The road to the Emirates Airline (G1)-sponsored Dubai World Cup began on 14 January when Meydan Racecourse hosted the first of eight weekly meetings of the Dubai World Cup Festival, a global showcase leading to a $30.5 million Dubai World Cup card on March 26.
This year is even more meaningful, for a pair of top class American horses—Hot Rod Charlie and Lone Rock —Have Carnival on their joint radar as they head towards the $12 million Dubai World Cup. Other 1 star group, including Lord Glitters and Aero Trem, already on the site, while top-level names like Hukum , Emaraaty Ana , and A case of yours expected in due time.
Friday’s seven-race, $890,000 card is marked by a pair of group 2 races, including Round 1 of the one-mile Al Maktoum Challenge, a $250,000 test that will likely impact to the Saudi Cup (G1), the Dubai World Cup and the Godolphin Mile (G2).
The most important story of the UAE season so far fits the case well, as the five players will be taken over by freshman coach Bhupat Seemar, who has led the standings after being awarded the paper. allowed for Zabeel Stables in November. He is currently leading seven-time champion Doug Watson with a score of 22-19, as Seemar is on the upswing with five wins on January 7.
“It was a great start and then five winners – it was tough,” Seemar said. “Things really have to fall into place to get this many in one night. Everyone worked hard on this team and we were successful that night, but that was yesterday. and we have to move forward hopefully we can keep working and keep getting some good wins across the board.
“It can be a bit more pressure (becoming a record coach), but nothing has changed for me. Still doing the same. It’s great to be at the top of the charts, but we hope to continue. Stick with it and the fun starts now. I have a lot of respect for my teammates, they’re good coaches, so there’s going to be a bit of healthy competition.”
Defending Champion Godolphin Mile Secret ambition lead the quintet and will compete for priority. All nine-year-olds won 11 of their 42 starts and tied comfortably in 5th out of 14 runners-up. The old Zabeel security guard, he and his stable friends are 8 years old Kimbear , who won this love in a three-pronged horror movie with Secret Ambition and North America in 2020.
“I think this is the best Maktoum Challenge ever (Round 1) and this could be a Godolphin Mile pitch,” Seemar said. “There are some very good horses here. Secret Ambition can be very odd in the portal and I hope he behaves and comes out. If he does, he has early kill speed and can really gallop. good gallop. Active form out for him and he’s fit and ready to run. He’s nine years old, but he’s healthy.
“Kimbear won this two years ago, but since that race his form hasn’t been the same and maybe that’s taken him a bit too much. Lots of weight and a good home run, that’s it. It’s very encouraging. He was pulled into a parking lot at the age of 11, but I hope to put on a good performance.”
After the long summer, it’s not uncommon to see 8- and 9-year-olds playing at the top in Dubai, but that hasn’t stopped Zabeel’s young trio of disrespecting their elders.
Al Rashid Stables ‘race lightly with a 5-year-old kid Empire Empire, the group 1 winning brother and the Breeders ‘Cup Reluctantly’ storyline Albahr , won a pair of these seven-feather long defects to remain flawless after two dirty tries.
Imported goods from the US by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Pioneers will get his first start for Seemar after a lucrative one-way journey for previous connections in March, which went on sale the same week he finished third in the Godolphin Mile. He had previously been coached by Gustavo Delgado in Florida, preparing for Dubai with a second place in the WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2).
Attractive Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum Kafoo, a September purchase at Keeneland worth $250,000 for the 4-year-old in 2019 and son of champions Curlin and Blind luck , was originally coached by Bob Baffert in California, but never raced. He was perfect in two career starts, both for Seemar, and beat many 3rd party artists Prince Eiji finally out.
It looks like: “The Empire has been good to us, got a good draw and obviously a great racer at Frankie Dettori — but he’s going to have to step up the class and last one more game. Avant Garde is ranked 13th, but that could be a blessing, as he is slow out of the gate and late.This is his bare minimum and you will see the real Avant Garde in the next two rounds. Followed further Kafoo was quite interesting, 2v2 and He had a good shot at William Buick He’s one of those guys who lacked a bit of experience, but improved from the first to the 10th run. two. He’s a talent, but inexperienced and I hope that doesn’t let him down.”
The market thinks the horse to be feared could be the winner of Round 3 of the 2021 Fawzi Nass Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) Hello soldier , who is fifth in Mysterious Guide Dubai World Cup three weeks later. The 7-year-old owned by Victorious – like Secret Ambition – is aiming to line up a top performance on Friday with a spot in the Saudi Cup. Two years ago, the identical connection of Victorious, Nass and equestrian Adrie de Vries upset the first $1 million Neom Turf Trophy on The Saudi Cup’s card when Port Lions knock down the Japanese mare Deirdre .
“In the World Cup, he was just at his peak and just a little bummed three weeks after making a big run in the third round,” explained de Vries. “I don’t think it’s competition. He’s not a fresh horse anymore.
“I’m pretty happy with game four and the pace will come from the outside of me with Secret Ambition who usually likes to take the lead and I’ll try to sit backwards or behind him. He’s doing a great job and we’re happy with him, but we knew he needed to run last year we tried to train him a little bit harder to help him fit a little bit better for the Saudi Cup in mind later, but you don’t want to push him too far. He’s ready for this run and whatever he’s going to do tomorrow, he’s going to improve.”
Watson begins the formidable trilogy of the beloved defeated Godolphin Mile Midnight Sands , Runner-up Godolphin Mile Golden goal and the seventh Dubai World Cup Thegreatcollection . Midnight Sands-elected stability racer Pat Dobbs, who was looking for a seventh Meydan win in his 10th local run, but failed to re-emerge at the listed Dubai Creek Mile Stakes last month.
“Midnight Sands is a big, heavy horse and that eight and a half months was probably the longest time off work he has ever had,” said Watson. “He hasn’t traveled much in the last two runs, which worries me, but his work on Sunday was really good. I hope he runs well and he has a game. good draw (Lesson 7) where he can figure out what he wants to do Golden Goal needs a first run and is sure to improve, while Thegreatcollection is always running his race. come now.”
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Hypothesis , fourth place at the Dubai World Cup and second place as sharp Salute the Soldier in Round 3 of Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) on Super Saturday 2021, will garner significant market support, but will have many companies ahead, including G1 looks -winning stablemate Capezzano and Thunder Snow half brother Eastern world , an eye-catching runner-up in the first attempt at the Dubai Creek Mile. Outsider Marie’s Diamond and Syrtis complete this field.
‘Tough as Nails’ Mnaske Tackles Turf, Godolphin in Cape Verdi
Godolphin is still big, as always, of the $180,000 in Cape Verdi Stakes (G2) for ponies and mares over a mile of grass, but Watson seems to hold a wild card in the five-winner 2021 UAE Oaks (G3) by Al Rashid Stables Mnasek , who makes her first grass start. Empire Maker’s Daughter and Synthetic Love Level 2 Winner Washington Bridge , she had a strong runner-up attempt in a company with poor subsidies, giving her male competitors considerable weight.
“We thought she was making progress and she ended up losing a lot of weight, but still running a huge race,” said Watson. “I thought she would line up with them. We took her to the pitch in Meydan and worked with her (group level sprinter) Motafaawit and Ekhtiyaar and she didn’t lose any place to them. We are very excited and hope it opens some doors for her. She is as hard as a nail and will go well. “
Mnasek handles the pair of Saeed bin Suroor, UAE record 1,000 winner Whisper softly and Gorgeous beauty, as well as trained Charlie Appleby Wedding dance , Sweden has the ability Quiet night , of France Pessemona and Pevensey Bay , Scandinavia’s Ascot Brassand British Dalanijujo. Soft Whisper and Wedding Dance are expected to vie for priority.
Last year’s Cape Verdi winner, Althiqa , went on to win Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1) and Diana Stakes (G1) in New York.
Appleby will hold a very good hand in the 12-stage Dubai Racing Club Classic, including the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), who won 3rd place in group 3. Star Safari , three-time Meydan winner and relatively unexposed listed winner Wirko , who is just starting for the fifth time and will likely lead the market. William Buick, who had just won the Breeders’ Cup treble, chose the latter. They are part of all 16 fields, including group 3 winners trained by Saeed bin Suroor Passion and glory , the last third after the next Arc winner Torquator Tasso , and former US runner-up Irish Freedom, winner of the Abu Dhabi Championships March (G3).
“Star Safari has been a bit disappointing in his previous few runs, but he’s pleased with us because he’s been here and we know he’s proven his form around Meydan, so if he He can spark any of that, it puts him in a competitive position,” Appleby said. “Wirko has been training since his last first and he has trained very well here. He was back on a flatter plane than the soft ground at Chester last time. I think he is. Obviously, he’s one of the younger models in the Race, so hopefully some new long legs here will get him in a good position. His end is disappointing, but we’re going to put it in the ground and the plan has always been to get him here.”
The rest of the cards include the widely-listed Dubai Dash on 5 grass straight benches, a pair of 3-year-old qualifying events, and the Top Line Al Maktoum (G1) Challenge Round 1 Arab team US imports RB Rich Lyke Me and RB Frynchh Dude.
The first post is 6 p.m. local time, 9 a.m. ET.
