Good Fortune proves great in Dubai Trophy

A step back up in class is likely for Good Fortune following a comfortable victory in the Dubai Trophy, a seven-furlong turf conditions race, on week two of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 10 January.

The three-year-old son of New Approach, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by James Doyle, broke well from stall 12 and soon raced in fifth towards the outside of the 16-strong field. 

He started to take closer order turning for home, was third entering the straight and ran on to collar long-time leader Shining Armour with a furlong and a half to race. 

Good Fortune went clear inside the final furlong and had enough in reserve to see off the challenge of Woven, with the Godolphin colt going on to score by three-quarters of a length in 1m 24.12s on good ground. 

Charlie Appleby said: “I am pleased to get my first winner of the 2019 Carnival on the board. 

“We were very happy with what Good Fortune achieved as a two-year-old last year as he was quite a weak individual and he has certainly done well since coming out to Dubai. 

“James has given him a lovely ride and I feel that stepping up in trip is going to be his forte, so I was pleased with what he has done over seven furlongs tonight. 

“The most natural progression will be to head for the Meydan Classic (Listed, 1m, 28 February) before probably putting him away and heading back to Europe.”

James Doyle commented: “It worked out quite nicely on Good Fortune, who has shown a decent level of ability in the UK. He ran well in a Listed event at Newbury and also at Sandown on his last start before a bit of a break.  

“His work at home had been good, but he was drawn very wide in a field with plenty of runners, which can make it tricky. He jumped well, relaxed nicely and picked up well enough to keep them at bay in the straight.

“I was always pretty happy with Good Fortune. He didn’t quicken away in the straight, but kept lengthening and ground it out well. We will definitely look to stepping him up in trip and I think he will be better for going further. 

“He has certainly thrived out here – he looks like he has grown a fair bit and looks pretty solid now. Hopefully, we can have a bit more fun with him.”