Sprint second again for Jungle Cat

Jungle Cat filled the runner-up spot in the G3 Meydan Sprint for a second successive year at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, February 16. 

The five-year-old, beaten a nose in the five-furlong turf contest 12 months ago, broke fine before being a bit outpaced and raced sixth of the 11 runners on the far side.

The Iffraaj horse started to make progress and moved up to third under William Buick by the half-way stage. 

He quickened to go second with a quarter-mile remaining and ran on well in the final furlong without troubling Ertijaal, who broke the course record with an impressive two and three-quarter length victory in 55.90s.

Jungle Cat finished a clear second, four and a quarter lengths ahead of the third Caspian Prince.

His trainer Charlie Appleby said: “I was very pleased with Jungle Cat and he has again put up a good performance in defeat. The record time for the race was helped by a strong tailwind.

“The step-up to six furlongs in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1, turf, March 25) on Dubai World Cup night will suit him.

“Jungle Cat is a typical sprinter, getting better with age, and his main target is the Al Quoz Sprint but I am also looking forward to running him in Europe during the summer.”