Second Meydan dirt victory for Don’t Give Up

Don’t Give Up made most of the running to gain a second straight dirt handicap success over 10 furlongs at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 15 February. 

The four-year-old Dubawi colt, a course and distance winner for Saeed bin Suroor on 25 January, tacked across from stall six and soon went to the front of the seven runners under Christophe Soumillon. 

Stable companion Alabaster (Oisin Murphy) missed the break but recovered to race in a close third after six furlongs and moved up to press for the lead turning for home, but he could not get on terms with Don’t Give Up, who stayed on powerfully to open up daylight over his rivals in the straight. 

Don’t Give Up was eased near the line to come home two lengths ahead of Saltarin Dubai in 2m 5.20s, with a further length and a half back to Alabaster, who was passed for second inside the final furlong. 

He was Saeed bin Suroor’s 12th Dubai World Cup Carnival success of 2018.

Christophe Soumillon commented: “I was not sure of making the running on Don’t Give Up because I knew some horses on my inside had quite a lot of speed. 

“He didn’t jump too well because he was moving before the gates opened but , after five or six strides, I saw that he could get enough speed to make the running so I let him roll over.

“When he hit the front, he was looking around and was still a bit green. In the back straight, the pressure was coming but Don’t Give Up was always giving me something more, so I was quite confident. 

“I thought that it would be a 1-2 for Saeed with Oisin coming on my outside in the straight, but my horse gave me a great turn of foot halfway up the straight and he won quite easily. 

“The distance is perfect for him and the surface is great too. He is still a bit green, so it looks like we have some improvement to come.”

 Saeed bin Suroor remarked: “Don’t Give Up likes the dirt at Meydan and is thriving. Hopefully, we will find another handicap for him and then see what to do.”