Local Time Wins UAE One Thousand Guineas

Godolphin Racing homebred Local Time posted her fifth consecutive victory when the 3-year-old filly easily won the $250,000 UAE One Thousand Guineas Feb. 5 at Meydan racecourse.



With regular jockey James Doyle aboard, the daughter of Invincible Spirit tracked the early leaders as the field was closely bunched. She took the lead on the home turn and ran on for a 3 1/4-length victory in the 1,600-meter (about one mile) race. The final time was 1:39.69 as Godolphin homebred Good Place, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Street Cry (IRE), finished second in the six-horse field.



After finishing fourth in her career debut in England, Local Time has reeled off five straight wins, including victories in the Triconnex Oh So Sharp Stakes (Eng-III) at Newmarket last fall and the UAE One Thousand Guineas Trial Jan. 15 in her Meydan debut.



"She is a nice filly and really relishes this dirt surface," said Doyle. "We won the trial narrowly but this extra 200 meters was always going to suit her and she has done that really well."

Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, winning the UAE One Thousand Guineas a ninth time, later had 1-2 finishers on the Meydan card when jockey William Buick and Famous Kid denied Doyle and Ahzeemah in the 2,810-meter (abut 1 3/4 miles) turf handicap. In a race run at a pedestrian pace, Buick's mount quickened past Ahzeemah about 200 meters out and they won convincingly in the end.



"We knew both were fit and well," the trainer said. "We were pretty hopeful coming into the race and it has tuned out perfectly. Famous Kid had the benefit of a recent outing and Ahzeemah has made a great start to his campaign.



"They both stay well and can be competitive in these longer distance races."