Mike de Kock trained Janoobi won the Group 2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Thursday evening in a race which was dominated by South African runners.

Maine Chance-bred Janoobi, by Silvano, beat Championship by 0.75 lengths with another De Kock-trained runner, Noah From Goa, another length back in third and last year’s Sun Met winner, Whisky Baron, in fourth. 

Championship had won this race a year ago, and when he extended his lead in the straight a repeat looked on the cards. However Janoobi and Noah From Goa went after him immediately and in the final 50m Janoobi got to the leader and edged away in the final strides.

Janoobi wins the Gr2 Zabeel Mile. (Andrew Watkins).

“It was a very good ride by Jim Crowley,” said Mike. “He could have got into trouble early on but he moved off the rail. You could see he was thinking a long way out.”

Asked if was surprised by the win Mike commented: “If you go back to his form in South Africa he is a winner of two Guineas. The way he runs I think he will run well on the dirt so the Godolphin Mile is a possibility we’ll discuss with Sheikh Hamdan. As far as Noah From Goa is concerned I personally think he needs 1800m. I will now run him in the Jebel Hatta. I also think we saw a great run from Whisky Baron and I’m just glad to see South African horses running so well.”

Janoobi’s time of one minute 35,27 seconds was just a fraction outside the track record.

Light The Lights and Al Sahem were beaten into fifth and sixth respectively in the Group 3 Dubai Millenium Stakes.

“Light the Lights is a handicapper, his Carnival is probably over now. Al Sahem was still blowing, he improved however and we’ll be looking at the Dubai City Of Gold next. He needs further. – extracts from TAB News.