Charlie Appleby had only three runners on the tenth evening of the Dubai Racing Carnival but that didn’t stop the training maestro from grabbing the featured Dubai Trophy [presented by DP World] with Great Truth.
There was a good battle for the 1200metre three-year-old turf contest but William Buick timed it just right, straightening up his mount in time to deny the filly Frost At Dawn by a head.
🔵 Some ride William Buick
He gets Great Truth up in the shadows of the post in the Dubai Trophy Presented by @DP_World for team @godolphin pic.twitter.com/eVDqDw55hr
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 9, 2024
“He probably needed that run slightly,” said Buick of Great Truth’s fourth on his previous start. “This was a similar sort of race but he’s probably more of a seven-furlong horse than a six-furlong horse.
“He goes through the early part of the race fine but you can see others have a bit more toe than him. Nevertheless, he has a great attitude.”
Buick and Appleby doubled up in the main supporting race, the 2410metre Vazirabad Handicap [Presented by DP World]. Ruling Dynasty was found to be lame after a disappointing run in the DRC Classic last time but bounced back here, reeling in stablemate Al Nafir inside the final 100metres and winning, going away, by two and three-quarter lengths.
“Charlie put blinkers on him just to help him focus and it worked,” said Buick. “When Al Nafir went clear down the back I didn’t think he would stop but we picked him up well in the end.
“He [Ruling Dynasty] is a decent handicapper. Let’s see if he can take any of this form back to the UK.”
While Buick winners at Meydan are as common as camels in the desert, jockey Callum Shepherd celebrated his first at the track when Intricacy won the National Industries Park Handicap, over 2000metres on turf.
The British-based rider had to do it the hard way on Simon and Ed Crisford’s gelding, threading a passage through from the back of the field. Once in the clear, his mount showed a good turn of foot and beat Eye On The Prize by two and three-quarter lengths.
🗣 "He's a natural traveller."
William Buick on success for Great Truth in the Dubai Trophy Presented by DP World 🔵 pic.twitter.com/pog4bZPjkD
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 9, 2024
“It’s very gratifying to do it,” he said. “I thought I’d do it last time on this horse but we were assassinated in the final furlong. He was down in trip, which isn’t really his bag, but this will have done his confidence a lot of good and he deserved that.
“As a visiting rider to come here and get rides isn’t easy, so to have a winner is amazing. It’s a place where you grew up watching the greats.”
