CHARLIE Appleby trained the winners of a Group 2 race and two listed contests on the Super Saturday card at Meydan.

Bold Act, a four-year-old New Approach gelding, had last been seen winning a Keeneland Grade 3 last October. He took the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored By Emirates.com over a mile and a half on turf.

He won by two lengths from stable companion Warren Point and German challenger Sisfahan with the Appleby favourite Castle Way only fourth, a place ahead of Jessica Harrington’s Trevaunance who made much of the running.

The four-year-old produced a striking turn of foot, taking his career tally to eight wins from 14 starts.

Winning jockey Mickael Barzalona said: “I came to the front very easy, but when he was there he did the minimum, so this was an easy win for him.”

Appleby began with success in the Listed Jumeirah 1000 Guineas Sponsored By Emirates SkyCargo over a mile with the long odds-on favourite Cinderella’s Dream. The 1000 Guineas winner Mawj took this last year.

William Buick partnered the unbeaten daughter of Shamardal to a five and a half-length success, despite an incident on the home turn when his saddle slipped and the jockey lost the irons for the remainder of the race.

“She took a hold early and, because she’s quite slight, my saddle slipped up her neck when I took a pull,” said the jockey. “I was getting a bit unbalanced, so the safest thing to do was to take my feet out. It was a bit of a rodeo show, but we got the job done.”

The Listed Jumeirah Classic Sponsored By Arabian Adventures over nine furlongs also went to a short odds Appleby/Buick runner when the three-year-old Sea The Stars colt Legend Of Time made it three wins from three for the Meydan winter, in winning by four and three quarters lengths from Musical Act (7/1).

World Cup opportunity

Military Law was denied his chance of Dubai World Cup glory in 2021 when getting loose before the start and being withdrawn.

Three years on, he will get another chance, thanks to victory in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Classic Sponsored by Emirates Airline. The race gives guaranteed entry into the $12 million event on March 30th.

The now nine-year-old had a spell with trainer Doug Watson last season but is thriving now back with Musabbeh Al Mheiri, who gave jockey Oscar Chavez the leg up. The pair turned for home with a narrow advantage over Walk Of Stars and had to be tenacious to hold off that rival and third home Clapton by a length.

Ran away

One of the most impressive winners of the day was Laurel River, who ran away with the Group 3 Burj Nahaar Sponsored by Emirates SkyCargo for trainer Bhupat Seemar and Tadhg O’Shea.

The six-year-old, a recruit from the US, was a little disappointing when only seventh on his local debut but bounced back, cruising into the straight 10 lengths clear of his rivals and winning by six and three-quarter lengths from Qareeb.

“He’s a high-class horse and, to be fair to him,” said winning rider Tadhg O’Shea. “We weren’t disappointed the last time, but they’re racehorses and not computers; sometimes they just need a run to get back on their A-game.”

It was confirmed during the week that Laurel River will step up in trip again to 10 furlongs for the Dubai World Cup.

Frost At Dawn was a significant Group 3 winner for trainer William Knight in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By Emirates Skywards over five furlongs.

In a 15-runner field, the US-bred son of Frosted raced close up on the far rail, led two furlongs out and was soon clear, to hold the challenge of Godolphin’s favourite Star Of Mystery by two and a half lengths. Ladies Church finished eighth for Johnny Murtagh.

Pat Cosgrave also combined with trainer Bhupat Seemar to win the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal Sponsored By Emirates Holidays over six furlongs on dirt. Leading Spirit beat the Tadhg O’Shea- ridden favourite Freedom Fighter by a length and a half.

Another outsider won the Group 3 Ras Al Khor Sponsored By Emirates Airline over seven furlongs on turf.

Fort Payne and Adrie de Vries prevailed by a neck from total outsider Tamborrada. Winning trainer and Carnival regular Nicolas Caullery did not have an immediate target in mind for the winner.