Dubai: Singapore's champion trainer Steven Burridge can proudly say that his small four-horse team have exceeded all expectations at the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
In the space of just seven days the bubbly Singapore contingent, who are making their Carnival debut, have seen three of their stars finish first and another fourth.
Dark Matter started the ball rolling last week when he scored a rousing victory in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial before Captain Obvious gave Singapore a second Dubai success by bringing it home in a competitive handicap on Thursday. Ip Man was the third Burridge winner to grace the winner's enclosure at Meydan after he shattered the course record to beat a high-class field in a lucrative Al Naboodah Group-sponsored handicap.
Humility
You could be forgiven for thinking that things were going too fast for the first-time visitors from Asia, for how many trainers get to achieve the kind of success that Burridge has had in such a short span of time.
But the man himself is not overly surprised at the results, although he has a humility that is sometimes hard to find. "We knew our horses would be competitive, but the results that they have achieved in only their first starts in Dubai are a bit overwhelming." Burridge said.
"They've beaten some top horses and we can only hope that they can go on from this to measure up in the better class races.
"Ip Man is a horse that we've always believed could take on the best and he has shown his ability with this performance. It's only his fifth career start and we did not know what to expect from him here in Dubai. But following that we could well look at the UAE 2,000 Guineas (February 9) with him now as he is only three and hopefully has a lot more to offer."
The Australian handler, who flew back to Singapore to saddle his runners at the Chinese New Year meeting at Kranji racecourse tomorrow will return to the UAE in time for next week's Carnival meeting where he will saddle Captain Obvious in the $200,000 Al Rashidiya (Group 2).
"He's the horse that we had big hopes for in Dubai," said Burridge.
"He's got a lot of experience having won 14 races from 22 starts. His best trip is 1200, so we're hoping he'll run a big race next week. He's had some success on the Polytrack at Kranji and appears to like the All-Weather at Meydan."
Honour
Ip Man was not the only record breaker at Meydan on Saturday evening, as the Mubarak Bin Shafya-trained Bawadi set a new time for 1,900 metres at Meydan when clocking 1:56.90. The record was set by Godolphin's Allybar in the second round of the 2010 Al Maktoum Challenge. Pat Cosgrave was the jockey to claim the honour.
Bin Shafya went on to complete a meet double when saddling Iguaza Falls to win the only turf race of the meeting, while jockey Tadhg O'Shea reached a personal milestone of 200 winners in the UAE when riding Tanfeeth to win the 2,200m handicap.
The jockey admitted to being surprised at his achievement and said: "I had not realised that was 200 so I am delighted. It is a good milestone and hopefully there will be plenty more."
RESULTS
Race 1. SMKA - MK By Honeywell Handicap (TB rated 60-80) 1400m (All-Weather):
1. Rutland Boy (A Al Raihe) Jamie Spencer; 2. Daboos; 3. Maath Gool; Kessraa 4.
Distances: 2.75Length, 0.5L, 0.5L. Time: 1.24.03secs.
Race 2. Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Handicap (TB rated 80-98) 2200m (All-Weather):
1. Tanfeeth (M Al Muhairi) Tadhg O'Shea; 2. Tahaamah; 3. Direct Answer; 4. Sharaayeen.
Distances: 1.5Length, 0.5L, 2.25L. Time: 2:16.96secs.
Race 3. Swaidan Trading Company Peugeot Handicap (TB rated 60-85) 1800m (All-Weather):
1. Bawadi (M bin Shafya) Pat cosgrave; 2. Bin Shamardal; 3. Masaalek; 4. Profondo Rosso.
Distances: 0.5Length, 2.25L, 1.5L. Time: 1:57.9secs (New Track Record)
Race 4. Swaidan Trading Company - VDL Handicap (TB rated 75-95) 1600m (All-Weather):
1 Trojan Nights (M al Muhairi) James Doyle; 2. Graymalkin; 3. Layali Al Andalus; 4. Antinori.
Distances: 1.75Length, 0.5L, Head. Time: 1:36.37secs.
Race 5. Al Naboodah Construction Group Handicap (TB rated 90-102) 1600m (Turf):
1. Igazu Falls (M Bin shafya) Xavier Ziani; 2. Krypston Factor; 3. Spirit of Sharjah; 4. Prince D'alienor.
Distances: 1.25Length, Short Head, Neck. Time: 1:37.66secs.
Race 6. Saeed & Mohammad Al Naboodah Group Handicap (TB rated 95-105) 1400m (All-Weather):
1. Ip Man (s Burridge) Oscar Chavez; 2. Primaeval; 3. Tamaathul; 4. Global City.
Distances: 2.5, Short Head, 0.5. Time: 1.22.66 (New Track Record
