood (GB), Rodaini, Whisky Baron (Aus), Above N Beyond (GB), Gm Hopkins (GB), Leshlaa. Click for the Racing Post result. VIDEO.
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