Approach gets it right
Right Approach landed the big race at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai yesterday on his first run for new connections since being bought from the Queen.
The five-year-old, runner-up in last year’s Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot when with Sir Michael Stoute, took the Al Rashidiya Unfuwain Stakes in a thrilling finish.
The 65,000gns buy is now with South African trainer Mike De Kock and among his new owners is golfer Lee Westwood.
Right Approach came with a real rattle in the Listed race to snatch the spoils in the shadow of the post in a blanket finish.
Gary Hind set a strong gallop on St Expedit, who was still in front entering the straight but could not hold the late challenge of Kerrin McEvoy on Right Approach.
The winner’s stable companion Surveyor took second, with the gallant St Expedit clinging on for third and Mick Channon’s Checkit fourth.
De Kock said: “He was a bit of an experiment when we bought him. We wanted a good horse for little money and he fitted the bill.
“Everybody kept telling us he was not genuine. That clouded our confidence, but his work was great. The change has done him the power of good.”
The 12-furlong Aljabr Handicap on turf featured the first John Gosden-trained runner at the Dubai International Carnival, Rawyaan, and Richard Hills brought the top-weight home a winner.
Indian raider Classical Act looked home and hosed entering the straight, but Hills produced a rousing finish wide and fast on Rawyaan.
Gosden said: “The horse did it very well. He has handled the whole trip very well and full credit to everybody here. The facilities are unbelievable.
“He could go straight to the Sheema Classic, though there is another Carnival race for him. I will speak to Sheikh Hamdan.”
There was a British 1-2 in the 12-furlong Sahm Stud Handicap on turf when Stanley Chin brought Mark Johnston’s Scott’s View with a late thrust to catch the Clive Brittain-trained Dutch Gold (Frankie Dettori).
Dutch Gold looked to have the race in the bag when Scott’s View met trouble as he came to challenge, but Chin extricated his mount just in time.
Godolphin’s Western Diplomat looked as though he was going to lead from pillar to post in the seven-and-a-half-furlong Nashwan Handicap, but Dettori’s mount was unable to withstand the late challenge of Kuwaiti trainer Rashid Boursely’s Cat Belling, under Willie Supple.
This was the former Kevin Prendergast-trained winner’s fifth Carnival start and for once she did not miss the break.
Boursely and Hills then combined to take the five-furlong Erhaab Stud Handicap on dirt with Conceal, who was winning over course and distance for the second time in a fortnight.
The Godolphin team gained compensation for the defeat of Western Dilpomat when Three Graces ran out a very convincing winner of the Swain Stud Handicap.
The four-year-old, having his first start for Saeed Bin Suroor after showing useful form for Marcus Tregoning in Britain, was slowly away but soon made his way to the front under Dettori and never saw another rival.
Dermot Weld’s One More Round filled the runner-up berth for the second time in a fortnight.
Dettori said: “He has shown absolutely nothing in the mornings so I was a bit surprised when he took me to the front. He clearly saves himself for the racecourse. I was quite impressed.”
Prince Of Denmark, formerly with Richard Hannon, made every yard under Ted Durcan to land the Shadayid Stud Stakes, seeing off numerous challenges in the home straight to record his third win from four UAE starts.
Brittain’s Forthright, a big disappointment on his UAE debut a fortnight ago, ran a lot better to claim fourth.
