Smooth Meydan success for Oasis Charm

Oasis Charm made his first start of 2019 a winning one when gaining a comfortable victory in the 10-furlong turf handicap on week five of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 31 January.

The five-year-old, having his first start since winning a nine-furlong turf handicap at Newmarket, UK, in May, 2018, was partnered by William Buick who settled him in seventh towards the outside as Stage Magic (Charlie Appleby/Colm O’Donoghue) soon took the 14-strong field along.

Travelling well entering the straight in fourth, lightly-raced Oasis Charm made smooth progress to take the lead with a furlong and a half remaining.

He ran on well for a cosy three quarters of a length victory from two other Godolphin runners - Team Talk (Saeed bin Suroor/Christophe Soumillion), who came home strongly from a long way off the pace after being slow into stride, and the always-prominent Zaman (Charlie Appleby/Brett Doyle), another head away in third. The winning time was 2m 2.27s on good ground.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “Oasis Charm was fresh there going out on the track. He had showed his wellness at home – his work has been good and his preparation flawless.

“We felt coming into tonight with William having the pick of them that he was quite right to sit on Oasis Charm.

“The way Oasis Charm travels through a race, 10 furlongs is probably his distance. I certainly would not want to step him up in trip.

“He has won off 104 there and isn’t too far off the category of having a crack at something like the Dubai Millennium Stakes (G3, 10f, turf, Thursday, 21 February), where we could test his mettle in a G3.

“We will see what William has to say about him, but I do like the way Oasis Charm travels.

“On home evidence, I would like to think we have a couple of horses with more pace than him. Ten furlongs seems to be his trip and hopefully we can fill those slots for the G1 Jebel Hatta (1m 1f).”

William Buick, making a comeback himself, added: “Oasis Charm was in great form and is a very likeable horse.

“There was an even pace through the race, which really suits him, and if anything he may have got there a tad too soon.

“He is a very honest horse and probably won with a little bit up his sleeve. He has had a long time off and you have to believe that he is going to improve again.

“He has won a handicap there off a decent mark. Let’s see where that can take him.”