Carnival hot spell continued by Cymric

Cymric continued Godolphin’s excellent form at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival when he made a successful start to 2017 in the EGA Potlines Trophy Handicap over a mile on turf at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, February 2.
 
The four-year-old, making his debut for trainer Charlie Appleby following some notable efforts for John Gosden, was slightly slow into stride but soon recovered to race in second behind the other Godolphin runner American Hope (Saeed bin Suroor/Adrie de Vries).
 
American Hope kicked for home after entering the straight but Cymric moved up to take the lead over a furlong out under William Buick and ran on for a half-length success over Elite Excalibur in 1m 37.49s, with another length back to American Hope in third.
 
It was an 11th victory for Godolphin at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival and followed on from five winners at the previous fixture on January 26.
 
Charlie Appleby said: “We are delighted with Cymric’s run. He was working well at home beforehand and hopefully he win gain some confidence from that victory.
 
“We will have a look at a race like the Zabeel Mile (G2, turf, Meydan, February 16) with him now.”
 
William Buick added: “Cymric challenged for the front a fair way out but he stuck to his guns nicely. They were all coming at him and I was very pleased with that performance.
 
“The gelding may have just helped him to focus more. He has always been a pretty straightforward and very sweet horse to deal with.
 
“He had very high-class form as a two-year-old, so we know that the engine is there, and we just have to tweak him and work on him.
 
“It’s nice to get him off to a winning start and there is definitely more to come from Cymric.
 
“The team at home have done a fantastic job and he was fit enough to do himself justice.
 
“This was a nice stepping stone and he can build from here. He could be an exciting prospect.”