Few things are sweeter than when a plan comes together.
That’s the case for Todd Cady and Ty Leatherman, owners of Two Rivers Over . The American-based 4-year-old gelding chased down his rivals and held on to win the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2) March 30 at Meydan Racecourse. The Doug O’Neill trainee stopped the clock in 1:37.49, returning $31.90 to win in an international pari-mutuel wagering pool.
The ownership duo set their sights on the Godolphin Mile after Two Rivers Over took the Zia Park Derby in November in New Mexico.
“Gave him some time off, ran one time in California at Santa Anita, and then this was the ultimate goal. … We appreciated the invite and we came over here knowing we were running up against the best of the best and see what happens,” said Leatherman.
What happened was the Allied Racing Stable-bred son of 2015 Godolphin Mile winner Tamarkuz stayed in the shadows of the leaders despite a slow start before rallying down the stretch.
Isolate , who was bred in the United States but has run primarily at Meydan for the last year and came in as the Mile’s defending winner, had paired off with Walk of Stars for what looked like a two-horse showdown in the race’s final two furlongs.
Two Rivers Over, two lengths back and going stride for stride with Eastern World , made his move to the outside of the leaders. Going full throttle under the guidance of jockey Edwin Maldonado, Two Rivers Over pulled even 100 meters from the wire and had enough to hold off Walk of Stars by three-quarters of a length. Isolate was a nose back in third.
“We just wanted a good brake. He kind of broke a little slow and I had to rush him and I had a little trouble trying to get him back. But I got my position, got him where I wanted and he did the rest,” said Maldonado.
Two other American-trained runners, Caramel Chip and favored Saudi Crown , settled for sixth and 12th, respectively.
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Dubai Gold Cup
If there is one thing to know when jockey Ryan Moore is in the irons, it is that nothing seems impossible.
Of course, it helps to have a top-class horse to work the sort of magic Moore has made seem natural, even by his standards.
Moore aboard Tower of London put on a clinic showing how a disadvantage can be overcome.
Tower of London and Ryan Moore win the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Racecourse
Breaking from the 14 gate and sitting toward the back of the field of 15 for nearly the entirety of the two-mile, $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2T), Moore went six-wide with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and won running away from the field in 3:17.29.
“I just feel that, throughout the whole race, he had plenty in hand. Everything suited him. He didn’t have the best draw, but with two miles, plenty of time to get into a good position. Ryan is Ryan,” said Coolmore’s Michael Tabor, who co-owns the horse with Mrs. John Magnier, Westerberg, and Derrick Smith.
Trawlerman , who began the race running down the center of the track, and Libyan Glass set the pace for the first 1 3/4 miles. But coming down the stretch, Trawlerman pulled ahead of Libyan Glass and a challenging Al Nayyir .
With 1 1/2 furlongs to go, Al Nayyir went to the fore, if only momentarily.
Shooting along the outside like a bolt of lightning, Tower of London caught the leader with 100 meters left and pulled away for a two-length triumph. Al Nayyir was second followed by Trawlerman. Tower of London paid $6 for the win.
In his previous start, Tower of London won the Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3T) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien said, “You would have to be very impressed with that. He has become a very classy horse. He is very pacey. He quickens so well. Ryan said there wasn’t much pace on, but he was happy to wait with him like he did in Saudi last month. He settles well, then quickens. And he loves that fast ground on a flat track.”
O’Brien said he was unsure what is next for Tower of London, although the Ascot Gold Cup (G1), the Coronation Cup (G1), and the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) are possibilities.
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Al Quoz Sprint
Since owner Howard Liang Yum-shing died in October, the results for California Spangle have been uneven.
The Hong Kong-based gelding has earned more than $8 million had never finished worse than third in 19 starts. But in the time since Liang’s death, the 6-year-old has run fourth, 13th, seventh, and fourth before winning the Queen’s Silver Jubilee (G1) at Sha Tin March 10.
California Spangle and Brenton Avdulla win the Al Quoz Sprint
Those earlier results left the horse’s connections not feeling as confident about heading to Meydan until that first-place finish this month.
But making his first career start away from his home track, California Spangle not only beat the field but set a new track record for 1,200 meters on turf (about six furlongs) in the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1T).
California Spangle crossed the wire in 1:07.5, besting Wildman Jack ‘s mark of 1:07.61 set in 2020.
“We are really happy, emotional. This was my father’s favorite horse, so it really means a lot that he was able to come out here and perform really well,” said owner representative Chester Liang.
California Spangle dueled with Ponntos over the first four furlongs, but with nearly two furlongs left, he took control. Fending off Star of Mystery and Diligent Harry , California Spangle won by three-quarters of a length. The horse is trained by Anthony Da Cruz and was bred by M. Enright.
“I just let him run to where he wants to. I just back his ability, I know he can sustain his speed,” said jockey Brenton Avdulla.
American trainee Casa Creed finished sixth in his first start since running third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) in November.
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Dubai Turf
Facteur Cheval added to the international luster of the day when he scored in the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1T) for his French connections.
Facteur Cheval (right) prevails over Namur to win the Dubai Turf
Tucked in ninth position early under jockey Maxime Guyon, Facteur Cheval angled outside in mid-stretch and outkicked closing Japanese longshot Namur to the wire for a short head victory. Fellow Japanese runner Danon Beluga rallied for third over Godolphin colorbearer Measured Time .
The final time of 1:45.91 for the 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) was only two ticks off the stakes record of 1:45.52 set by Just a Way in 2014.
Facteur Cheval just denies Namur in the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World.
A French winner for Jerome Reynier and Maxime Guyon. pic.twitter.com/dC3Nw7VZSt
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 30, 2024
Facteur Cheval landed his first triumph at the group 1 level for owners Team Valor and Gary Barber. He is trained by French conditioner Jerome Reynier. The gelding returned a whopping $52.50 for a $2 win ticket.
The 5-year-old son of Ribchester , unraced since a runner-up finish in the Oct. 21 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1), had been knocking heads against Europe’s best last season. He finished second or third in group 1 company in his last four starts, including a runner-up effort to subsequent Cartier Horse of the Year Paddington in the 2023 Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood. The Dubai Turf was his first start beyond a mile since a third-place showing in the 1 1/8-mile Prix d’Ispahan (G1) in May.
“I told Maxime I’ve never seen this horse going backward at the finish,” Reynier said. “He’s always giving his everything, always giving his best. The distance was not a problem. Maxime rode a perfect race.”
John and Susan Moore’s homebred Catnip, the only North American representative in the 16-horse field, broke down in the final sixteenth and was euthanized. The Michael Stidham trainee unseated rider Christophe Lemaire in his fall, who was carried off the track on a stretcher to the hospital. Lemaire, who suffered a broken collar bone and rib, took off his final mounts of the day, Stars on Earth in the Dubai Sheema Classic and Derma Sotogake in the Dubai World Cup (G1).
Dubai Sheema Classic
Jockey William Buick and Rebel’s Romance took advantage of a crawling early pace and upset a star-studded field in the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T).
Rebel’s Romance draws away in the Dubai Sheema Classic
The Sheema Classic victory served as a vindication of sorts for Rebel’s Romance, who had struggled to regain the form that saw the gelding soar to a 2 1/4-length win in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland. A homebred for Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, over the past year Rebel’s Romance was a well-beaten seventh in the 2023 Sheema Classic, lost his rider in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T), and finished fourth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T). Regrouping from his North American travels in Europe, the son of Dubawi returned with authority to take the listed Wild Flower Stakes Dec. 13 over the synthetic surface at Kempton ahead of his Meydan bid.
Shipping into Qatar, the gelding found success in the 1 1/2-mile H.H. The Amir Trophy (G3T), giving him the confidence he needed to defeat the Sheema Classic’s deep 12-horse field, including nine other grade/group 1 winners.
Chasing Point Lonsdale through much of the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) journey, Rebel’s Romance took charge around the final turn and bounded away from his rivals. He surged to the wire a clear winner by two lengths in a final time of 2:26.72.
“We went into the race as a long shot which shows the depth of the race,” Appleby said. “We had a bumpy road last year, went to Kempton to bring up his confidence, and then Qatar to bring him back to where we wanted him to be.
“He’s a very good horse on his day and he showed that today. I’m absolutely delighted; he’s a great horse and I’m so glad he’s back to his best.”
Rebel’s Romance ($32.26) captured the 2021 U.A.E Derby (G2) as a 3-year-old.
2022 Sheema Classic winner Shahryar , third behind Rebel’s Romance early, got up for second over a fast-finishing Liberty Island . The 2023 Japanese Filly Triple Crown winner performed admirably in her 4-year-old debut but was simply left with too much to do late, having to make up at least 10 lengths down the stretch.
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