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Ispolini runs away with G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy

Racenews
Improving stayer Ispolini gained a first Pattern success when scoring impressively in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 28 February at the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
 
There was a sad aftermath to the race as another Godolphin runner, also trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Brundtland was humanely put down after sustaining a serious injury. 
 
Godolphin recorded a 1-2-3 with sons of Dubawi in the 14-furlong turf contest, the key trial for the G2 Dubai Gold Cup Night on Dubai World Cup Night (Saturday, 30 March), with Red Galileo taking second ahead of Bin Battuta.
 
Red Galileo (Saeed bin Suroor/Pat Cosgrave) broke smartly and soon opened up a length advantage over Brundtland with Bin Battuta (Saeed bin Suroor/Christophe Soumillon) settling in fourth. 
 
Four-year-old Ispolini, stepping up in class after taking a turf handicap over the same course and distance for Charlie Appleby on Thursday, 17 January, was held up in sixth by Mickael Barzalona. 
 
Red Galileo continued to hold the advantage into the straight but Ispolini cruised up to lead with over a furlong and a half to race before quickening clear to win by 10 and a half lengths in 2m 55.96s on good turf.  Bin Battuta came home third, a further 11 and a half lengths in arrears. 
 
Charlie Appleby said: “Unfortunately, Brundtland broke down after sustaining a leg injury and had to be put down by the vets.
 
“It is a big loss for the whole team, as we felt that he was an exciting horse for the future.
 
“Ispolini has a nice stayer’s pedigree and was mixing it with Classic types in the spring of his three-year-old season. He has thrived since coming out to Dubai. 
 
“We knew that stepping up in trip was going to open up doors for him and we felt he was going the right way based on his first couple of runs out here.
 
“His homework had been good going into this evening and we thought that he was going to be competitive.
 
“We had planned for him to go to Australia as well, but he will stay here now for the Dubai Gold Cup.”
 
Mickael Barzalona added: “Ispolini won well last time, when he showed a good turn of foot, and I was told to make him settle during the first part of the race tonight. 
 
“He travelled strongly, did it very well and was impressive.
 
“I could have waited, but Ispolini was going so much better than the others, so I took him out and he just lengthened away.”