Top of the field on paper, Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) drew off as expected to a gate to wire win in the $2-million G2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night.
Hard-pressed by Adirato (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) to his inside at the bell, the bay edged away to a half-length lead on the backstretch. Kimbear (Temple City) took a run at the veteran and drew within a neck on his outside on the turn, but faded tamely once the real running began in upper stretch. Ryan Moore let Heavy Metal out a notch with a quarter mile to travel, and the response was immediate, as the 8-year-old lengthened his stride to win by two lengths. Muntazah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made up ground in the stretch to take second, a half-length to the good of Adirato in third.
“He had a really nice trip,” said Sandeep Jadhav, who was winning his first group race as a trainer. “Heavy Metal is a dream horse for the yard. He fought to the winning line and then we all went crazy. It's out of this world, a dream come true.”
Added Moore, who would also boot home Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) in the G2 UAE Derby, “We worked hard to get the lead through the first quarter but then he settled and travelled well for me in front. I was able to fill him up before the turn and into the straight I knew it would take a very big effort to get past me. It appears a big advantage to be in front on this track and it played to his strengths. He is a terrifically consistent horse.”
Successful in the G2 Richmond S. in his native land back in 2012, Heavy Metal had already saluted three times at Meydan, taking the G3 Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday in 2017, but was only eighth to Second Summer (Summer Bird) in this event at the end of March. Resurfacing with a 4 1/2-length win in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile S. on Dec. 21, the 8-year-old made it two on the bounce, winning the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 by an identical margin on Jan. 11. Third to Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) and North America (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 stretch out to 1 3/16 miles on Feb. 8, Heavy Metal was back to a mile and rewarded his backers with a 9 3/4-length victory in the track and trip G3 Firebreak S. on Feb. 17. The Sandeep Jadhav trainee, who was previously trained by subsequently banned trainer Salem bin Ghadayer, weakened to fourth in this year's Burj Nahaar behind Kimbear (Temple City), Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus} and Musawaat (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) on Super Saturday this term.
Pedigree Notes…
One of 142 black-type winners for his Darley shuttle sire, Heavy Metal was taking his fourth group event in Dubai. Out of South African Group 1 winner Rock Opera (SAf) (Lecture), Heavy Metal (GB) is the second foal from his dam and second winner. His 3-year-old half-brother Night Castle (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) has won twice in England, and his juvenile half-brother Royal Meeting (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) has yet to race. Rock Opera, a full-sister to GSW Hit Song (SAf) and G1SP Rock Concert (SAf), has a yearling colt by Shamardal. Rock Opera's half-sister Royal Drummer (SAf) (Kilconnel) is responsible for South African Grade 1 winner Gulf Storm (SAf) (Sail From Seattle) and GSW & G1SP Seattle Singer (SAf) (Sail From Seattle). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
GODOLPHIN MILE (SPONSORED BY MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM CITY – DISTRICT ONE)-G2, $1,000,000, MEY, 3-31, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1600m, 1:36.21, ft.
1–HEAVY METAL (GB), 126, g, 8, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Rock Opera (SAf) (G1SW-SAf & SP-UAE, $115,777), by Lecture
2nd Dam: Drummer Girl (SAf), by Al Mufti
3rd Dam: Swinging Girl (SAf), by Mullineaux
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Darley (GB);
T-Sandeep Jadhav; J-Ryan Moore. $600,000. Lifetime Record:
GSW-Eng, 59-15-8-1, $1,790,704. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Muntazah (GB), 126, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Rumoush, by Rahy.
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate
Company Ltd (GB); T-Doug Watson. $200,000.
3–Adirato (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Rulership (Jpn)–Narita Blue Star
(Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn). O-Koji Yasuhara; B-Tagami
Farm (JPN); T-Naosuke Sugai. $100,000.
Margins: 2, HF, 2HF. Also Ran: Musawaat (GB), Rosa Imperial (Ire), Kimbear, Economic Model, Raven's Corner (Ire), Special Fighter (Ire), Secret Ambition (GB), Second Summer, Shamaal Nibras, Capezzano, Akito Crescent (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post result.
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