Sparkling G2 Balanchine performance by Poetic Charm

Poetic Charm confirmed her dominance of the filly and mare division at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival with another decisive success in the nine-furlong G2 Balanchine on turf at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 14 February.

The four-year-old Dubawi filly, an easy winner of the mile G2 Cape Verdi at the same course on Thursday, 17 January, was tucked in by William Buick to race slightly keenly in second last of the six runners towards the outside. She still had four rivals in front of her at the top of the straight, but ran on strongly down the outside of the field to go to the front with well over a furlong remaining.

Poetic Charm soon opened up a significant advantage and was eased down to come home two and three quarter lengths ahead of Mia Tesoro in 1m 49.60s on good going, with another three-quarters of a length back to Peri Lina in third.

Godolphin’s other runner Asoof (Saeed bin Suroor/Christophe Soumillon) led or disputed the running on the inside rail and kicked for home entering the straight. He was one paced after being headed by Poetic Charm, finishing fourth.

Poetic Charm completed a treble on the night for trainer Charlie and William Buick at seventh fixture of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Charlie Appleby explained: “Poetic Charm came out of the Cape Verdi in great order and the only obstacles we had tonight were the penalty for that win and the step up in trip.

“James Doyle got off her after the Cape Verdi and he couldn’t see why this trip would be an inconvenience, while we were only re-opposing the horses that we had beaten quite comfortably that night.

“It was a very pleasing performance and hopefully we can try to find a G1 race for her somewhere down the line.

“We have some colts for the G1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday (9 March) and I always like to see the fillies run against their own sex. She is definitely on an upward curve, but we have some colts out here that could be quite exciting.

“We might look out to America and there is a nice race at Santa Anita, the G1 Gamely Stakes (9f, Monday, 27 May), which we have our eye on.

“We will get her back – I am far from saying she won’t run in the Jebel Hatta, but the ultimate aim is that we were going to look at America.

“It’s a nice discussion to have with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed when we start to assemble teams for Super Saturday and Dubai World Cup Night (30 March).”

William Buick commented: “It was a trappy, little field and the worst thing you can do in those races is not give the opposition respect.

“We knew that we had to get everything right at our end and then she could produce what she did there, which was lovely.

“She is relaxing so nicely and the extra furlong wasn’t a problem. She has opened up a few more opportunities for herself.

“Poetic Charm proved last time that she is filly who really fills herself up through the race and has a great finishing kick.

“With a combination of being drawn six of six and the extra furlong, it was important to get the first furlong right and take it from there.

“A mile or nine furlongs come alike to her. She has won G2 races now and we will be looking for the elusive G1 now.”