Hot Rod Charlie triumphs in the Maktoum Challenge Round 2
Hot Rod Charlie added to a big day for trainer Doug O'Neill at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai when drawing off in the stretch to win the $350,000 Maktoum Challenge Round 2.
O'Neill, who sent a string to Dubai for the second straight year, also won a $60,000 stakes earlier on the card with Get Back Goldie ($7.40) and was second in both the $150,000 Firecracker Stakes (G3) with Strongconstitution and in another $60,000 conditioned stakes with Khantharo D'Oro.
In the Maktoum Challenge Round 2, Hot Rod Charlie went to the front along the rail under William Buick and dueled through most of the about 9.5-furlong test before pulling away late to win by 5 1/2 lengths.
“It's been such a great journey; let’s hope there are more chapters to come," O'Neill said. “We took a little different approach with him; we didn’t train him too hard going into this. However, we knew we had plenty of time to get him ready for the Dubai World Cup.
“He’s a horse who is just loaded with class. It was a strong field tonight, but William rode him with a ton of class and a ton of confidence.
Al Nefud with Ryan Moore up checked in second followed by Everfast and Argentinean-bred For The Top.
Sent off the heavy odds-on favorite in U.S. markets, Hot Rod Charlie returned $2.60.
The Maktoum Challenge Round 2 was meant to serve as a prep for the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 26.
“(Buick) wasn’t really expecting to go to the front but he said (Hot Rod Charlie) ‘just pulled me there and he was comfortable doing it," O'Neill said. "The pace wasn’t overly hot and he kicked on when he needed to."
Hot Rod Charlie made the trip to Dubai after running a close second in the Dec. 26 San Pasqual Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita to close out his 3-year-old campaign. Last year he won the Pennsylvania (G1) and Louisiana (G2) Derbys and hit the board in two legs of the Triple Crown before running fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The son of Oxbow entered Friday's race with more than $2.5 million in earnings for owners Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and William Strauss.