Godolphin's Mythical Magic Scores in Zabeel Mile

The featured $250,000 Zabeel Mile Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors (G2) Feb 21 included a complex field of milers looking to earn their way to the $6 million Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) next month.

The two market favorites, Century Dream with Oisin Murphy aboard and Mythical Magic with William Buick, kicked on aggressively with 500 meters remaining, setting the stage for the stretch run. With the aid of a prep race, Godolphin's Mythical Magic proved the fitter of the two, collaring his foe with a furlong remaining and powering clear by three lengths at the wire for trainer Charlie Appleby.

The final time was 1:36.39 for 1,600 meters, with First Contact, Wootton, and South African group 1 winner Marinaresco closing well to complete the top five. The victory was the third from nine starts for the 4-year-old gelded son of Iffraaj. He exited a second in the Jan. 24 Al Fahidi Fort Sponsored By Emirates Global Aluminium (G2) over 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs), finishing behind well-regarded stablemate D'bai.

"It was an excellent performance," Buick said. "He's a beautiful, imposing horse, and he's getting things together now. His last run over seven furlongs in the Al Fahidi Fort was obviously an eye-catching run. Up to the mile tonight, things really came together for him and he put in a good performance. He did the job well. Century Dream was the horse to beat without a question, but I think Mythical Magic had a fitness edge with a run under his belt."

"I thought he would come forward," Appleby added. "He went to his girth there and stayed on nicely in the Al Fahidi Fort, and we thought the step up in trip was going to suit. We'll have a chat (about the Dubai Turf). He could maybe go to Australia for the Doncaster, but obviously we'll get back and regroup and see where we are. Very pleasing night. He's always been a bit tricky, and he's in great nick now. It's been worth persevering with. When you're on the kind of roll that we're on now, the confidence certainly flows throughout the stable."

Murphy was pleased with the performance of Century Dream, who made his first start since finishing third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) in October.

"He jumped well and he relaxed the first three furlongs," Murphy said. "He did enough work to make the race, but he paid the price for it up the straight. It wasn't a bad run. He's a genuine group 1 performer, so that's where we are with him."

Under the watchful eye of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the 1,900-meter UAE Oaks Sponsored by Range Rover (G3) went to Godolphin's Divine Image.

The progressive daughter of Scat Daddy came with a late run under Buick to nab the leader Swift Rose by a neck, handing trainer Charlie Appleby a first victory in the fillies' prep race for the $2.5 million UAE Derby (G2). 

Aside from Divine Image's hard-fought victory, Doug Watson trainee Razeena turned in an eye-catching performance with Pat Dobbs aboard, sitting four wide off pacesetter Swift Rose to stay on for third. The final time was 2:01.76 on the dirt course.  

"She was perfect away, and I obviously asked her to get her position early," Buick said. "Coming into the first turn, it is a short run, so I just took her back. She was a bit green in stages, but when I pulled her, she picked up really good, which is not easy on this surface."

"I have to say, turning in, I thought Hayley (Turner) had rode a nice race (on Swift Rose)," Appleby added. "I thought she would skip away from the field, but once William got our filly leveled out, I was confident in the last furlong because she'd be running along strongly. She's a filly who's definitely got the talent. We just need to make sure we take it in the right direction. The (UAE Derby) is certainly under consideration."

Turner, who appeared a winner at the top of the lane, definitely felt the bittersweetness of a great effort to just fall short in second: "I was getting so excited half a furlong out."