Dazzling Cape Verdi victory for Poetic Charm

Poetic Charm made the perfect start to her four-year-old campaign when storming to victory in the mile G2 Cape Verdi, the feature turf race on week three of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 17 January. 

The Dubawi filly, trained by Charlie Appleby, was covered up in sixth on the inside of the seven-strong field by James Doyle, when racing a bit keenly.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained duo of Asoof (Christophe Soumillon) and Victory Wave (Kevin Stott) raced in second and fifth respectively as Monza took them along. 

Asoof moved up to hit the front entering the straight, but was reeled in approaching the final furlong by Poetic Charm, who showed an impressive turn of foot and readily went clear to win by four lengths in 1m 36.46s on good ground. 

Four-year-old Asoof, also by Dubawi, kept on as the clear second, with Victory Wave making late headway down the centre of the course to finish fourth. 

Charlie Appleby commented: “I am delighted with Poetic Charm and James has given her a great ride. 

“We were a bit concerned about what we were going to do – we were going to try and drop her in just behind the pace, but James was worried that if something came round the outside, it would light her up. 

“He has given Poetic Charm a peach of a ride – he has buried her and got her switched off – and I was always confident turning in. 

“She was always travelling supremely well and we know that she has a finishing kick, but she put the race to bed nicely. 

“Mentally, she has done well out in Dubai. Kirsty Milczarek rides her out at home and has done a great job. 

“Poetic Charm is just training a lot better this winter compared to last year – she is a stronger individual and more mature. 

“We couldn’t have been more pleased with her coming into this race and I see no reason why she won’t see out the extra furlong of the G2 Balanchine (Thursday, 14 February).

“The Balanchine is the only race left for the fillies and she deserves to have a crack at it. I am sure she can run a big race there.”

James Doyle said: “Poetic Charm has plenty of speed. I didn’t plan on being that far back, but she jumped only fair and a few were quicker away than me, going quite a decent pace and then the pace steadied a bit. 

“She can be a little bit keen, so I was half-delighted to be relaxed down the inside and going a nice rhythm. She has plenty of speed. When the gaps started appearing, I didn’t do much and just sat there and enjoyed the ride as she knew where to go and quickened away really nicely. 

“It was a nice surprise to hit the line so well. She will be taking on the same sort of fillies in the Balanchine and I think the extra furlong of that race will be well within her compass. We will ride her quite chilly again and use that turn of foot late on.

“She has certainly looked a different filly out here in Dubai and has improved for the sun on her back. She looked impeccable tonight and the whole team has done a great job with her,

“You would imagine she will come on for this run. All of Charlie’s horses out here so far have seem to improve for their first run, so she should take a good step forward. 

“She had a good blow afterwards, but she got through the line pretty well.”

Saeed bin Suroor declared: “Asoof ran well, but the winner showed lots of class. I was happy with Asoof and now we have to decide where to go next with her.”

Christophe Soumillon, Asoof’s rider, explained: “She jumped out of the gate quite well. 

“I was very happy with where she was with the leader in front of me. I took her on the turn and she really quickened well in the straight, but she got beat by a better filly.”

This was Godolphin’s seventh Cape Verdi victory in the past nine runnings, with other winners having been Sajjhaa (2013), Very Special (2016 & 2017) and Promising Run (2018).