History beckons at Meydan Racecourse when international runners grace the track earlier than ever before in its 13-year history.
Horses from the UK, Bahrain, Czech Republic and Ireland will compete against a wealth of local talent at the first ‘Festive Friday’ meeting, where more than AED4.5million in prize money is up for grabs across nine races.
Among the headline acts on the Emaar-sponsored card is Gr2 Godolphin Mile winner Isolate, who make his seasonal debut in the Gr2 Al Maktoum Mile, worth AED1million.
“That was a great day and he’s moving better this year than he did last year,” said trainer Doug Watson, who also runs Golden Goal, winner of this race in 2022.
“They do a nice job out at Sheikh Rashid [Bin Humaid, owner]’s farm and he had a good summer off and came back looking a million dollars.
“We’ve worked him a few times over at Meydan – he loves going over there. There might be Saudi [Cup meeting] plans but we’ll see how he runs here first.”
Isolate, who breaks from post six, will be reunited with his Godolphin Mile rider Tyler Gaffalione, who flies in from the US to take the ride. They face ten rivals, including 2021 Godolphin Mile winner Secret Ambition and his stablemate Royal Mews, the pick of stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea.
“We’re really looking forward to having Royal Mews back,” said Ryan Tongue, Racing Manager for owners Deva Racing. “Isolate is the one to beat, but Tadhg O’Shea worked Royal Mews last week in blinkers for the first time and apparently he worked very well.
“We go there with an excellent chance and stall two looks a big advantage.”
One who arrives fit is Road Bloc, having his second start of the season after finishing third in strong 1200m sprint at Sharjah.
“He needed his first run and he’s working very well at home,” said owner Sayed Hashish. “The draw is not ideal but we believe he will appreciate the distance.”
Sprint Hero Returns
Isolate is not the only Dubai World Cup night winner to reappear, as Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint hero Danyah is back for the first time since his shock win in March.
Trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri for Shadwell, the six-year-old has to concede weight to his 16 rivals but does return to arguably his best distance of 1400min the Listed Business Bay Challenge. He faces a full field of 15 rivals, including Mysterious Night, a Gr1 winner in Canada for Charlie Appleby, and Vafortino, for UK-based Belgian trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy.
“Vafortino has had a break after his win at Redcar in October, he runs well fresh and has been in good form since he landed in Dubai,” said de Foy, who finished fifth in the Gr2 Dubai Gold Cup with El Habeeb. “He is only our second runner in Dubai so it is a bit of a fact-finding mission, but I couldn’t be happier with the horse.”
Appleby has something of a stranglehold on the Gr2 Al Rashidiya, over 1800metres on turf, having won it in three of the past four years. The Godolphin trainer runs the three-year-old filly Measured Time, as well as Ottoman Fleet, third in this race last season, and Highland Avenue.
Saeed Bin Suroor has won this race six times and he runs 2022 Gr2 Zabeel Mile winner Real World, a good fourth in the Bahrain Trophy last time out, while Shadwell also have a strong team. Theirs is headed by dual G1 Jebel Hatta winner Alfareeq, the mount of retained rider Jim Crowley, while Listed National Day Cup winner Laneqash will be ridden by O’Shea for trainer Bhupat Seemar.
“I spoke to Jim Crowley and asked him if he thought Laneqash would get the 1800m and he thinks he will, but if he doesn’t, we can always come back in trip,” said Seemar. “He’s had a run so should be fit.”
Seemar also has a strong team for the Listed Entisar Stakes, over 1900metres on dirt. First string looks to be Western Symphony, a good winner last time over a mile, while Walk Of Stars makes his debut for the trainer.
“Godolphin thought Walk Of Stars was good enough to run in the Epsom Derby as a three-year-old so he is a very exciting horse to have,” he said.
“We’re going to experiment with Western Symphony and try him over the 1900m. His pedigree suggests he has a chance of getting in, albeit he is a Shamardal, because there is a lot of stamina on the dam side.
“We must find out now if he is capable of getting that sort of distance, otherwise we can go back to a mile in the future.”
Turf Speedsters Dash for the Cash
Perhaps the most exciting race on the card is the 1200m Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash, on turf, which has attracted three international runners in a quality field of 12.
One of them is the Johnny Murtagh-trained Ladies Church, second to the reopposing Miqyaas here in the Gr2 Blue Point Sprint in February, a race in which Czech Republic runner Ponntos finished tenth.
A revelation last season when winning twice here on turf, Miqyaas warmed up for this race in the Listed Garhoud Sprint, finishing tenth.
“Miqyaas is doing well,” reports Abo Bakr El Hefnawy, Assistant Trainer to Rashed Bouresly. “He raced once on dirt to be ready for this race.”
Another behind Miqyaas in the Blue Point Sprint was Equilateral, who finished eighth. However, the Charlie Hills-trained gelding usually gives at good account at Meydan and is aiming for his fourth course success.
“He is fit and well has a great record at Meydan,” said Alex Cole, Racing Manager to owner Fitri Hay. “He is entitled to come on for the run but we expect a very good performance.”
A new name to the training ranks is Lucia Botti, who will draw on many years of Dubai experience with husband Marco when Onigiri runs in her name in the Storm Coaster [Presented by Emaar] 3yo fillies’ Conditions event.
Her eight rivals include impressive course debut winner Lahfaty for Trainers’ Championship leader Michael Costa. Botti, therefore, knows it won’t be easy.
“Onigiri had a break in the summer to race in Dubai, explained the trainer. “We are starting her on the dirt, so obviously the surface and stepping her up in trip are unknown.
“She has been training here in Dubai for several weeks and she is pleasing us. She is likely carrying little extra condition, but this race is a stepping stone for the season ahead.”
The action gets underway with a fascinating renewal of G1 Maktoum Round 1 for Purebred Arabians. Elevated prize money of AED500,000 for the 1600m dirt event has attracted a full field of 16, including RB Rich Lyke Me, winner of this in 2022 and 2023; the race having been previously run in January. Ridden as usual by Adrie de Vries for Fawzi Nass, he will break from post six and his rivals include Deryan, winner of the G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic in 2022, as well as his excting stablemate Faaris.
The meeting starts at 15h30 on Friday.
