Ruling Court lays down the law in Jumeirah 2,000 Guineas
Exciting three-year-old Ruling Court set himself up for some lofty targets with an exhilarating display in the Listed Jumeirah 2,000 Guineas Sponsored By Emirates Holidays on Emirates Super Saturday, 1 March.
The Justify colt was making his third career start, and first Meydan appearance, having readily won on debut at Sandown Park before finishing third in York’s G3 Acomb Stakes.
After breaking on terms, Ruling Court was held up in eighth of the 10 runners by William Buick, some seven lengths behind the pacesetting Nedawy.
Ruling Court took closer order in fifth over three furlongs from home and cruised into contention with a furlong and a half to race.
Having collared Nedawy passing the furlong-pole, the Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old stormed clear under minimal persuasion to beat The Fingal Raven by an easy six lengths.
Charlie Appleby said: “I think Ruling Court will continue to develop and we will go back to Europe with a sharper model. I never want to get too excited in the immediate aftermath, but we anticipated him being a 10-furlong horse, so whether we got to the Dante or take in the Guineas beforehand, we’ll see.”
William Buick said: “Ruling Court was superb. I could not have asked for a better effort from him. Charlie was very keen for him to learn a little bit and bring him forward. He will have learned plenty there, but his acceleration was instant. He has a huge amount of talent and is a very exciting horse.
“I am pretty confident that he will get a mile and a quarter. I loved the way he switched off, and then when you ask him, he is there for you immediately. He is a much stronger horse this year, naturally.
“This is always an exciting time of the year, albeit it is early with a long season ahead. Opera Ballo could not have done it any better at Kempton and is by an exciting sire in Ghaiyyath. Then you have this lad tonight. It is very exciting.”
Silver Knott keeps it simple in G2 Dubai City Of Gold
Supremely consistent five-year-old Silver Knott secured a fourth G2 success as he made all to beat Passion And Glory in the Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored By Emirates Airline on Super Saturday, 1 March.
Having his first start at Meydan, Silver Knott broke quickest of the seven runners and established a length advantage over Highway Robber, with Passion And Glory settling behind the duo in third.
Silver Knott increased his lead leaving the back and the Charlie Appleby-trained runner never looked in danger as he powered further clear in the straight.
Passion And Glory, representing Saeed bin Suroor, gave pursuit after going second turning in but could only get to within two lengths of Silver Knott at the line, with the winner adding to his three G2 victories in North America last year.
Arabian Crown, making his first start for 10 months following injury, shaped with promise as he stayed on from the rear to take fourth, beaten five lengths in total.
Charlie Appleby said: “It was another pleasing effort from Silver Knott, who is a very solid horse. We will have a think about the Dubai Sheema Classic and see how the field is stacking up, although it’s more likely that he will go back to the United States, where we will try and get that elusive G1 with him.
“We were happy with Arabian Crown, who ran on nicely and will definitely come on for the run. We will look at something like the G2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket for him.”
William Buick added: “Silver Knott spent most of last season in the US, where we learned that he is very effective from the front. He was very comfortable there and a very decisive winner. He is incredibly professional. He has run in some good races during his career and has always shown a good level of ability.”
Saeed bin Suroor said: “I was very happy with the performance of Passion And Glory. He has run in the Dubai Gold Cup a few times, and we will consider that race again, but we will see how he comes out of this before deciding where to go.”
Nations Pride stamps class on G2 Singspiel Stakes
International star Nations Pride returned to the level of form that saw him capture four G1 races with a comfortable victory in the G2 Singspiel Stakes Sponsored By Emirates Airline on Emirates Super Saturday, 1 March.
The Charlie Appleby-trained six-year-old, making his first Meydan appearance since finishing a close third in the 2023 G1 Dubai Turf, soon settled a length and a half behind Cairo in second.
Having stayed on to take up the running a furlong and a half out, Nations Pride rallied when Holloway Boy launched a strong challenge entering the final furlong.
Nations Pride continued to respond for William Buick and the Teofilo entire reasserted in the final strides to prevail by a length and a quarter over Holloway Boy. G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes winner First Conquest made late gains to take third, a further two and a half lengths in arrears.
Charlie Appleby said: “Nations Pride has booked his ticket for the Dubai Turf. He will probably be up against it with Romantic Warrior in the field, but he will be a legitimate runner. First Conquest will head back to Newmarket now and we will have a think about where to go next.”
William Buick added: “Nations Pride got lost the last couple of times he ran for no apparent reason, although possibly the track at Gulfstream did not suit him. He is generally an ultra-consistent horse and so uncomplicated. I love him and the team have done a great job to get him back here.
“I think he will step forward from this. We all know how good Romantic Warrior is, and the Dubai Turf will be no easy task. Nations Pride was third in the race a couple of years ago. The track and trip are perfect, so why not?”
by Godolphin
