Dubai Racing Club has welcomed a strong influx of international horses for the Dubai Racing Carnival, which continues this week with Festive Friday on 20 December.
More than 300 applications for overseas horses were received by the club for the Carnival, which began on 8 November and continues until March, preceding the Dubai World Cup fixture on 5 April.
Trainer Danny Shum directs Romantic Warrior and his groom off the float after a long trip (Pic – HKJC)
The international programme, which was widened in 2023 to include every fixture at Meydan Racecourse, has already welcomed one overseas winner this season when Heart Of Honor struck for British trainer Jamie Osborne on 6 December.
Osborne is one of several trainers basing horses in Dubai for the whole winter, along with Lucie Botti and multiple Norwegian Champion Trainer Niels Petersen.
One name which stands out among the applications is that of Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior, who arrived in Dubai on Tuesday to begin preparations for the Gr1 Jebel Hatta on 24 January.
Precious cargo! (Pic – DRC)
A nine-time Group 1 winner and the highest-earning horse of all time, Danny Shum’s star will be based at Meydan Racecourse.
He is one of several Gr1 winners nominated, others including Gr1 Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval and Dubai regular King Gold.
Commenting on the strength of the nominations, Erwan Charpy, DRC’s Manager of Racing Operations and International Relations, said: “We are delighted to receive so many stable applications for the Carnival, which came from all over the world.The quality of the nominations was also extremely high and we are very happy that so many trainers wish to base horses in Dubai for the season, further strengthening our belief that this is the ideal hub from which to race across the Middle East.”
- The Carnival continues on Friday, when the Gr2 Maktoum Mile and Gr2 Al Rashidiya are among the highlights.
