Dubai: Jalil, who cost a tidy £9.7million as a yearling, has brought Godolphin's Dubai World Cup (Gr 1) hopes to life after running out an impressive winner of the Maktoum Challenge Round 3, the highlight of the Super Thursday card.
The colt has looked enormously impressive on the Nad Al Sheba dirt, where he was completing a hat-trick, and can now bid to emulate three of Godolphin's previous winners of the Maktoum Challenge who have gone on to triumph in the Dubai World Cup.
After Jalil was led into the winner's enclosure by trainer Saeed Bin Surour, Godolphin jockey Frankie Dettori performed his renowned post-race flying dismount, which he will surely be hoping to repeat in three weeks time on Dubai World Cup day.
Maiden tag
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said Jalil will go straight to the big race on March 29.
"He deserves his chance there.
"It is great that the team's patience has been rewarded and he is justifying our faith," said Crisford.
Jalil needed three tries to shake off his maiden tag in the UK but has thrived on the dirt in Dubai.
"He's learning to be a really good horse, and clearly loves the sand, and the further he goes, the better he is," added Crisford.
"We gave him a chance as he needed time last year, and it's paid huge dividends now.
"He'll go straight to the Dubai World Cup, and we'll see Curlin there. He needs to improve again, but he hasn't stopped yet."
Curlin, the American Horse of the Year and winner of the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic, is the 11-8 favourite with English bookmakers.
Steve Blasi, assistant to the horse's trainer Steve Asmussen, was impressed with Jalil's winning time of 2:00.35, which was marginally faster than the 2:00.60 that Curlin clocked over the same distance in his prep race last week.
"He sure looks like a nice horse, and that was a fast time," said Blasi.
Jalil was purchased at the 2005 Keeneland September yearlings sale but mysteriously flopped when raced on turf in England.
In Thursday's race he hit the front at the two furlong mark and took command of the race to draw away for a length and a half victory from French hope Gloria De Campeao.
Maktoum Challenge Round 2 winner Lucky Find finished another length back in third for trainer Mike de Kock.
VISION
Meydan 'very special', says Mohammad
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has hinted that the billion-dollar Meydan racecourse currently under construction at Nad Al Sheba, will change the face of horse racing in the region.
Speaking to an international television channel during the Super Thursday meeting, Shaikh Mohammad said: "Meydan will be very special. When it opens you will see a lot of changes in the racing. Everything will change, even the prize money."
An iconic and landmark development spanning 76 million square feet Meydan racecourse will also feature a five star hotel, restaurants, private hospitality suites and a state of the art racing museum.
Results
Race 1. Al Maktoum Challenge Rd 3 - Al Sakbe (Gr 1) (Purebred Arabians 5yo+) 2,000M; 1. Madjani (trained by G Duffield) ridden by Richard Hills; 2. Kandar Du Falgas (D Watson) W Supple; 3. Al Moutawakel (S Seemar) R Mullen; 4. Paris Gagner (D Watson) M Dwyer.Distances: 1.25length, 2.75, 1.25. Time: 2min 12.:00secs.
Race 2. Shadwell Estate (Thoroughbreds 3yo only, Rated conditions) 1.400m dirt: 1. Ukrainian (A Cintra Pereira) R Mullen; 2. Select Reason (A Cintra Pereira) M Kinane; 3. Lizard Island (A Manuel) J Egan; 4. Change Alley (A Al Raihe) R Ffrench.Distances; 1.25length, 0.25, 2.75. Time: 1:24.92.
Race 3. Al Bastakiya - Mujahid (Thoroughbreds, Listed) 1,800m Dirt: 1. Royal Vintage (M de Kock) K Shea; 2. Honour Devil (M de Kock) J Murtagh; 3. Numaany (S Bin Surour) L Dettori; 4. Paveroc (A Manuel) J Egan.Distances: Head, 1.5length, 16. Time: 1:48.68.
Race 4. Mahab Al Shimaal - Green Desert (Gr 3) (Thoroughbreds) 1,200m Dirt: Diabolical (S Bin Surour) K McEvoy; 2. Star Crowned (R Bouresly) M Kinane; 3. New Freedom (A Selvaratnam) T O'Shea; 4. Sarissa (P Bary) C Lemaire.Distances: 4.5length, Nose, 1. time: 1:09.59.
Race 5. Burj Nahaar - Muhtathir (Gr 3) (Thoroughbreds) 1,600m Dirt: 1. Elusive Warning (S Bin Surour) K McEvoy; 2. Blackat Blackitten (S Bin Surour) L Dettori; 3. Asiatic Boy (M de Kock) J Murtagh; 4. Halkin (F Nass) M O'Callaghan.Distances: 0.5length, 2.75, 3.75. Time: 1:35.43.
Race 6. Dubai City of Gold - Haafhd (Gr 3) (Thoroughbreds 4yo+) 2,400m Turf: 1. Gower Song (D Elsworth) R Hills; 2. Mourilyan (J Oxx) M Kinane; 3. Oracle West (M de Kock) J Murtagh; 4. Gravitas (S Bin Surour) L Dettori.Distances: 0.5length, Head, Short Head. Distances: 2:30.10.
Race 7. Al Maktoum Challenge Rd 3 Sakhee (Gr 2) (Thoroughbreds 3yo+) 2,000m: 1. Jalil (S Bin Surour) L Dettori; 2. Gloria De Campeao (P Bary) C Lemaire; 3. Lucky Find (M de Kock) K Shea; 4. Mutasallil (D Watson) R Hills.
Distances: 1.5length, 1, 8. Time: 2:00.35.
Race 8. Jebel Hatta - Nayef (Gr 2) (Thoroughbreds 3yo+) 1,777m: 1. Lord Admiral (C O'Brien) M Kinane; 2. Jay Peg (H Brown) R Moore; 3. Traffic Guard (A Manuel) J Egan; 4. Viva Macau (J Moore) D Beadman.
Distances: 1length, Short Head, 0.5. Time: 1:49.32.
