Blue Point Turns Back Belvoir Bay in Al Quoz Sprint

Peter Miller-trained stablemates Belvoir Bay and Stormy Liberal put in impressive runs to earn placings, but top-rated turf sprinter Blue Point proved too good in the $2 million Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1) March 30 at Meydan.

Confidently ridden by William Buick in midpack early but close to early leader Belvoir Bay in the well-bunched sprint, Godolphin's Blue Point launched a move near midstretch when horses opened to provide a lane. Blue Point didn't miss a beat, quickly surging through to edge past runner-up Belvoir Bay and hold off reigning American champion turf male Stormy Liberal.

"The horse has so much confidence," Buick told Dubai Racing Club media. "It makes me very confident; we were in great shape throughout. That was nice and straightforward, and the horse deserved it."

The effort helped make amends for last year, when Blue Point was scratched at the gate because a vet spotted blood from a nostril. Trainer Charlie Appleby suspects the horse knocked his head last year, causing the bleeding. But this year it was a smooth trip for Blue Point, who came in off back-to-back wins in the Feb. 14 Meydan Sprint Sponsored By Gulf News (G2) and the March 9 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By Arabian Adventures (G3)

"He has been foot-perfect in his two lead-up races to this and he has copied that today," Buick said. "He travelled really strongly and has again shown a great turn of foot. When he gets to the front he knows he has done enough. It is great at the age of five he is showing everyone just how good he is, and he has always shown us so much speed. I remember riding him as a 2-year-old and I'd never ridden a faster horse before he made his debut. He has developed into a top-class sprinter now."

Blue Point delivered a 1 1/4-length score, completing the straight 1,200-meter test (about six furlongs) in 1:08.39 on good turf.

"He's doing what we always hoped he would do," said Appleby, who a race earlier sent out Godolphin's Cross Counter to a victory in the two-mile Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2) to complete a double of long and short turf races. "You have got a combination here of William and the horse. They thrive off each other. William knows him inside out. I knew from the body language, as much as you never get confident too soon, but I felt that William had pretty much everything covered there.

"I'm delighted. I have always been very fond of him, ever since his 2-year-old days and he's doing what we always hoped he would do one day and that is to become a finished article in the top sprinting division."

Appleby: Blue Point Horse to Beat in Al Quoz Sprint

A 5-year-old son of Shamardal bred in Ireland by Oak Lodge Bloodstock out of the Royal Applause mare Scarlett Rose. Blue Point secured the seventh group stakes win of his career. After the issue in last year's Al Quoz, he bounced back with a clear victory in the King's Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.

Asked about a potential Royal Ascot title defense, Appleby responded, "We all know it's a tough game but if he turns up fit and well, he is going to be there to try and defend his crown in the King's Stand Stakes. I spoke to His Highness and we said that as long as he ran well here that would be the plan."

Gary Barber's Belvoir Bay, entered off a pair of stakes wins sprinting on the Santa Anita Park turf this year, secured the first grade/group 1 placing of her career. Flavien Prat was up on the 6-year-old daughter of Equiano.

Two-time Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner Stormy Liberal enjoyed a good start from the rail under Joel Rosario and finished well to earn third. After the top three, there was a four-length gap to Viddora in fourth. It is the second straight year that Stormy Liberal, a 7-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic campaigned by Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen, has hit the board in the Al Quoz. He finished second in 2018.

"They were super runs, they both ran their races, I can't complain about it," Miller said. "We just got beat by the home team and that was probably the difference. I think maybe if the race was at Santa Anita Park we might have had the edge.

"All congratulations to Sheikh Mohammed and his team. Blue Point is a super horse and it was no disgrace finishing second and third to him. I'm very pleased we came over. I'm hoping maybe I'll see Blue Point in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. He can come and we've got a score to settle."