Golden Goal scores at 34-1 in Round 1 of Al Makotum Challenge

Golden Goal got good at the end of the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival and has stayed good into 2022. Second behind Secret Ambition in the Godolphin Mile last March, Golden Goal turned the tables Friday on Secret Ambition and won the Group 2, $250,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 on opening night of the 2022 Carnival.

A 34-1 shot, Golden Goal merited more respect than that while making his second start this season following his strong showing in the Godolphin Mile. Breaking alertly from the rail under Sam Hitchcott, Golden Goal pressed Secret Ambition’s pace while holding his position along the fence, Hitchcott wisely not allowing any rival to cross and clear. Golden Goal forged to the lead in upper stretch and gradually pulled clear to post a 1 1/2-length victory. An 8-year-old by Dark Angel out of Golden Rosie, by Exceed and Excel, Golden Goal was timed in 1:37.90 for the one-turn 1,600 meters on dirt. Doug Watson trains the winner and also saddled fourth place Thegreatcollection, as Bhupat Seemar-trained runners Secret Ambition and the lightly raced Kafoo finished second and third, respectively.

In the Group 2, $180,000 Cape Verdi Stakes, Pevensey Bay finished with a flourish under Olivier Peslier to win the 1,600-meter turf contest for fillies and mares at a $23.40 mutuel. The winner brought modest French form to her Dubai debut and came home three-quarters of a length in front of Ascot Brass, with Wedding Dance third. Odds-on favorite Soft Whisper pressed the pace and pulled hard, emptying out in upper stretch and fading to finish last. The winner, a 6-year-old German-bred by Footstepsinthesand out of Pachelbelle, by Anabaa, was the first Dubai winner for trainer Hiroo Shimizu.

Dubai Future, a 6-year-old Godolphin homebred by Dubawi, ran the race of his life in the $100,000 Dubai Racing Club Classic over about 1 1/2 miles on turf. Blasting between horses after racing midpack in tight quarters under Pat Cosgrave, Dubai Future unleashed a wicked turn of foot on the way to a 5 1/4-length victory for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.