Glorious Journey leads home Appleby 1-2-3 in Al Fahidi Fort

Glorious Journey improved during 2019 after trainer Charlie Appleby cut him back to distances less than one mile, and the good European form he showed last year transferred to Dubai on Thursday night.

Making his Meydan debut, Glorious Journey led an Appleby one-two-three in the Group 2, $250,000 Al Fahidi Fort, beating Mythical Magic by three-quarters of a length. Mythical Magic was runner-up in the Al Fahidi Fort for the second year in a row, while Appleby-trained Mubtasim finished another length back in third.

James Doyle settled Glorious Journey in midpack and came with a sweeping outside move to take the lead inside the final furlong. Glorious Journey ran 1400 meters, about seven furlongs, in 1:22.45. Glorious Forever’s lone 2019 win, in the Group 2 Hungerford at Newbury, came over rain-softened ground, but he coped comfortably Thursday with good going.

Appleby said Glorious Journey, a 5-year-old gelding by Dubawi out of Fallen for You, by Dansili, could make his next start in the $1 million 1351 Turf Sprint on the Saudi Cup undercard next month in Saudi Arabia. That race will be contested over 6 3/4 furlongs.

Earlier on the Thursday card, Dubai Love scored a decisive victory in the listed $250,000 UAE 1000 Guineas, a one-turn dirt mile for 3-year-old fillies. Dubai Love had been fourth in her prep race for Thursday’s start but took a solid forward step under Pat Cosgrave to post a 3 1/4-length win over Down On Da Bayou. Dubai Love, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, was timed in 1:37.98 and seems a likely candidate for the UAE Oaks. Dubai Love is by Night of Thunder out of Devotion, by Dylan Thomas.