Flash Fire & Cymric out to make mark in Zabeel Mile

Flash Fire and Cymric, who have both been successful in handicaps at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival, take a step back up in class for trainer Charlie Appleby in the G2 Zabeel Mile (20.50hrs local time) on turf at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, February 16.

Flash Fire (William Buick, drawn one), a five-year-old son of Shamardal, stormed to a decisive win over seven furlongs on his seasonal return on January 5 and has subsequently twice finished second over the same course and distance, in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort on January 19 and when going down by a nose in a handicap on February 9. 

Four-year-old Cymric (Mickael Barzalona, drawn seven), a close second at G1 level as a juvenile, made an exciting debut for his new trainer on February 2 when running on to score by a half-length in a mile handicap. 

A field of seven for the Zabeel Mile also includes Championship and Noah From Goa, who were first and third in the Al Fahidi Fort. 

Charlie Appleby said: “Flash Fire produced a career best in the Al Fahidi Fort and backed that run up with another good performance in handicap company on his latest start, when he was narrowly beaten. 

“He has been taking his racing well in Dubai and I think he will be fine on the easy mile at Meydan. He goes into the race in good health and doesn’t look out of place in this field.

“I was very pleased Cymric’s first start for our stable and he looks to have come out of that race in good order. 

“He was placed in a G1 as a juvenile and he is going to be a contender if he can return to that level of form.”

Also on Thursday’s Dubai World Cup Carnival card, Jungle Cat drops back down to five furlongs for the 11-runner G3 Meydan Sprint (20.15hrs) on turf. 

The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old Iffraaj horse, partnered on Thursday by William Buick, was beaten a neck by stable companion Baccarat over a furlong further on his first appearance of the year in a Meydan turf handicap on January 26. 

He went down by a nose to Fityaan in last year’s Meydan Sprint and subsequently ran another excellent race over the same course and distance when taking fourth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup Night. 

Ertijaal, second in the Al Quoz Sprint, and veteran multiple G1 scorer Sole Power feature among the rivals for Jungle Cat who is drawn in stall one.

Charlie Appleby added: “Jungle Cat ran well on his seasonal return, when he was just denied by Baccarat. 

“He was always going to come on for that run and the drop back to five furlongs will not be an inconvenience as he is tried and tested over that trip.”