Hot Rod Charlie gallops at Meydan in Dubai World Cup prep
Hot Rod Charlie looked just as good in the United Arab Emirates as he has in the United States, winning the Group 2, $350,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 by 5 1/4 lengths in what appeared to be an ideal prep for his main goal, the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 26.
Hot Rod Charlie, one of the top handful of American dirt-route 3-year-olds during 2021, shipped to Dubai with several other Doug O’Neill-trained horses last month, and O’Neill had himself a night Friday at Meydan Racecourse. He also won a $60,000 conditions race with Get Back Goldie while sending out Strongconstitution to a second-place finish in the $150,000 Firebreak Stakes and the maiden Khantharo d’Oro to finish second in the $60,000 Al Bastakiya Trial.
Hot Rod Charlie, winner of the Pennsylvania Derby, third in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Belmont Stakes, and more recently fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and second as the heavy favorite in the Dec. 26 San Antonio Stakes, was the driving force behind O’Neill’s mission to Dubai. He did not disappoint in the Maktoum Challenge Round 2, contested over 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) around two turns.
Breaking from post 3 under William Buick, who filled in Friday for regular rider Flavien Prat, Hot Rod Charlie got away alertly and took the lead into the first turn, racing inside three pressing rivals. The outermost of those, the progressive 4-year-old Al Nefud, was able to cross over midway around the bend, coming abreast Hot Rod Charlie, the two churning together onto and down the backstretch.
Al Nefud got a half-length lead on Hot Rod Charlie, but Buick held his position, creeping back alongside Al Nefud as the pair swung into the far turn. Al Nefud stuck with Hot Rod Charlie into the homestretch, the two leaders running away from their 10 rivals before Hot Rod Charlie began edging clear with about a quarter-mile to race. Responding to Buick’s encouragement, Hot Rod Charlie pulled clear, coming under the wire with his ears pricked, ready for more.
“He definitely worked very hard,” part-owner Bill Strauss said in a post-race interview at Meydan. “But there still was something left, William said. He should be tighter and fitter. This was a perfect prep.”
Hot Rod Charlie now gets a break of just over seven weeks before the 2000-meter World Cup, which will be a far sterner test. Al Nefud has improved since being switched to dirt this winter and looks promising enough, but Friday’s race marked his debut. Hot Rod Charlie paid $2.60 to win, clocking 1:57.41 over a fast dirt track. American expatriate Everfast ran on mildly to get third. O’Neill’ second runner, Go On, finished sixth. Hot Rod Charlie is by Oxbow out of Indian Mist, by Indian Charlie.
Creative Flair, last seen finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational this past September at Belmont, gamely won the Group 2, $180,000 Balanchine Stakes to close out the Friday program. Ridden by Buick for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, Creative Flair took the lead in upper stretch of this 1,800-meter turf contest, appeared to be in danger at the furlong grounds, but kicked in again late to post a three-quarter-length score over Pevensey Bay, who gave the winner 4.4 pounds. Creative Flare is by Dubawi out of Hidden Gold, by Shamardal.
Hypothetical, second in the 2021 Godolphin Mile, staked his claim as a contender for that race’s 2022 renewal with a front-running score in the Group 3, $150,000 Firebreak, contested at 1,600 meters around one bend.