Ahzeemah Placed For Second Time In Dubai Gold Cup

Ahzeemah performed strongly to finish third in the Group Two Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors over two miles on turf at Meydan, UAE, on Saturday, March 28.

The six-year-old son of Dubawi, who came second in the 2013 renewal of the US$1-million race, bounced back to form after a poor trial.

Drawn in the outside stall 15, Ahzeemah raced widest of all under James Doyle and made steady progress to settle in third and then fourth.

Ahzeemah was galvanised turning in and went second straightening up.

He kept on well but just lost second place close home, going down by three and a quarter lengths and a short-head to the winner Brown Panther and runner-up Star Empire. It was a new course record time of 3m 18.84s on turf described as good. The other Godolphin contender, Marzocco (John Gosden/William Buick), came home ninth.

James Doyle remarked: "It sounds silly but we were drawn wide in 15 and it took time to get across, but we did get over and obtained a nice position.

"We had a lovely trip around and he is a tough horse, it is just a shame we didn't keep second. I have no complaints and the winner looks a very good horse.

"It was really pleasing that Ahzeemah put his recent bad run behind him.

"He has bounced back to form and the trip and the even pace played to his strengths.

"It was a very encouraging performance and hopefully he can go on from here."