Impressive Jungle Cat Could Try Five Furlongs

The Charlie Appleby-trained Jungle Cat was the impressive winner of the 15-runner Shiba At The Meydan Hotel Handicap on his first outing for over seven months.

The four-year-old Iffraaj colt, who pulled a shoe off exiting the stalls in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, UK, in June last year, soon raced prominently under William Buick in the six-furlong race on turf.

He led the middle group of horses after the field split into three. The far side seemed to have the advantage, with Jungle Cat racing in fourth or fifth before making progress two furlongs out.

Jungle Cat came with a strong run to lead just inside the final furlong and went clear to win easily under a hands and heels ride to score by three and three quarter lengths from Ashaadd in 1m 9.65s.

Charlie Appleby commented: "I was very happy with the way Jungle Cat looked. I knew he had done enough work on the book to be fit enough but at home he is a hard horse to assess. He would not be the best work horse in the world.

"On his form in Europe, he had to be a strong contender this evening and it was just nice to see him back to winning ways.

"There isn't a great deal for him over six furlongs on turf during the rest of the Dubai World Cup Carnival - there is one more handicap option. He showed a lot of natural pace this evening and it would not worry me if we had to drop him down to five furlongs."

William Buick said: "I thought that it was a good performance from Jungle Cat and there is a bit left to work on, so he will step forward again from here.

"It was a funny race. We split into three groups and I didn't really want to be anywhere near the far side, so I ploughed a lone furrow towards the centre.

"On his best form, he was entitled to do win like he did. He ran very well behind Adaay in a Listed race at Newbury last year and was a bit unfortunate in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, when he lost a shoe and ripped some of his hoof off as well.

"That took a bit of getting over but he came out here a very healthy and rested horse. It's nice to get him back on track and like he was tonight.

"Hopefully, he can go forward from here and there might be something for him in Group races.

"He has got a bit to go to reach the level of a horse like Ahtoug but I am sure that he has got the potential. There is plenty of speed and he gets home, with a good turn of foot."