DUBAI // Jack Hobbs proved his worth on Saturday evening when he produced a classy run to chase down a small but quality field to scoop the US$6 million (Dh22m) Dubai Sheema Classic – a Group 1 turf race over 2,410 metres – at Meydan Racecourse.
Coming back from a five-month break as well as injury, Godolphin’s 2015 English Derby runner-up and winner of the Irish version proved he is up ready for a big campaign this summer.
“We had a quiet last year but his form from Ascot was rock solid,” trainer John Gosden said, referring to his third-place finish in the Champions Stake behind Almanzor, the best three-year-old in Europe, and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Found.
Gosden also paid tribute to jockey William Buick.
“William didn’t go straight away. He waited, waited, and waited. This horse has been so long off from racing but I just needed him to focus. This is great,” the British handler said.
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Buick settled Jack Hobbs behind the Ryan Moore-ridden Highland Reel with Andrea Atzeni on Postponed in second.
That was the order all the way until they turned for home. Atzeni was the first to hit the accelerator but Buick remained patient. Jack Hobbs matched Postponed stride for stride even as he made no move to press on the gas.
And when Buick eventually got to work, Jack Hobbs moved to the front in a few strides and the race was good as over. It was an impressive victory by more than two lengths from Seventh Heaven, trainer Aidan O’Brien’s second runner, who came with a strong late challenge to take second under Seamie Heffernan.
“It wasn’t easy with the first-time blinkers on him,” Buick said. “It was quite a windy. Myself and Postponed were racing together, but he’s won very well and he’s a classy horse. The blinkers have helped him a little bit.
“This night is horse racing’s Olympics and when you are wearing the Royal Blue you have to step up your game.”
Postponed, bidding to become the first horse to win back-to-back Sheema Classic titles, was third ahead of another Godolphin runner Prize Money.
“Postponed was on the bridle a little bit too much with no cover. William Buick found a great spot, he was very patient and did the right thing,” said Aaron Gryder, a former Dubai World Cup winner, covering the event as a television pundit.
Jack Hobbs, with Saturday night’s result, took his record to five wins from 10 starts and only once out of the first three when he was pulled up in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes won by Exospheric at Newmarket last April.
With his success on the night, the strapping five-year-old son of Halling is certain to be aimed at some big prizes in the summer in Europe.
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