Three weeks before the UAE’s biggest day of horseracing, the Dubai World Cup card, this weekend’s Super Saturday is a ‘dress rehearsal’ with all seven races mirroring the conditions of one of those on the big day, officially highlighted by the Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 on dirt along with the Gr1 Jebel Hatta, the turf highlight.
The seventh meeting of the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan, is sponsored by Pillar Partners Emirates.
Over the same 2000m on dirt as the $12 million Dubai World Cup, the $390,000 Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 sponsored by Emirates Airline has on three occasions been won by a subsequent Dubai World Cup winner with Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry (2002) and Electrocutionist (2006) all completing the double at Nad Al Sheba for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor.
Salute The Soldier winner of the Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday last year, is a key prospect in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 for Fawzi Nass.(credit: Erik Rasmussen and Dubai Racing Club
Frankie Dettori rode all three to win this, though did not partner Street Cry in the World Cup, and is aboard dirt debutant Dubai Mirage for the same connections this year. Competing at his first Meydan carnival, the 4-year-old gelding has finished second on both local starts, in turf handicaps over 1600m and 1800m.
Being a gelded son of Dubawi, he certainly looks worth trying on the dirt surface and did lose his maiden tag on his sole all-weather appearance in Britain.
Saeed bin Suroor said: “Dubai Mirage has run well on the turf so far this season, finishing second on both occasions, and we wanted to give him a chance on the dirt. This will be a very tough race, but he has been going nicely at home.”
For Fawzi Nass, Victorious and Adrie de Vries, Salute The Soldier was a Super Saturday winner last year, in the 1600m Group 3 Burj Nahaar. A 6-year-old Sepoy gelding, he bounced back to winning ways in the 1900m Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 just over three weeks ago.
De Vries said: “That was a new trip last time and he stayed well, suggesting the extra 200m will not be an issue. He seems in great form and it is exciting to, hopefully, be involved with a genuine Dubai World Cup prospect.”
Second on that occasion to De Vries’ mount was Thegreatcollection, also runner-up in the 1600m Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 when Salute The Soldier was third. To be ridden by Pat Dobbs, the 7-year-old Saint Anddan gelding is trained by Doug Watson for Zaur Sekrekov.
The trainer said: “He stayed the 1900m well last time and, on that evidence, 2000m is not going to be a problem. He has been in great form all season.
“Hopefully they go quick and he can close on them in the straight. We are really looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
Thegreatcollection’s most recent victory, in the middle of December, was in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile, chased home by Secret Ambition with Salute The Soldier back in fourth.
Trained by Satish Seemar for Nasir Askar, Secret Ambition was then runner-up when attempting to defend his crown in the Gr3 Jebel Al Mile. Most recently, he won the 1600m Gr3 Firebreak Stakes, at the carnival, a month ago.
With regular pilot Tadhg O’Shea suspended, Richard Mullen resumes the partnership victorious in the 2019 Jebel Ali Mile. Seemar also saddles Quip, Saltarin Dubai, victorious in the 1950m Listed Jebel Ali Stakes on his most recent start a month ago under Mullen, and Roman Rosso.
Salem bin Ghadayer is seeking a third consecutive victory in the race and fourth in five years. He saddles Firnas, Tailor’s Row and Hypothetical, runner-up behind Secret Ambition in the Firebreak Stakes before recording a second 1600m dirt Meydan handicap success a fortnight ago.
Bin Ghadayer said: “All three are in good form and have been running well, but this is, obviously, a tough race. We hope they all run well and can give a good account of themselves.”
