Capezzano romps in Firebreak Stakes
Capezzano’s reputation for needing his first race after a layoff took a major hit Thursday when he won the Group 3, $200,000 Firebreak Stakes by seven lengths in his first start since the Dubai World Cup on March 30.
His facile front-running victory in this one-turn mile (1,600 meters) puts Capezzano on track to race Feb. 29 at Riyadh in the $20 million Saudi Cup over 1,800 meters.
“Always his first time out he doesn’t perform, but we saved him this year since we heard about the Saudi race and for [the Dubai] World Cup,” trainer Salem bin Ghadayer told Dubai Racing Club publicity. “We believe in this horse and his ability. . . I know it’s just two weeks until the Saudi Cup, but we needed the race for his confidence.”
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Six-year-old Capezzano, a gelding by Bernardini out of Cableknit, by Unbridled’s Song, raced in top form last winter at Meydan before flopping in the World Cup. Mickael Barzalona rode him to victory Thursday night as Capezzano clocked a snappy 1:36.23 while easily handing runner-up Secret Ambition and third-place Matterhorn. Quip, the former American racer making his first Dubai start, checked in fifth.
Earlier on the card, the Godolphin filly Magic Lily followed up a narrow win over Nisreen going 1,600 meters in the Cape Verdi Stakes last month with a more comfortable 1 1/4-length victory over the same horse in the Group 2, $250,000 Balanchine Stakes, an 1,800-meter turf race.
“She was always going to appreciate the extra furlong in trip,” said William Buick, who rode the winner for trainer Charlie Appleby. “She came on from the Cape Verdi and I thought that was a good performance today.”
Nisreen just caught Maamora to finish second as the winner clocked 1:47.65 over good ground as the heavy favorite. Appleby suggested Magic Lily, a 5-year-old daughter of New Approach out of Dancing Rain, by Danehill Dancer, could make her next start March 8 in the Jebel Hatta Stakes, although that target is not etched in stone.
