It was a huge effort, but ultimately not quite good enough as Acapulco went down fighting on the Knavesmire on Friday.
The American filly ran in to the rising star of the European sprinting scene in Mecca’s Angel on her preferred surface.
Leading by two lengths inside the final 200 metres of the Nunthorpe Stakes under Irad Ortiz, Acapulco looked on the way to rewarding the race sponsors and owners Coolmore with a landmark victory.
Jockey Paul Mulrennan had other ideas, however, and, on rain-softened ground that suited his mount and blunted the speed and power of her rival, he galvanised Mecca’s Angel to hunt down and overhaul the favourite.
At the line there was two lengths between the fillies, with the three-year-old Mattmu the same distance behind in third. Al Quoz Sprint winner Sole Power showed his old dash by finishing fourth in pursuit of a third victory in the Group 1 sprint.
Wesley Ward has made his name in Britain by plundering prizes at Royal Ascot, but having had victory snatched from his grasp he swallowed the defeat graciously on his first visit to this northern outpost.
“Second is a little tough to swallow — it is like kissing your sister,” he said. “I am very proud of her. She made all the running.
“The ground was a little soft today. It is something that she is not quite used to. She would prefer firm ground, but we have no real excuses.”
Ever since Acapulco first arrived in Britain ahead of her win in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, her rippling muscles and huge frame have courted significant attention.
Such is her precocity that the two-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy cost $750,000 (Dh2.75m) in the spring at the Ocala sales in Florida.
Ward has described her this week as “monstrous” and previously as having the appearance of a four-year-old.
Questioned about her size afterwards, Ward went on the record.
“She always has been a big, tremendous filly since the first time I saw her,” he said.
“The British Horseracing Authority has done hair samples from way, way back and she is as clean as a whistle as far as any steroids are concerned.” Where Acapulco goes now is up to the Coolmore syndicate, but with her preference for firm ground and 1,000 metres she is unlikely to return to Europe in the autumn.
That suits the Mecca’s Angel team just fine.
Mecca’s Angel showed she was a sprinter of huge potential when she broke the track record at Longchamp in May, and a return to Paris looks likely with the Prix l’Abbaye de Longchamp on the first Sunday in October the ultimate target.
The Flying Five in Ireland on September 13 will be the next port of call.
The four-year-old filly missed the King’s Stand Stakes at Ascot because the going was deemed too quick for her and she then struggled to deal with good ground when beaten by Stepper Point in Ireland in July.
“This vindicated why we didn’t run her at Royal Ascot,” said David Metcalfe, the owner. “I know people were disappointed, but it’s proved today why we didn’t run her, she needs to get her toe in. It wouldn’t have been the same winning at Ascot, this beats it, she’s the best I’ve ever had.”
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
NEW ARRIVALS
Benjamin Mendy (Monaco) - £51.75m (Dh247.94m)
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) - £45.9m
Bernardo Silva (Monaco) - £45m
Ederson Moraes (Benfica) - £36m
Danilo (Real Madrid) - £27m
Douglas Luiz (Vasco de Gama) - £10.8m
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Price: From Dh399,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
