Giving jockey Ryan Curatolo and trainer Nicholas Bachalard each their first Meydan victory, the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Flatter chased home a front-running Meshakel and Mickael Barzalona, determinedly besting that rival by a neck at the wire in the mile contest. The effort franked the form of Rebel's Romance, who defeated Mouheeb three weeks ago in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial by a head. The winner now has multiple options, including the $1.5 million Saudi Derby in 16 days, for which he has an invite, and the Listed Al Bastakiya on Super Saturday, March 6. 

Bachalard: "I thought we would be a bit closer than we were, but Ryan rode a great race and the horse ran very well. We are really happy because it's our first win at Meydan. We thought Zhou Storm would go to the lead (to battle Meshakel), but thankfully our horse ran Meshakel down just at the right time. It would have been a shame to get beaten by a head. We're delighted for the team and for Sheikh Ahmed for believing in us. It hasn't been an easy three years for the stable and now we can pay back some of the trust he had in us. (Mouheeb ) still holds an invite for the Saudi Derby, but that's only 16 days, so we'll see how he comes out of the race and go from there." 

Curatolo: "The horse proved he was the best today. He's very talented, this horse. Last time, we almost got there, but he's a bit inexperienced, but he's getting better with time. (Bachalard) did a very good job with this horse and his rider did in the morning, as well, because he's quite difficult. I was very pleased to be back on board and win today. He can pull a bit before the race. The first time out, we kept a pony with the horse to keep him quiet and we kept it that way. We don't do too much. Today, he was more relaxed before the race and that was good. To be honest, I thought on the backside they were going a bit too fast for my horse and I just wanted to keep him relaxed. Then, when I got to the turn, I started improving a little bit and (then) changing legs, I knew I would get there. It's special to be here tonight and to have this opportunity." 

Barzalona: "I was nice and relaxed in front and on the bend I was a little bit worried about Nicholas' horse getting a clear run going three-wide, but we thought it would be a good plan to get a few lengths clear. Even if he didn't stay (the mile), we knew he would try hard. He maybe got beat by a better horse, but he ran a good race." 

Secret Ambition Sets G3 Firebreak Ablaze

In Brief: Secret Ambition  gained his third career stakes win and second Group 3 when landing the Firebreak Stakes under an enterprising ride from Tadhg O'Shea. Breaking well from the outside post six, the 8-year-old entire son of Exceed and Excel contested the lead, took over midway down the backstretch and never looked back in the Nasir Askar silks. The first racehorse his owner ever purchased, the Satish Seemar trainee defeated the promising Hypothetical by 3 3/4 lengths with G2 winner Kimbear back in third. Favourite Matterhorn failed to finish the race.

Seemar: "I don't think any horse deserves a win more than Secret Ambition. He's had a bit of bad luck. Full credit goes to Tadhg O'Shea this evening. Right out of the gates, he made a smart move and had him in the right spot and had full confidence. Once he has it his way, there's no way Secret Ambition is going (to lose). We might go straight to (Dubai World Cup) day or try him farther in distance between then and now. He's had two or three seconds and a third (recently) and he needed this. The win is very important and does give us some confidence." 

O'Shea: "He's danced every dance and a lot of credit goes to (gate starter) Shane Ryan and his team, as well. This horse probably would have won more races if he had been more tractable out of the gates--he would miss it a lot--and Shane has done a lot of work with him. Plus, obviously, Satish and his team at Zabeel. We were a bit concerned coming into tonight. You never know how hard a race he had at Jebel Ali up the hill (13 days prior), but he's ultra-tough and his form is there for everybody to see. He deserved a big one, again. If my horse jumps, he can mix it with any of the crack milers. In a way, I was glad I was drawn six of six--it gave me the option. When he absolutely flew the gates, I got to the front and we were going some nice fractions, but I was able to fill him up with air and get a breather and go again."

Ffrench: "He ran well at Jebel Ali in the Jebel Ali Mile and obviously the winner here tonight is a very smart horse. We did nothing wrong in defeat. He's only had a couple runs for us, so he'll keep on improving."

Man Of Promise Dominates Listed Dubai Sprint

In Brief: The evening ended with an immensely promising win by Godolphin's Charlie Appleby-trained Man Of Promise , a son of America's champion sire Into Mischief. Breaking well from the outside post 14, the good-looking bay 4-year-old won for the second time in four starts and first since a York Racecourse graduation in June. William Buick was aboard the dominant victor, who toyed with his opponents in the final furlong, winning by three lengths over Final Song. UK invader Fleeting Prince held well for third, another 1 1/4 lengths back. Favourite Ekhtiyaar failed to factor under top weight, finishing sixth. 

Appleby: "I'm delighted with that performance. His homework has been good. He shows lots of natural pace. As you may have seen in the paddock there, he's not the biggest or most robust horse in the world. If we can make it into an (G1) Al Quoz (Sprint), I don't know, but he might as well take the next step and look at the (G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint) on Super Saturday and see how we get on." 

Dubai Future Takes Listed Meydan Cup

In Brief: Turf stayers took the stage in the Listed Meydan Cup over 14 furlongs and slight market favourite Dubai Future  did not disappoint his faithful, overtaking second choice Ghostwatch in the stretch under Frankie Dettori and galloping clear of him, as well as Saeed bin Suroor-trained stablemates Volcanic Sky and Global Heat. It was the 5-year-old gelded son of Dubawi's fourth win from 12 starts and improved upon a second two weeks ago in the Dubai Racing Club Classic (Listed) over 12 furlongs. 

Dettori: "Obviously he ran a good race last time and finished strongly from a bad draw. I wasn't so sure who to follow, William (Buick, on Ghostwatch) or Patsy (Cosgrave), but I thought I'd give myself plenty of options--I had plenty of horse--so I put him on the outside and he was a true professional. He has a very good mind on him. He's done nothing wrong. He was second last time and won easily today and is a very willing partner." 

Cosgrave: "He looked good. Frankie had a nicer draw and I had to work a little hard to be where I wanted to be, but it was a nice run. Dubai Future is a good horse on his day. The draw might have beat me, but maybe not. (Volcanic Sky) ran a huge race." 

Topper Bill Tops Meydan Classic Trial

In Brief: Topper Bill and rider Richard Mullen put doubters of the validity of Dubai Trophy win to bed when he topped out the Meydan Classic Trial in relentless style. The Satish Seemar-trained son of Intrinsic carried the silks of Ali Al Shafar and Abdulla Al Shafar to victory, besting a pair of Godolphin runners in Last Sunset and First Smile by 1 1/4 lengths. A neck separated the Godolphin runners. The win was the Malih Al Basti-bred 3-year-old gelding's third from six starts and second from as many starts in the UAE. 

Mullen: "He had every chance to give it away if he wanted to when they came at me, but when they came to him, he knocked them down. He was pulling out every inch every time I asked him and when a horse came to him, he pulled out a little more. He's a smashing horse and moves very well on the turf." 

Canvassed Comes Through In Mina Rashid Handicap

In Brief: Trainer Doug Watson made his first in-person appearance in three weeks at Meydan (thanks to a COVID-19 outbreak at Red Stables) count quickly, winning the evening's first race with well-regarded and lightly raced 6-year-old gelding Canvassed . Stalking a swift pace set by Important Mission and Lavaspin, the son of Shamardal evidently relished the 13-day wheelback from a third in the Jebel Ali Mile (G3), drop in class and cutback to six furlongs. Hitting the line in 1:10.44 after a strong closing quarter (400m in 23.69), the bay charge won for the third time in six starts and first time in four UAE tries. Important Mission held on by the scantest of noses from a hard-charging Behavioral Bias. UK invader Desert Doctor finished fourth. The victory, with its time and impressive nature, surely boosts Canvassed into the Super Saturday picture. Watson confirmed after the race that Canvassed will be strongly considered for the G3 Mahaab Al Shimaal, a course and distance Super Saturday prep for the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. 

Dobbs: "He's a horse who's pretty hard on himself, but Doug has trained him different lately and it's made a massive difference. He's still a bit highly strung, but he was good at Jebel Ali last time and hopefully he'll get better from this. He was dropping back in trip and it took him a bit to get going, but mostly the speed was very strong. From halfway, I was thinking I wasn't going to get beat.