UAE: Horses from seven different countries will battle for the spotlight at Meydan on Friday as the track stages the opening meeting of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival.
The seven-race card features five stakes races headed by the first round of the annual Maktoum Challenge (4.20pm GMT), a G2 contest over a mile on dirt featuring a capacity field of 16.
Last year’s winner Golden Goal is attempting attempt to become just the second horse to win the $250,000 contest twice, after Le Bernardin in 2016 and 2017. He is one of five for trainer Doug Watson, who has won the race three times.
With the stable’s number one rider Pat Dobbs suspended, his deputy Sam Hitchcott rides Prince Eiji, who returned to action a month ago with a course-and-distance victory in Listed company.
“What we liked about it most was that he was vying for the lead with Danyah, took back a little bit and then really grabbed the bit,” said Watson. “So we know he can come from off the pace and we learned a lot that night, plus he’s strengthened up a lot this year.”
Watson also runs three-time course winner Thegreatcollection plus 2021 G3 Burj Nahaar winner Midnight Sands, as well as Everfast, third in G2 Maktoum Challenge R2 last season.
“We have a cast of characters for the mile races,” Watson went on. “We’re still hopeful with Midnight Sands and Golden Goal ran a great race last time. He only got beaten by four lengths and he always needs his first run for us. He’s having a really nice season training and he’ll be tough on the night.”
Watson’s quintet face strong opposition from 2021 G2 Godolphin Mile winner Secret Ambition, second last year, and Burj Nahaar winner Desert Wisdom.
The overseas challenge is headed by Final Dance, winner of three Turkish G1s since finishing fourth in the Al Bastakiya last season. There is also a G1 winner in the shape of Salem Bin Ghadayer’s Capezzano,while Jebel Ali Mile winner Algiers is an exciting first runner of the season for the training partnership of Simon & Ed Crisford.
Also on Friday
Shaheen hero Switzerland back for more
Dubawi Stakes G3 1,200 metres (6f) dirt (3.10pm GMT)
Now a nine-year-old, Golden Shaheen winner Switzerland (Bhupat Seemar/Tadhg O’Shea), returns to action here, alongside stablemates Tuz and Freedom Fighter.
“Hopefully he’s still got the spark – I think I can see it on the track in the mornings,” said Seemar. “We got to know him better last season – we’d had him for a year by then, so we got to know his habits and his quirks which really helped.”
Opposition comes from Mouheeb, who beat Tuz in the Garhoud Sprint. “He’s quite a strong, robust horse and he showed he was quite sharp in his trackwork,” said trainer Michael Costa about Mouheeb’s conversion to sprinting, having won the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas in 2021. “It was so good to see him at Meydan; he really put his ears back and was determined to win.”
Appleby looks for five out of six in G2 clash
Al Fahidi Fort G2 1,400 metres (7f) turf (4.55pm GMT)
There is $180,000 up for grabs in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort, over 1,400 metres on turf. Charlie Appleby has won this $180,000 event in four of the last five years. He saddles Jersey Stakes winner Noble Truth (William Buick) Listed winner Al Suhail (James Doyle).
International interest is provided by two runners for French handler Yann Barberot in Bouttemont and Fast Raaj, while Spanish champion trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta saddles G2 winner Rodaballo.
Dubai Racing Club Classic Hcap 2,410 metres (1m4f) turf (2.35pm GMT)
No fewer than six Godolphin runners here, including one-time Epsom Derby hope Walk Of Stars, as well as four UK visitors.
Ertijaal Dubai Dash (Listed) 1,000 metres (5f) turf (5.30pm GMT)
A fast-and-furious finale guaranteed. Three-time course winner Man Of Promise lines up here for Appleby, as does G2 Blue Point Sprint winner Lazuli, while Equilateral, winner of this race in 2021, is one of two in the race for UK trainer Charlie Hills, who also runs Khaadem.
• Visit the Emirates Racing Authority website
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