North America dominates Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2

North America regressed off his powerful comeback win Jan. 10 in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1, but still won the Group 2, $450,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 by 2 1/4 lengths Thursday night at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

North America led and was nailed on the wire by subsequent Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow when finishing second in this race a year ago, but had Thursday night’s edition of this 1,900-meter (about 1 3/16 miles) dirt fixture under lock and key just a few strides out of the gate. North America, very much a need-the-lead type from all appearances, lost his chance in the 2018 World Cup when he missed the break, but for the second time this winter he was away sharply under jockey Richard Mullen, and when North America settled into a comfortable stride with a clear advantage into the first of two turns, it was hard to see him losing.

Still, after going well clear in upper stretch, North America, under steady urging from Mullen, saw his lead dwindle through the final furlong as New Trails steadily closed the gap, though he never put a real scare into the winner. Mullen in a post-race interview said he expected North America to take a step back after the gelding won by nine lengths Jan. 10 while racing for the first time in the better part of 10 months.

“A lot was made out of his first run and it is hard for a horse to replicate what he did,” Mullen said.

North America was timed in a solid but unspectacular 1:58.65 over a fast track.

Now, Mullen and Satish Seemar, who trains North America for owner Ramzan Kadyrov, will have to decide whether to bring the gelding back for Round 3 of the Al Maktoun Challenge on March 9 or merely await the World Cup three weeks later. North America, a 7-year-old, is by Dubawi out of Northern Mischief, by Yankee Victor.

Five-year-old New Trails, spending his first season in Dubai, appears to be headed in the right direction for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash, finishing nearly five lengths ahead of third-place Cosmo Charlie while making his Group-stakes debut.

Estihdaaf trounces favored Walking Thunder in Guineas

Breaking poorly and rushing into the pace typically spells doom in a horserace, but it worked just fine for Estihdaaf on Thursday night in the Group 3, $250,000 UAE 2,000 Guineas.

Estihdaaf and jockey Christophe Soumillon got away flat-footed from the post in the 1,600-meter dirt race and pushed hard up the inside to make the lead after a little more than a furlong had been run, and the aggressive tactics proved fruitful. Heavily favored Walking Thunder made a run at Estihdaaf in upper stretch, but Estihdaaf brushed him aside and drew clear to a 5 1/2-length victory.

“I told Christophe to be handy with him like he was in the morning, and it went well,” said Saeed bin Suroor, who trains Estihdaaf for Godolphin.

Walking Thunder, who had started his career with three easy wins over the Meydan dirt track, could have done with a little more handiness. Jockey Connor Beasley held him hard off the pace, steadying back to fourth on the mid-backstretch and going wide around the turn and into the stretch. Walking Thunder had won the Guineas trial by nine lengths over Manguzi, who had beaten Estihdaaf when they met Jan. 24, but settled for a well-beaten second, 2 1/4 lengths clear of third-place Red Cactus, who rallied mildly.

Estihdaaf is by Arch, out of Enlistment, by Ghostzapper, and was starting for just the second time on dirt. He could run next in the Al Bastakiya Stakes or head straight into the UAE Derby on the World Cup undercard. He was timed Thursday in 1:39.87, a relatively modest clocking for the class level and apparent speed of the surface during the card.