Dubai: Native Approach ($64.50) springs upset in Al Quoz Sprint
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The Dubai-based sprinter Native Approach repelled a late threat from Lugal of Japan to record a surprise win in Saturday’s Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.
Native Approach, ridden by Connor Beasley for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash, disputed the lead throughout and won the six-furlong Al Quoz Sprint by a neck over Lugal.
Native Approach, who paid $65.40 in American pools, won his second consecutive group stakes for turf sprinters at Meydan. He won the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint against 14 rivals at six furlongs on Feb. 28.
In the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint, Native Approach had 10 rivals. Beasley had the 5-year-old gelding on the lead quickly after starting from the outside. The race was run on a straightaway course.
Beasley told the press his best approach was to let Native Approach lead at his own tempo.
“The more you fight with them, the more energy you’ll lose,” he said. “I just got him in a nice rhythm.”
In the final sixteenth, Lugal (5-1) moved alongside Native Approach but could not pass the leader.
“Once the Japanese horse came to me, he was very determined,” Beasley said of Native Approach.
Native Approach was timed in 1:10.02.
Lugal, the 2024 champion sprinter in Japan, finished a length in front of the star French sprinter Lazzat, the 7-5 favorite.
Reef Runner, winner of the Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 14, and three stakes in the United States since last summer, finished fourth as the 2-1 second choice. Trained in Florida by David Fawkes, Reef Runner stalked the pace in the Al Quoz and closed some ground on the inside in the final sixteenth to gain fourth in the final strides.
Native Approach, a 5-year-old British-bred gelding by Too Darn Hot, races for Hamdan Harmash. Native Approach was owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing until November.
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