3/4/2010 Al Bastakiya(L) Mendip, Vale of York(5th)

Meydan Racecourse, Thursday, 04 March 2010
Al Bastakiya Sponsored by Derrinstown Stud , Bahri
TB - Listed USD 250,000
Weather: Fine  Track Condition: STANDARD
Rail Position: True  Safety Limit: 14
1900M(a9.5F) - All-Weather
Running Time: 01:59:42
1st 150,000  4th 12,500 Free to Enter 
2nd 50,000  5th   7,500  Free to declare and start 
3rd  25,000  6th   5,000 
For NH & SH 3YO Weight: NH 3YO 54kg. SH 3YO 59kg

FP	Margin	Gate	OR	Horse	Wgt (Kgs)	Equipment	Trainer	Jockey
1st		14	100	Mendip (USA)	54.0		S bin Suroor	Lanfranco Dettori
2rd	6.25	4	106	Della Barba (CHI)	59.0		J Barton	Olivier Peslier
3rd	0.25	2	108	Enak (ARG)	62.0	TT	S bin Suroor	Ted Durcan
4th	0.25	7	90	Izaaj (USA)	54.0	TT	M bin Shafya	William Supple
5th	0.5	8	118	Vale Of York (IRE)	57.0		S bin Suroor	Ahmad Ajtebi (nil)
6th	0.5	6	102	Solid Choice (AUS)	59.0		M de Kock	Kevin Shea
7th	0.25	13	104	Uncle Tom (BRZ)	62.0		P Bary	Tiago Pereira
8th	Sh	5	100	Maroon Machine (IRE)	54.0		E O'Neill	Kieren Fallon
9th	1.75	3	90	Saboteur (GB)	54.0		A bin Huzaim	Jesus Rosales
10th	0.5	1	90	Landowner (GB)	54.0		A bin Huzaim	Carlos Sanchez
11th	0.25	10	93	Kona Coast (GB)	54.0		J Gosden	William Buick
12th	Hd	12	104	Storm Chispazo (ARG)	62.0		H Brown	Ryan Moore
13th	1.25	11	102	Jardim (BRZ)	60.0		A Cintra	Richard Mullen
14th	7.5	9	95	Moran Gra (USA)	54.0	P	D Selvaratnam	Tadhg O'Shea

Non Runners
Musir (AUS)

http://www.emiratesracing.com/node/6?id=2380

Results_8108_Al Bastakiya Sponsored by Derrinstown Stud , B.pdf

MENDIP 수 2007 USA 흑갈색 전적:3(3/0/0)  SW	Harlans Holiday 할런즈할러데이 갈 1999 USA  G1 22전(9,6,1) 231 f, 12sw 2.15	Harlan 할런 흑 1989 USA  G1 98 f, 6sw 3.11	Storm Cat 흑 1983 USA *[I] LS
			Country Romance 밤 1976 CAN  SW
		Christmas In Aiken 갈 1992 USA  w 9 f, 7 w, 1 sw	Affirmed 밤 1975 USA [C] G1
			Dowager 1980 USA  unpl
	Well Spring 갈 2001 USA  전(0,0,0) 0 f, 0 w, 0 sw	Coronados Quest 코로나도즈퀘스트 밤 1995 USA {14-20} G1 217 f, 8sw 1.72	Forty Niner 밤 1985 USA [I 1600] G1
			Laughing Look 갈 1986 USA  Unr
		Chaposa Springs 갈 1992 USA  G1 0 f, 0 w, 0 sw	Baldski 흑 1974 USA {BI} SW
			La Chaposa 갈 1980 PER  SW

Pedigree by http://www.exhorse.co.kr/

Mendip upstaged his Godolphin stablemate in Dubai. Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club

Mendip romps in Al Bastakiya; Vale of York fifth
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/news/2010/03/04/mendip-romps-al-bastakiya-vale-york-fifth

The royal blue silks of Godolphin were carried to an impressive victory in Thursday's $250,000 Al Bastakiya at Meydan, but not by Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Vale of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit), who ran evenly in fifth. Instead, it was the lightly-raced MENDIP (Harlan's Holiday), a nominee to the American Triple Crown, who stormed to a 6 1/4-length triumph in his stakes debut. The Saeed bin Suroor colt extended his record to a perfect three-for-three, and in the process, stamped himself as a major player for the March 27 U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2).

The about 1 3/16-mile Al Bastakiya serves as the middle leg of the Dubai Triple Crown. The first leg, the February 18 U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3), went to Musir (Redoute's Choice). A champion in South Africa last year, Musir would have ranked as a key contender in the Al Bastakiya, but he wound up being scratched. Hence there will be no sweep of the Dubai Triple Crown this season.

Mendip did not contest the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas, with his connections opting for a February 11 conditions race at about seven furlongs for his reappearance. The dark bay posted a comfortable success by a half-length that day, but was stepping up considerably in distance for the Al Bastakiya. He was also facing his first meaningful test of class.

Breaking from the far outside post 14 with Frankie Dettori, Mendip had enough tactical speed to angle over and track the front-running Della Barba (Della Francesca), who set a dawdling early pace. Meanwhile, Vale of York was overeager in his three-year-old bow, pulling on regular rider Ahmed Ajtebi as he raced a few lengths back on the outside.

Mendip was in the perfect striking position turning for home, and when Dettori turned him loose, he shot clear in style. After putting the race away in a matter of strides, Mendip continued to pour it on through the stretch to win with complete authority in a final time of 1:59 2/5 on the Tapeta.

"He is a horse we have always really liked, and the U.A.E. Derby is his main target," bin Suroor said.

Della Barba held on for second in a tightly-bunched finish. Godolphin's other runner, Enak (Orpen), checked in a neck adrift in third. Izaaj (Giant's Causeway) was a similar margin back in fourth, and a one-paced Vale of York was another half-length astern in fifth. Next came Solid Choice (Redoute's Choice), Uncle Tom (First American), Maroon Machine (Muhtathir [GB]), Saboteur (Shamardal), Landowner (Shamardal), Kona Coast (Oasis Dream [GB]), Storm Chispazo (Bernstein), Jardim (Ski Champ) and Moran Gra (Rahy).

The undefeated Mendip boosted his bankroll to $188,495. Based in England last year, he captured his only juvenile start over Kempton's Polytrack in September. It remains to be decided whether he will return to England, where he holds an entry in the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) on May 1, the same day as the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Bin Suroor spoke to Racing Post about possible plans for both Vale of York and Mendip.

"We cannot be too disappointed, as the early pace did not help Vale of York at all and we thought he would need the run," the trainer said. "He will be back for the U.A.E. Derby and only then, for both horses, will we decide their summer campaigns."

Bred by Jayeff B Stables in Kentucky, Mendip is the first registered foal from Well Spring (Coronado's Quest), and he has a juvenile full brother named Waterfall and an unnamed yearling half-sister by Latent Heat. Mendip's second dam is Test S. (G1) and Ballerina H. (G1) queen Chaposa Springs (Baldski), herself a half-sister to Metropolitan H. (G1) winner and sire You and I (Kris S.). Mendip has toured the sales ring twice. A $130,000 Keeneland September yearling, he attracted $375,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Calder two-year-old in training.

Mendip bests stablemate Vale of York in Al Bastakiya at Meydan
Posted: Thursday, March 04, 2010 5:56 PM
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/international-news/2010/March/04/Mendip-bests-stablemate-Vale-of-York-in-Al-Bastakiya-at-Meydan.aspx

Godolphin Racing’s Mendip won the $250,000 Derrinstown Stud Al Bastakiya on Thursday at Meydan Racecourse (video) to stamp himself as a favorite for the $2-million United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2) later this month.

The three-year-old colt by Harlan’s Holiday is perfect in two career starts after defeating 13 opponents, including Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and stablemate Vale of York (Ire). Both are nominated to spring classics in the U.S.

The race was one of six Thoroughbred events on the Dubai International Racing Carnival’s Derrinstown Stud Super Thursday card. The annual Super Thursday card, the first at the new Meydan Racecourse, features races that are used as final preps leading into the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) card three weeks later. This year’s Dubai World Cup card is scheduled for March 27.

Mendip covered 1,900 meters (9.44 furlongs) under Frankie Dettori in 1:59.42 on the synthetic Tapeta Footings surface, followed by runner-up Della Barba and third-place finisher and stablemate Enak. Vale of York, making his first start since his 30.60-to-1 Breeders’ Cup triumph on November 7 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park, finished fifth.

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor said Mendip will try to keep his record perfect on World Cup day.

"He is a horse we have always really liked, and the UAE Derby is his main target,” Suroor said.

Vale of York Fifth in Al Bastakiya
By Jason Shandler
Updated: Saturday, March 6, 2010 2:21 PM
Posted: Thursday, March 4, 2010 11:33 AM
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/55702/vale-of-york-fifth-in-al-bastakiya?source=rss

Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Vale of York made a disappointing 3-year-old debut March 4 in Dubai, as he was rank in the early part of the 1 3/16-mile Al Bastakiya Stakes and then flattened out in the stretch to finish fifth as the favorite in a field of 14.

It was not all bad news for Godolphin however, as their other entry, Mendip, drew away impressively under Frankie Dettori to post an easy 6 1/4-length victory on the Tapeta surface at Meydan Racecourse. Both colts are trained by Saeed bin Suroor.

Vale of York, who was starting for the first time since defeating Lookin At Lucky by a nose in the Nov. 7 BC Juvenile at Santa Anita, broke from post 8 and almost immediately began fighting with jockey Ahmed Ajtebi while throwing his head restlessly. The son of Invincible Spirit had a wide trip while racing in sixth position early on and gradually gained ground on the leaders, which included Della Barba, Mendip, and Enak.

Vale of York put himself in winning position as they straightened away, but was unable to make up ground on the leaders during the sprint to the wire. Della Barba finished second, followed by Enak.

Mendip, a son of Harlan's Holiday  —Well Spring, by Coronado’s Quest, remained unbeaten in three starts. The dark bay/brown colt was a $130,000 Keeneland September 2008 purchase before being plucked out of the Fasig-Tipton selected sale of 2-year-olds in training last February by John Ferguson, on behalf of Godolphin. He broke his maiden in September at Kempton in England and made a winning 3-year-old debut at Meydan Feb. 11.

After the race, Suroor was non-committal whether Vale of York and/or Mendip would be pointed toward a run in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), saying he would make that decision after the UAE Derby (UAE-II) on March 27.

One race later in the Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-III) for 3-year-olds and up, Godolphin, bin Suroor, and Dettori scored once again with Desert Party, the 4-year-old son of Street Cry who finished 14th in last year’s Kentucky Derby.

Desert Party, who won the Sanford Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga as a 2-year-old, held off a late charge from Mutheeb to post his fifth victory in eight starts.