Runners from five different countries do battle at Meydan Racecourse on Friday as 2024 ushers in a highly competitive night of Dubai Racing Carnival action.
With 2023 winner Master Of The Seas going on to Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile success, the Gr2 Zabeel Mile, Friday’s feature, is a proven pathway to international glory.
Enhanced prize money of AED850,000 has attracted a field of 13, including Real World (pictured), winner of the race in 2022.
“Real World won this contest a couple of years ago and ran two excellent races over a mile in Europe the same season,” trainer Saeed Bin Suroor told godolphin.com. “He has been running over further since but should appreciate the drop back in trip. It looks as though he has improved for his run in the Al Rashidiya.”
One of Real World’s rivals is Jamie Osborne-trained Sean; the only overseas raider. The seven-year-old, a Group 3 winner in Italy, has been purchased by Barratt Racing as something of a global campaigner.
“It’s his first run for us so this is a bit of a fact-finding mission,” said Osborne, whose multiple Dubai successes include Toast Of New York in the G2 UAE Derby. “It’s possible he will need further on this track.
“Barratt Racing is all about taking horses to nice places for the fun of it. We felt Sean was a horse that could compete at Meydan and potentially then move on to Royal Ascot, Goodwood etc.”
One of the leading local contenders is San Donato, although the Listed winner must again overcome a wide draw.
“San Donato has drawn 13, 14, 15, 13 and 13 the last five times he’s been declared,” said trainer Doug Watson. “It’s a bit tough from out there but it’s a great race for him, albeit Real World is in there and Marbaan for Michael Costa.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how he finishes. Hopefully he can get some nice splits from off the pace.”
Marbaan joins Costa from Charlie Fellowes in the UK, for whom he won the G2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood in 2022.
“The original plan was to start over seven furlongs [1400m] a little later in month,” said the UAE’s current leading trainer. “But when the nominations came up the way they did we entered. Marbaan will come on from the run, making it a nice starting point.
Clash of the Stablemates in Dubawi Stakes
The Gr3 Dubawi Stakes, over 1200metres on dirt, has an international look to it, with one runner from Korea and one from France taking on the locals.
Four-time winner Beolmaui Star finished second in the Korea Sprint last time out, while French raider Demain bids for a third career success for trainer Francis Graffard. They face a tough challenge from the home team, however, with Listed Garhoud Sprint winner Colour Up taking on his Group 3-winning stablemate Sound Money, who has moved to Watson from Bhupat Seemar.
“Both Sound Money and Colour Up are in really good shape,” said Watson. “The draws are good for both of them; they’re horses who don’t need to go to the lead; they can settle off it. Colour Up has to step up a bit, with Mouheeb and Tuz and Sound Money in there, so it will be interesting to see how he goes.
“I’m really happy with Sound Money and looking forward to getting him started.”
Costa runs 2021 G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Mouheeb, last seen in action in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, who has Dubai World Cup night as his target once again.
“He’s had a kind first half of season with the aim of heading towards 8f [1600metres] later on,” said the trainer. “He’s a much more relaxed horse this year.”
Costa has a good chance of extending his excellent start to the campaign with Ma Yetal, who makes a second career start in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, race eight. The son of Flameaway was a near 14-length winner on debut at Jebel Ali three weeks’ ago and tries 1400metres for the first time.
“He’s trained on since his win,” said the trainer. “On all work outs at Meydan he’s looked to like the surface.”
Conceding weight to the whole field by virtue of being Southern Hemisphere-born is Quartier, two from two in his native Uruguay.
“Quartier arrived in Dubai just a few weeks ago and has settled in well,” said trainer Julio Olascoaga. “He faces a good field of winners but we think he’s ready to compete with them.”
Goemon Aims to Strike for Bahrain
Bahrain-based winners are rare in Dubai but Goemon flies the flag for the island nation when he drops in grade for the Zabeel Turf, race one, over 2000metres.
A first international runner for trainer Haider Shaheen, the five-year-old, owned by sports car collector Mohammed Khalid Abdul Rahim, was a strong sixth in the G2 Al Rashidiya last time out.
“We were very happy with his run in the Al Rashidiya, he ran big,” said Mohammed Haider Ebrahim, the trainer’s son and assistant. “We know he will face high-rated horses, but he is thriving in the Dubai sun and has acclimatised well. He’s a horse with a big heart.
“The plan is big with this horse as I think the owners want to run in the Crown Prince Cup in Bahrain and the International Handicap at the Saudi Cup meeting.”
One of the most fascinating races on the card is the 1200metre turf handicap, race three, in which course winners Batwan, City Walk and Open Mind clash. Taking them on is Costa’s three-time UK winner Yonafis, who looks to build on a promising local debut in February, when he finished second.
“He’s well and ready for the races,” said the trainer. “We think the six furlongs [1200metres] will suit him better than the eight furlongs [1600metres] he ran over last year. We will keep him to sprint trips this year.”
A full field of 16 contest the Jumeirah Guineas Trial, race five, over 1400metres on turf. Godolphin look strong with Movie Maker, a six-length winner at Newbury last time out, spearheading a three-pronged challenge. Lucia Botti takes them on with Drink Dry, placed on two of his three starts to date.
“Drink Dry had a break after his last run,” she says. “He seems to be fit despite a stop and start preparation, and we were happy with his last piece of work. He needs to find several pounds to be competitive in the race and we know that 1400metres is probably on the sharp side, but it will put him spot on for his next run in February.”
Botti also runs Royal Dubai in the closing 1600metre handicap. The four-year-old won on debut on dirt in Dubai for Bhupat Seemar and on the all-weather in the UK, but tries turf here.
“Royal Dubai had a quick break after his last run,” said Botti. “This is a stepping stone for better things in 2024, but he’s training well. Pat Cosgrave knows him as he won on him before so that’s beneficial.”
