The outsider of the 11-strong field, Fityaan gained the verdict in a three-way tussle for the G3 Meydan Sprint, out-pointing Godolphin's Jungle Cat by a nose in a tight photo-finish.
The 8-year-old winner dwelt slightly as the gates opened but was swiftly into his stride and challenging the leaders throughout under a positive ride from Paul Hanagan to give Sheikh Hamdan's retained jockey his second Group 3 victory on the Super Saturday card following his success on Muarrab (GB) in the Mahab Al Shimaal.
Fityaan was recording his best performance yet of a busy season that has seen him make seven starts over this course. He finished off the board in a pair of handicaps before running Ertijaal (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the Irish version, to two lengths when second over this track and trip Feb. 4. He could manage only eighth over the same course and distance next out Feb. 18, and was fourth trying six furlongs Feb. 25.
The veteran multiple Group 1 winner Sole Power, last seen racing in Hong Kong on Dec. 13, demonstrated that he retains plenty of enthusiasm for the job, running home strongly in the final furlong to finish just a short-head behind the leading duo. He finished 12th in this race last year before going on to win the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
MEYDAN SPRINT SPONSORED BY ARABIAN ADVENTURES-G3, $175,000, MEY, 3-5, NH3yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1000mT, :57.07, gd.
1–@#FITYAAN (GB), 126, g, 8, by Haafhd (GB)
1st Dam: Welsh Diva (GB) (GSW-Ity, $102,944), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Khubza (GB), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Breadcrumb (GB), by Final Straw (GB)
(100,000gns yrl '09 TATOCT) O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al
Maktoum; B-Usk Valley Stud (GB); T-Musabah Al Muhairi;
J-Paul Hanagan. $105,000. Lifetime Record: 41-5-10-3,
$385,058. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A.
2–Jungle Cat (Ire), 126, c, 4, Iffraaj (GB)–Mike's Wildcat, by
Forest Wildcat. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Charlie
Appleby. $35,000.
3–Sole Power (GB), 126, g, 9, Kyllachy (GB)–Demerger, by
Distant View. (£33,600 yrl '08 DONAUG) O-Mrs Sabena Power;
B-G Russell (GB); T-Edward Lynam. $17,500.
Margins: NO, SHD, 2 1/4.
Also Ran: Sir Maximilian (Ire), Krypton Factor (GB), Medicean Man (GB), Goldream (GB), Taayel (Ire), Mirza (GB), Toscanini (Ire), Stepper Point (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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