Earthlight continues to glow, gets five out of five

Dubai - Godolphin upstart lands the prestigious Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday

If this is just a teaser, one wonders what the full movie will be. Earthlight underlined his status as one of the best two-year-olds after the Shamardal colt racked up his fifth win from as many starts.
The Godolphin upstart landed the prestigious Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday to give handler Andre Fabre his third win in the race.
The mount of Mickael Barzalona, Earthlight staved off the challenge from Golden Horde to triumph by a neck in the contest run over six furlongs.
It marked Earthlight's second Group 1 winner after the colt had clinched the Darley Prix Morny Finale des Darley Series at Deauville in France last month.
Earthlight made a stunning debut in June by winning the Prix Prince Bio Maiden at Maisons Laffitte and then went on to finish first in the Prix de Caen conditions race at Deauville in July.
Earthlight was impressive on his Group 3 debut, winning the Darley Prix de Cabourg, a victory that saw him being jettisoned to the Group 1 level.
Following his win at Newmarket, Earthlight is being lined up for the 2,000 Guineas next year.
"I was very confident all the way as Earthlight was travelling easily and I knew there was something under the saddle," said Fabre, who won this race in 1990 and 1992 with Lycius and Zieten, both owned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
"I definitely see him as being able to get a mile in the future and, with his pedigree, I think he could even go a bit further. We will now look at preparing him for the 2,000 Guineas next year. He will now go back home to eat well and sleep, as he usually does," he added.
Fabre said Earthlight has been a revelation. "I have been fortunate enough to have trained some great two-year-olds including Zafonic, who was a machine. Earthlight is a different sort of horse but is very exciting," opined the Frenchman.
Meanwhile, jockey Barzalona reckoned Earthlight could make a step up in trip.
"I was very pleased with Earthlight today and he has improved a lot," said Barzalona.
 "He travelled easily. I had some cover for the first furlong and I was very pleased with how nicely he won in the end. At the moment, we have not gone beyond six furlongs with Earthlight, but I think he would stay a mile. I have been lucky enough to ride some top-class two-year-olds and Earthlight is the best. He really is very good," he added.
Elsewhere, in Australia, Godolphin had another Group 1 winner with Bivouac claiming victory in the Golden Rose race at Rosehill.
This was the sixth victory in the race for Sheikh Mohammed after Paratroopers (2005), Forensics (2008), Denman (2009), Epaulette (2012), Exosphere (2015) and Astern (2016).
james@khaleejtimes.com