Al Huadiba green in the stretch but wins the G1 Summer Stakes, Michael Burns Photo
Chris Lomon
TORONTO – Godolphin homebred Al Hudaiba (GB), sent off as the 3-5 choice, rallied forcefully to win Saturday’s $500,000 bet365 Summer (G1T), for 2-year-olds, over one mile of E.P. Taylor turf at Woodbine.
Ridden by William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby, the grey colt and his connections earned automatic entry in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, a one-mile race to be run this at Keeneland on Oct. 30.
Quipster, the longest shot on the board at 46-1, set fractions of :23.67, :47.96 and 1:12.47, but was enveloped by a host of rivals coming out of the turn for home. Al Hudaiba (GB), who had sat sixth of eight in the early stages, was momentarily stuck behind a rival in upper stretch, but soon found daylight five-wide and picked up his pursuit of the pacesetters. After striking front 220 yards from the finish line, Al Hudaiba (GB) began to drift out, but soon straightened course and proved to be much the best en route to a 1 ¾-length win.
Oscar was second, three-quarters clear of Induction. Big Money Man (IRE) was fourth.
The final time was 1:35.66 over a firm turf. Bounce Back, Nicki Knows Best, Speaker’s Speech and Voyager were scratched.
“He’s a very talented horse,” said Buick, who once again teamed with Godolphin and Appleby for a winning performance at Woodbine. “You know, he still he’s done it [veered out] while winning races and he’s done it when not winning races. But he was very straightforward today, just until inside the last furlong, really. But you know, he’s a very talented colt, and you know, to still win like he did doing that, you’ve got to have a fair level of ability.”
Assistant trainer Alex Merriam lauded the young Godolphin star-on-the-rise.
“Will’s obviously had him, and he knows what to expect. But like you said, he’s a horse with plenty of ability, and to be fair to the horse, you know he’s only two, and he’s been out here all week. He hasn’t put a foot wrong. He’s been really grown up. It’s just that little bit when he goes for it, for whatever reason, he does that.”
Al Hudaiba (GB) was making his sixth start after posting three wins and a third in five previous engagements, including a two-length triumph in the Coral Vintage Stakes (G2T) last time out at Goodwood on July 28 and a debut score at Newmarket on May 15.
The Summer marked the first North American appearance for the son of Dark Angel (IRE) out of the Dubawi (IRE) mare A’Shaari (GB).
“Mentally, he’s taken everything in his stride,” said Merriam. “He’s been very straightforward in the mornings. You’d think he’s an older horse, so it can only hopefully be a plus for him going forward.”
Al Hudaiba (GB) paid $3.30 for the victory.
