Racing News |
|
| Thursday 6th February 2014 | |
Certify Returns in Style at Meydan
 |
Certify, one of the top two-year-olds of 2012 when trained by the now disgraced Mahmood Al Zarooni, made a successful return to the racetrack at Meydan in late-January and looks set to re-establish herself as one of the top international fillies in the coming season.
The winner of all four of her starts as a juvenile had been amongst the ante-post favourites for the 2013 Qipco 1000 Guineas, but was ruled out of running in the first fillies’ classic and for the rest of last season after her trainer was placed under investigation (he was subsequently found guilty and banned for eight years), for using prohibited substances on some 22 of his horses, one of which was Certify.
 |
Unable to race last season, there were fears that the daughter of star US sire Elusive Quality might not return at her best after an absence of 489 days when tackling the Group 2 Cape Verdi Stakes at the Dubai Carnival and she was duly sent off second favourite behind the French-trained Breeders’ Cup heroine, Flotilla.
In the race itself, Certify, (returned at a Betfair SP of 3.05), settled well at the rear of the six-runner field under Mickael Barzalona before picking up in the style of a high-class filly to move smoothly into the lead at the furlong pole.
She then stayed on strongly to beat L’Amour De Ma Vie by a comfortable three-quarters-of-a-length proving she is very much back in business and one to keep on the right side for the major mile events in Europe this season.
Now trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, Certify is expected to improve for the outing and is set to target the Group 2 Balanchine Stakes back at Meydan on February 20 (according to the betfair.com website) before moving on to even bigger targets later in the season.
