A good night for Godolphin was completed when Haafaguinea defied top-weight in the 12-furlong Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City - District One Handicap on turf, the final race at Meydan on Thursday, January 21.
A good night for Godolphin was completed when Haafaguinea defied top-weight in the 12-furlong Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City - District One Handicap on turf, the final race at Meydan on Thursday, January 21.
The six-year-old son of Haafhd, one of three runners for Saeed bin Suroor, was always prominent under William Buick, who was celebrating a Godolphin double after his win on Safety Check.
Haafaguinea raced a bit keenly first of all but soon settled in second as Quarterback led and came with a strong late run to take up the running well inside the final furlong.
He saw off by half a length stable companion Al Saham (James Doyle) who progressed from fifth to second in the straight. The winning time was 2m 35.06s.
Saeed bin Suroor, whose American Hope was beaten a length in the closing stages of the previous race, the mile District One Mansions Handicap on dirt, said: "Finally a winner! Haafaguinea ran very well and has now won three handicaps at Meydan. We will probably aim him at another handicap."
William Buick commented: "I won on Haafaguinea at Meydan last year over a mile and quarter and he has successfully stepped up to a mile and a half tonight.
"We thought he would get this trip - albeit we went steady but he got the trip well and fought back really hard."The start is close to the first bend and so, to sort ourselves out, we go a good pace into the bend but then it was a typical mile and a half race with a fairly modest pace before picking up again in the straight."
