Smooth Cape Verdi success for Promising Run

Promising Run recorded a second G2 success on the turf of Meydan, UAE, when the comfortable winner of the Cape Verdi Stakes over a mile on Thursday, 25 January.

The five-year-old mare, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, broke well under Pat Cosgrave and raced in second by the inside rail as Rehana took the eight-strong field along.

Promising Run was switched out in the straight and delivered a strong challenge to go to the front over a furlong from home.

She ran on resolutely to go clear and score by four and a half lengths from Rehana in 1m 36.56s, completing a Godolphin three-timer on the night.

Promising Run’s previous G2 turf success at Meydan came in the 2017 Al Rashidiya over nine furlongs.

Saeed bin Suroor commented: “At home, Promising Run is always very relaxed and even when she works in the morning she never shows a lot. She can be lazy and is always calm.

“After we saddled her tonight, she got a bit excited as this was her first race back.

“The best horses jumped out fast from the stalls, which suited us. I said to Pat to ride Promising Run handily and give her a chance.

“She can go over further, but a mile was a good starting point today. She has class and was a G2 winner as a two-year-old in the UK.

“Promising Run is tough and always tries hard. She is different on the racecourse to what she shows at home in the morning. We just put cheekpieces on her to keep her focused and they helped her.

“She has improved physically this year and will now go for the Balanchine (G2, 9F, 17 February, Meydan). She was 80 to 90 per cent fit today and will improve.

“It is not easy to have winners at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, but we always try hard to get the best results.”

Pat Cosgrave added: “Saeed said to me before the race that Promising Run shows nothing at home, which is good because she obviously saves it for the track. She is a capable mare when she gets racing.

“I led on her at Lingfield last time. I think that was the wrong way to ride her as I think she prefers a bit of a lead and she has now won twice first time out in Dubai – some horses really love it here.”