Bright Melody calls the tune at Meydan

Improving four-year-old Bright Melody backed up a promising Meydan debut with a comfortable victory over Dubai Mirage in a nine-furlong handicap on week six of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Thursday, 25 February.

The Charlie Appleby-trained son of Dubawi, runner-up to Ya Hayati in the 10-furlong Listed Zabeel Turf on week two, soon settled behind the leaders in fifth, one place behind Dubai Mirage.

Both horses started to take closer order half a mile from home, with Bright Melody staying on strongly to take up the running for James Doyle entering the final furlong.

He lengthened away in the closing stages to score by a length and three-quarters over Dubai Mirage (Frankie Dettori), who kept on after going second half a furlong out.

James Doyle said: “It couldn’t have worked out much better for Bright Melody. I didn’t see a whole lot of speed on paper, so I was happy to jump and sit in a forward position from my draw (stall nine). He didn’t begin all that well, so we had a little bit of a task to make some ground early on, but it worked out nicely.

“We didn’t go overly quick at all and I was in the position to move out and make a fairly early manoeuvre in the straight, being mindful that we were dropping back a furlong.

“We were very pleased with his first start of the year. Ya Hayati had a good trip that day and my horse just got a little bit tired close home, which played into the winner’s hands. Coming into today, my horse was weighted to finish ahead of Ya Hayati. I guess we were also well-positioned in a slowly-run race.

“I guess the plan will be to go back home and have a bit of fun with him. He has a very willing attitude and is adaptable. We actually thought that there was a chance of him going a bit further after his first run back, so he is quite versatile trip-wise. It should stand him in good stead back home.”