New Approach Filly Produces Dubai Gr2 Track Record
New Approach, the sire of Bush Hill Stud’s New Predator, came to the fore again last night in Dubai, producing Gr2 winner Magic Lily.
New Predator stood his first season at stud in 2019, the first son of New Approach at stud in South Africa. He covered 82 mares in his first season, amongst them the likes of African Goshawk – a half-sister to Halve The Deficit from the family of Arabian Lass, and Alinga (Rock Of Gibraltar) – the dam of Gr2 placed Broadway Trip.
Thursday’s third meeting of the 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse, which was sponsored by Azizi Developments, was highlighted by the Gr2 $250,000 Cape Verdi, a 1600m turf feature for fillies and mares, as well as the $175,000 Listed Zabeel Turf.
The Cape Verdi was won in thrilling fashion by Godolphin’s blue-blooded Magic Lily, a daughter of classic winners New Approach and Dancing Rain, who produced to lead right on the line by James Doyle for trainer Charlie Appleby.
It was a third win in the race for both trainer and jockey and produced a stakes and track record-setting time of 1:34.84.
Second by a nose was a game Nisreen, who shipped in for Team Valor International from France and was piloted beautifully between by Pierre-Charles Boudot. Beyond Reason, with William Buick up for the winner’s connections, was third, 2½ lengths astern the top pair.
Victorious on her juvenile debut, she was then third in the Gr1 Fillies’ Mile behind Laurens and September, while finishing ahead of Magical. Laurens would go on to win six Group 1s, September finished third in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) one race later and Magical became one of the world’s top middle-distance horses. Magic Lily then missed her entire sophomore and most of her 4-year-old season with injury.
She returned with a second in Listed company in France in the autumn before a poor performance last out after a bad barrier draw in Listed Lingfield company.
“I had my head down to ride and didn’t think we’d got up (to win), but she’s tough and very game,” Doyle said. “It didn’t go entirely our way. The plan was to lead or if not be very close, which is what happened. When (Dubai Blue) went by me (on the backstretch), it sort of set her alight. She was over-racing a little bit. She’ll definitely be better going another furlong. We think she’s a nine or ten-furlong filly.” She’s a filly we have always liked, with a lovely pedigree and plenty of ability. Hopefully we can build on this, as she has very few miles on the clock.”
Thursday’s win was the 5-year-old’s second from just five career starts.
“She ran very well,” Boudot said. “The pace was very strong and the way was open just at the turn and she came in really easy. She was very courageous.”
Buick added: “She ran well. She would be better back to seven furlongs.”
-extract sportingpost.co.za
