Jungle Cat holds off Stormy Liberal to win Al Quoz Sprint

At the last minute, Jungle Cat became Godolphin Racing’s best hope for Saturday’s Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates. The 6-year-old veteran lived up to late expectations.

Jungle Cat was one of three Godolphin-owned runners in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint on turf, a team that shockingly became two hopefuls when favorite Blue Point was scratched as the field was being loaded for the six-furlong race. Blue Point was reported to have had blood in a nostril.

Jungle Cat was patiently ridden by James Doyle to give the horse his first win at the highest level. He took the lead in the final quarter-mile and held off a late run from Stormy Liberal to win by a half-length. Conquest Tsunami, who set the early pace, held third, beaten a length.

Stormy Liberal and Conquest Tsunami are trained by Peter Miller in Southern California. Stormy Liberal won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar last November. Conquest Tsunami won the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Feb. 24.

Doyle positioned Jungle Cat to the outside of Conquest Tsunami midway through the race on a straightaway turf course. Jungle Cat closed steadily to reach the front with about a furlong remaining. Doyle said Jungle Cat was not threatened by Stormy Liberal, who closed with interest on the inside of the track.

“He was away from me a little bit,” Doyle said of Stormy Liberal. “I was never concerned.”

Doyle said Jungle Cat was not fully exerted at the finish.

“He got to the front and shut down a tiny bit,” he said.

Washington D C, who finished eighth in the BC Turf Sprint last November, finished fourth, followed by Illustrious Lad, Richard’s Boy, Holding Gold, Faatinah, Librisa Breeze, Baccarat, Music Magnate, Hit the Bid and Magical Memory.

Richard’s Boy, trained by Miller, was second in the BC Turf Sprint last November. He was seventh in the Sensational Star Stakes on a muddy track at Santa Anita on March 11.

Saturday’s race was Jungle Cat’s third consecutive appearance in the Al Quoz Sprint, preceded by fourth-place finishes in the last two years. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Jungle Cat has won 7 of 30 starts and earned $1,525,488. He was bred in Ireland by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud and is by Iffraaj.

Earlier this year, Jungle Cat won two races at Meydan – the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort at seven furlongs on turf and the $200,000 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint at six furlongs on turf March 10.