Ramzan Kadyrov's North America (GB) (Dubawi (Ire) ran away and hid from his foes en route to his first Group 1 title in the $400,000 2000-metre G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 at Meydan on Super Saturday, a warm up for the $10-million track and trip G1 Dubai World Cup. North America will attempt to become the fourth horse to clinch the valuable double on Mar. 31.
Immediately hustled to the head of affairs from gate six by Richard Mullen, despite crossing over in front of Capezzano (Bernardini) in his hurry to secure a rails run, North America was under mild pressure from his rivals, as Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) settled in between horses in fifth, three from the front into the clubhouse turn. Pressed by Capezzano and Thunder Snow, who had inched up into third three deep, North America still commanded a comfortable margin six furlongs from the wire. The Godolphin colourbearer drew up to North America's hindquarters as noses pointed toward home, but there he remained until the 600-metre marker, until his pilot Oisin Murphy got busy on the MG1SW. That was as close as the Thunder Snow managed, as North America, given a few right-handers to keep his mind on business, stretched away to win by 5 1/4 lengths. Chilean champion Furia Cruzada (Chi) (Newfoundland) checked in third, 3 3/4 lengths behind, nine lengths to the good of Second Summer (Summer Bird) in the strung-out field.
“Last time, when second to Thunder Snow [in Round 2], was probably a career-best and he has built on that again tonight,” said a pleased Mullen who rides for trainer Satish Seemar. “I just wanted to get him into a rhythm; not necessarily to lead, but we broke so well, I was able to get to the front and he was then always happy. I am just very lucky to be part of a big team with Satish at Zabeel Stables. Everyone works so hard and it is great on occasions like this for everyone. Obviously the Dubai World Cup is going to be a stronger race, but he deserves his chance.”
North America established his affinity with the local dirt immediately, racking up a four-race winning streak beginning in November of 2016 after selling for AED140,000 during the Meydan Racing in Dubai Sale in April. The highlight of the quartet was his first Group 3 win, where he took down the 2017 Firebreak S last February. Tenth in the G2 Godolphin Mile on Mar. 25, he took third to Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Thunder Snow in his 6-year-old bow in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 and went one better behind Thunder Snow, with Heavy Metal third in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 last time on Feb. 8.
Pedigree Notes…
The 34th Group 1 winner for his star Darley sire Dubawi (Ire), North America is out of GI Hollywood Startlet S. third Northern Mischief (Yankee Victor), herself a half-sister to U.S. champion older mare and MGISW Gourmet Girl (Cee's Tizzy). His second dam is the G3 Park S. third Rhondaling (GB) (Welsh Pageant {Fr}). Both 5-year-old Make Mischief (GB) (Makfi {GB}) and his year-younger half-sister Liquid Gold (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) have won for Northern Mischief. She has an unraced Shamardal filly named Nourah (Ire), but was barren to Teofilo {Ire}) in 2016.
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R3 SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE-G1, $400,000, MEY, 3-10, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 10f, 2:01.71, ft.
1–NORTH AMERICA (GB), 126, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Northern Mischief (GISP-US, $123,918),
by Yankee Victor
2nd Dam: Rhondaling (GB), by Welsh Pageant (Fr)
3rd Dam: Touch of Class (Fr), by Luthier (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (100,000gns Wlg '12 TATFOA; AED140,000
HRA '16 GODAPR). O-Ramzan Kadyrov; B-Qatar Bloodstock Ltd
(GB); T-Satish Seemar; J-Richard Mullen. $240,000. Lifetime
Record: 14-5-3-2, $567,017. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”godolphin-dubai”]2–Thunder Snow (Ire), 126, c, 4, Helmet (Aus)–Eastern Joy (GB),
by Dubai Destination. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Saeed bin
Suroor. $80,000.
3–Furia Cruzada (Chi), 121, m, 6, Newfoundland–Nuestra Machi
(Chi), by Hussonet. (180,000gns RNA HRA '16 TATDEC). O-Avaz
Ismoilov; B-Haras Dadinco (CHI); T-Erwan Charpy. $40,000.[bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”]Margins: 5 1/4, 3 3/4, 9.
Also Ran: Second Summer, Special Fighter (Ire), Montsarrat (Ire), Capezzano, Cosmo Charlie, Eragon (Arg), Boynton, Saltarin Dubai (Arg), Team Talk (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result. VIDEO.
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