Creative Flair maintains G2 Balanchine dominance

Creative Flair backed up some highly promising 2021 form with a first G2 victory in the Balanchine on week four of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan, UAE, on Friday, 4 February.

The Dubawi filly was making her seasonal return in the nine-furlong contest following a productive three-year-old campaign for Charlie Appleby that yielded a UK Listed win along with G3 placings in France and the United States.

After breaking smartly from her wide draw, Creative Flair tacked over to race in second on the outside of Stunning Beauty.

Creative Flair quickened under William Buick to take up the running entering the final quarter-mile, with Dubai Love also staying on strongly to mount her challenge passing the furlong pole.

G2 Cape Verdi winner Pevensey Bay emerged from the chasing pack to press for the lead but could not get on terms with Creative Flair, who found more in front to prevail by three-quarters of a length and provide Godolphin with a fifth straight Balanchine win.

Dubai Love was narrowly edged out for second by Pevensey Bay, with the front three pulling clear of Last Look and Soft Whisper.

Charlie Appleby said: “We were delighted with Creative Flair. She is a filly that might follow the same programme as Althiqa and Summer Romance in that we may send her back over to North America.

“She has the G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in April as an option or we could look at the two G1 races Althiqa won in the summer, the Just A Game Stakes and Diana Stakes.”

William Buick added: “I took my time to get over on Creative Flair. She is a forward-going filly anyway and was racing a little bit generously on her first run for a while. She is all heart and really deserved that – she has some good form in Europe and ran some good races in America last year.

“I don’t think that she will get any further than 10 furlongs. She does stay but has a bit of a kick as well. Nine furlongs was ideal on her first run back. She responded well for me – I know Pevensey Bay would come late but my filly stuck to it.”