Magic Lily bids to follow up for Charlie Appleby in Group 2

Godolphin's Magic Lily is set to start a warm favourite in the Group 2 Balanchine at Meydan (4.15) on Thursday as she bids to become the ninth Cape Verdi winner to follow up in this 1m1f race.

Magic Lily won the Cape Verdi, which was run over a mile three weeks ago, by a short head and all bar one of the seven rivals she beat are reopposing, including the runner-up Nisreen.

Her trainer Charlie Appleby completed the Cape Verdi-Balanchine double with Poetic Charm last year and has two entries this time, with William Buick riding Magic Lily and James Doyle partnering Divine Image, the only runner who did not contest the Cape Verdi.

Divine Image, who won last year’s Group 3 UAE Oaks and Super Saturday’s Listed Al Bastakiya on dirt, will make her second outing on turf.

Appleby said: “We hoped Magic Lily would run well in the Cape Verdi but fully expected her to benefit from the outing over a trip very much her minimum. The extra furlong will suit but she does now have a penalty to overcome. She seems in good form.

“Divine Image can be quirky but is working well. You can ignore her one previous turf run when the soft ground was against her. Hopefully the conditions on the Meydan turf will suit.”

The main dirt race, the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes over a mile, promises to be a cracker with the two most recent winners among the ten declared. Last year it was Sheikh Hamdan’s Muntazah who landed the spoils under Jim Crowley before breaking the course-and-distance track record in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar.

Third in this last year was 2018 winner Heavy Metal, who is seeking a ninth victory on the Meydan dirt and eighth over course and distance.

Salem bin Ghadayer, trainer of Heavy Metal, Capezzano and Matterhorn, said: “Heavy Metal is a special horse to us all and owes us nothing. Hopefully he can break well and get a good position.

“Matterhorn is an exciting new recruit. He'll improve for the run but works well on dirt at home and this should put him spot on for Super Saturday.

“We have taken our time with Capezzano with this race in mind, then the Saudi Cup in two weeks and another crack at the Dubai World Cup.”

Ambassadorial, trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, was only denied close home in a handicap over a mile on dirt last month.

He will again be ridden by John Egan and should go well, although may face a battle for the early lead in a race likely to be contested at a fast gallop.

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