DUBAI // Stefan Friborg, the 2010 Dubai World Cup-winning owner, has earmarked his home-bred Energia Carioca as a possible Dubai Duty Free contender after his winning performance at Meydan Racecourse last night.
Energia Carioca got the better of Paulinho, Herman Brown's heavily-tipped Argentine colt, by a neck in the opening 1,400m conditions race.
Eduardo Martins, Carioca Energia's Brazilian trainer, said he was delighted his horse stayed on so well.
Friborg, who is the man behind the Brazil-based Estrela Energia Stables and Haras Estrela Energia breeding operation, who was responsible for producing the 2010 Dubai World Cup winner, Gloria de Campeao, said his horse had done exceptionally well, considering he is a turf horse.
"I am very pleased with him," Friborg said. "He did very well because it's a short trip for him and he is a true grass horse.
"He was also a little bit sick when he first arrived here, and was coughing, but he is coming back to us now. Next up for him? I will be looking at a 1,600m to 1,800m race on the grass during the Carnival with an eye to Dubai Duty Free on World Cup day."
The connections of Paulinho, who is targeting the 2,000 Guineas during the Carnival, said they expected their charge to come on for the run.
Doug Watson's purebred Arabian, Kandar du Falgas, shook off the dust in the Group Two Mazrat al Ruwayah over a mile, claiming his first win in five runs under jockey Patrick Dobbs. He was a length in front of the UAE-bred runner-up Dynamite, ridden by Richard Mullen and trained by Adam Aghbash.
"He's a lovely horse and he's had a few problems so it's great to get him back to winning ways," Watson said. "He hasn't won since the first leg of the Maktoum Challenge in 2009.
"The race didn't go as we had planned as the horse didn't break well and he had to come from behind but we are not going to argue with a win."
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid-owned horses were in the winner's enclosure once again when Derbaas, trained by Ali Rashid al Raihe, and Barbecue Eddie from Watson's yard recorded a one-two in the feature race, a mile-long conditions contest worth Dh110,000.
"That is a good result," said Ali al Muhairi, Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager. "We are especially pleased with Barbecue Eddie who showed a lot of improvement on his last run."
Mike de Kock was also in the money, winning the Meydan Freezone with Mahubo under Kevin Shea.
Royaaty, ridden by Xavier Zani, claimed the final race, the Meydan Golf Course handicap over 2,000m for the trainer Mubarak bin Shafya,
William Buick had an awful meeting, ending up in hospital for observation after two falls. The jockey was unseated by Sarbola in the third race while galloping out of the bend.
He appeared to be trampled by chasing horses but, after missing the fourth race, was back in the saddle for the fifth.
Unfortunately, Foolin Myself, his ride in the fifth, fell into the rail on the bend, sending Buick crashing to the ground once again.
[ sports@thenational.ae ]
