Algiers stars on superb Carnival card

The exciting Algiers is just one of the star turns as Meydan Racecourse hosts five Group races on a superb Dubai World Cup Carnival card on Friday.

The feature race is G2 Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (Presented by Emaar), a prep for the Dubai World Cup, which Moon Ballad in 2003 and Thunder Snow in 2018 won on route to success in the big one. A strong field of nine run this time, including Group 1 winners Salute The Soldier, First Constitution and Atletico El Culano. Taking them on is the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Algiers (pictured), who bolted up by six and a half lengths in Round 1, over a mile, a month ago.

“We’re extremely pleased with the way Algiers won Round I in such good style,” said Ed Crisford. “He’s really taken to the dirt well and racing and training on it last year stood him in good stead.

“He’s a gelding, which has helped him, but he’s turned into a proper dirt horse. He’s stepping up to 1900metres but that shouldn’t be a problem as he’s quite versatile and has won from a mile to a mile and a half. He’s a Shamardal out of a Platini mare, so there’s plenty of stamina on the dam’s side. If he can overcome the draw [8] and get a good position then I’m sure he’ll run another very good race.”

Algiers’ rivals include Remorse, sixth in the World Cup and impressive when returning with a win in the Listed Entisar in December, while Salute The Soldier, winner of this in 2021, also heads here in good form, having won the Thunder Snow Challenge last time out.

Trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer is yet to win this race and he sends out First Constitution, who made an eye-catching local debut when third to Remorse, before being well beaten last time out.

“First Constitution is a nice horse,” said Muammer Abdulla, Racing Manager to owners RRR Racing. “You can throw out his last run when he had cheekpieces on which he didn’t like, so he didn’t want to pass horses. He was also a little coltish, but if he runs like he shows us in the mornings then he’s capable of finishing in the frame.”

The main turf event is the G2 Singspiel Stakes, over 1800metres, which has a field of 10, including two for Charlie Appleby, who is yet to win this race. He runs Valiant Prince and Ottoman Fleet, first and third in the G2 Al Rashidiya last time out.  

“Valiant Prince has a penalty for the Al Rashidiya win but has a nice draw in two and should be competitive based on what he achieved last time out,” said Appleby, adding: “Ottoman Fleet has come forward since the Al Rashidiya, when he travelled well before getting a bit tired in the last 100 yards. He’s better at the weights with Valiant Prince this time which should put him bang there.”

Saeed Bin Suroor has won this race a record four times and he saddles Al Rashidiya second Dubai Future, as well as Desert Fire, seventh in the Zabeel Mile two weeks ago.

California-based trainer Doug O’Neill had a successful 2022 Carnival with four winners and he has three runners on Friday, including Sifting Sands, a new recruit to RRR Racing.

“Sifting Sands is our best one on the night, although it will be difficult for him here against Godolphin,” said Abdulla of the five-year-old, who was purchased out of the Chad Brown stable. “He’s working really well on dirt but we didn’t want to start him in the Maktoum Challenge; we want to get him ready here and then switch to dirt. The Godolphin Mile or even the Dubai World Cup is the aim, as Doug’s team are very excited about him.”

Godolphin run four in the G2 Cape Verdi (Presented by Emaar) with Ipi Tombe Stakes winner Soft Whisper facing a rematch with second White Moonlight and fourth Wild Beauty, although William Buick has opted to ride With The Moonlight for Appleby.

“Soft Whisper is a tough filly who always tries in her races,” said Bin Suroor. “She has been going well at home and I am looking for another success from her.

“White Moonlight is a big strong filly who is improving all the time. The step back up in trip will suit.”

Of his pair, Appleby said: “With The Moonlight is clear on ratings and, while the trip will be on the sharper side, I feel the style of racing at Meydan will suit her.

“Wild Beauty has definitely come on from her first start of the year and will hopefully be very competitive.”

There is a strong international contingent, with French-based trainer Pia Brandt sending out Katoucha, winner of her last two starts in France, and In Time, who runs for the first time since August.

“Both fillies have acclimatized really well,” said Brandt. “Katoucha last ran in December, when she won a Listed race in Deauville, so she is in good form. The trip is a little bit short for her, though, and it’s a very good field.

“In Time is a nice filly who has put on a lot of weight since she got here. She’s not 100 per cent, she will be better in the Balanchine, but she likes it here. What’s against her is that she hasn’t raced in a long time, but that means she is fresh.”

Bolstering the European challenge is Ascot Brass, runner-up 12 months ago. “It seems to be a different class of race this year,” said trainer Niels Petersen. “There’s always the hope that we can nick some prizemoney and at least she has a good draw [1] this time, after she was a little bit unlucky last time.”

Shaheen contenders clash in G3 Al Shindagha

Some of Dubai’s fastest sprinters clash in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint, over 1200metres on dirt, which is an early prep for the Dubai Golden Shaheen. That was won in 2022 by Switzerland whose owners, RRR Racing, run two here. They are intriguing local debutants Isolate, trained by Doug Watson, and Sound Money, who has joined Bhupat Seemar.

“They are two nice horses, but both have been off for a few months,” said Abdulla. “The main objective is to get them used to the layout of the track, lights etc. as it’s completely different to what they’ve been used to in the US.”

Stiff opposition comes from Mubakker, second to Switzerland in the G3 Dubawi Stakes last time out, and stablemate Al Tariq, third in this race last year.

“We have nice chances in the Shindagha Sprint although we didn’t draw great with any of the three,” said Watson. “Mubakker is as good as we’ve had him since he came and Isolate works very well here at home.”

The card’s longest race is the 2410metre Vazirabad Handicap, race two, celebrating the achievements of the three-time Dubai Gold Cup winner. 11 run, including the exciting Al Nayyir, winner of his last two, who makes his Carnival debut.

“Al Nayyir is taking big jump in class, but he is really healthy and training well,” said Watson, who also runs Legend Of Dubai in the closing The Valley Presented by Emaar Handicap, over 1600metres on turf. The well-bred five-year-old won two of his eight starts for Roger Varian in the UK and makes his local debut here.

“Legend Of Dubai is a really nice horse,” said Watson, who withdrew the gelding last week due to the downgraded track. “He’s done plenty of work at home so we’re pretty hopeful.”

A capacity field of 16 for the finale includes Iron Butterfly, a seven-time winner in Scandinavia for Petersen, who returns to the Carnival for the second time.

“We chose to go to the handicap with her, rather than the Cape Verdi, as it seems a better starting point,” said the multiple Norwegian Champion Trainer. “She’s actually a nice horse but she will prefer further than this, so we might look at the Balanchine or a mile and a half handicap after this.”

The card opens at 6pm with a pulsating edition of the G1 Maktoum Challenge R2 for Purebred Arabians, in which Group 1 winners Deryan, Rajeh, RB Frynchh Dude and Hiab Al Zaman lock horns.