Dubai 100 Challenge Stakes |
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| Group 2, Newmarket 14:40 £163,500 added, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 1  |
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| Friday 7th October 2016 | |
1 Aclaim 6/1
2 Lumiere 8/1
3 Jallota 10/1
12 ran Distances: 1l, ½l, ½l
TIME 1m 23.92s (slow by 1.42s)
The rapidly progressive Aclaim completes a hat-trick with a smooth success
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Martyn Meade's three-year-old won an Ascot handicap from a mark of 97 at the start of September before following up in a Listed race at Newbury.
Sent off at 6/1 for this first attempt at Group Two level, he came home strongly to win by a length from Lumiere.
The runner-up had adopted her usual prominent position, leading a group down the centre of the track while Gifted Master led a smaller bunch up the stands' side.
There appeared to be little between the two groups with Frankie Dettori scything through the field on the stands' side aboard Aclaim to lead home Jallota on that side and take overall honours.
Dettori said: "He probably wants a bit more cut in the ground. He was very courageous for me.
"It's a solid Group Two race. He can only improve, this horse."
Meade added: "The horse has progressed and progressed. We had to give him time to mature. He has all the right attributes."
Asked whether Aclaim would run again this season, Meade said: "I think it's probably unlikely, but we'll just have to see how he is.
"He's had a bit of time to mature and he's done us proud. I think the ground was just right. The bit of rain just took the sting out of it for him.
"He's never been in better form at home and I was quite confident he'd make a good go of it."
Trainer Mark Johnston was pleased with Lumiere's performance.
He said: "It was a great run, I just wish the race was on the far side as one by one she beat them all off.
"James (Doyle) said she just lot her stride a bit going down the hill and if she'd not have done that, she'd have pinched a couple of lengths.
"That is her pretty much her back to form and John Ferguson said to have a think about America (Breeders' Cup)."
Reflecting on her season overall, the trainer added: "It's been disappointing and that's perfectly fair to say that. We went into the Guineas as confident as I've been in over 10 years.
"I could not see her finishing out of the first three in Guineas and that was the most disappointing day of the year.
"There have been ups and downs since. When she came back to Newmarket she looked like her old self, but then she went to France and disappointed.
"It's been impossible to tell how she is at home as she's never looked to have anything wrong with her."
Asked whether Lumiere will stay in training as a four-year-old, Johnston said: "That will be down to John Ferguson and Sheikh Mohammed."
Jallota was third for Charlie Hills, who said: "He's been a superstar and ran the same consistent race again. He was only beaten a length.
"He's had a long year and we'll give him a nice break and look forward to next year. I think seven furlongs is ideal for him."
Dubai 100 Challenge Stakes (Group 2)
£163,500 added, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (8) | Aclaim (IRE) 6/1 | L Dettori 9-1 |
M Meade | 3 | |
| 2nd | (5) | 1 | Lumiere 8/1 | James Doyle 8-12 |
M Johnston | 3 |
| 3rd | (7) | ½ | Jallota 10/1 | J P Spencer 9-3 |
C Hills | 5 |
| 4th | (3) | ½ | Certificate 8/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-3 |
R Varian | 5 |
| 5th | (4) | 1 | Cougar Mountain (IRE) 10/3f | R L Moore 9-6 |
A P O'Brien | 5 |
| 6th | (2) | nk | Richard Pankhurst 7/1 | W Buick 9-6 |
J H M Gosden | 4 |
| 7th | (11) | 1¼ | Opal Tiara (IRE) 16/1 | Oisin Murphy 8-12 |
M R Channon | 3 |
| 8th | (12) | 1½ | Tasleet 12/1 | P Hanagan 9-1 |
W J Haggas | 3 |
| 9th | (9) | 2½ | Gifted Master (IRE) 6/1 | Jim Crowley 9-1 |
H Palmer | 3 |
| 10th | (6) | 2¾ | So Beloved 20/1 | P Makin 9-3 |
D O'Meara | 6 |
| 11th | (1) | 1¼ | Code Red 66/1 | M Dwyer 9-3 |
W R Muir | 4 |
| 12th | (10) | s.h | First Selection (SPA) 25/1 | S De Sousa 9-1 |
S Crisford | 3 |
