G1 Winners bRing in New Year at Meydan

G1 winners Dark Saffron, Audience Launch New Year at Meydan Racecourse

An exciting eight-race card brings in the New Year at Meydan Racecourse on Friday when G1 winners Audience and Dark Saffron are among those in action.

The G3 Dubawi Stakes [Sponsored by France Galop], race five, is without defending champion Tuz but the 1200metre dirt sprint has a strong line-up of seven. Four of them met last time, when El Nasseeb beat Colour Up, Mufasa and Dark Saffron in the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint on 5 December.

 Bhupat Seemar, trainer of Mufasa, is hopeful he will bounce back, stating circumstances went against him in the Garhoud.

“It just went wrong for him last time,” he said. “Three horses [Mufasa, Rabaah and Dark Saffron] ended up going too fast and it worked out for a horse [El Nasseeb] who was sitting in the middle. I think it could be a completely different result this time, as it was his first run and he will improve again.

“He could be the next Tuz, he could be the horse who’s got speed and also the stamina for seven furlongs.”

Abdulla Muammer, Racing Manager to owners RRR Racing, added: “Mufasa came out of his last race in very good order. It was a messy race and nothing really went to plan, so we’re happy to put a line through it. We learned a lot from that run, he’s improved since, and I’m confident he can run a big race.”

G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Dark Saffron (pictured) also had a legitimate excuse in the Garhoud Sprint, having become upset in the stalls prior to forcing a fast pace.

“He’s good,” reported trainer Ahmad bin Harmash. “Last time he had problems in the gate, so if everything goes right this time, we expect a good run.”

Aomori City aims to Continue Appleby Record

The card’s official feature is the G2 Zabeel Mile [Sponsored by Phi Advertising] which has been won six times by Charlie Appleby. The Godolphin trainer has a strong contender this time in Aomori City, winner of the 2024 G2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. 

“Aomori City was disappointing in the French Guineas and we gelded him soon after,” said Appleby. “He has benefited from a nice long break since, and we have been pleased with his preparation.

“He ran to a high level as a two-year-old and enjoyed the turning tracks at Goodwood and Del Mar, so we are hopeful racing at Meydan will suit him well. It is a good race, with some decent older horses in the field, but he should be very competitive if he runs to his best.”

The race has a Group 1 winner in Audience, winner of the 2024 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury when trained by John and Thady Gosden. The six-year-old is now with David O’Meara, who gave an upbeat bulletin.

“We haven’t had Audience that long, we got him at the Horses In Training Sale in October,” he said. “Obviously he was a very good horse for the Gosdens and Cheveley Park. His work has been good and Danny [Tudhope] has sat on him a couple of times and is happy with him.

“It’s his first run for us and I’m sure we’ll learn plenty about him.”

The field of nine includes G2 winner Quddwah for Simon and Ed Crisford, a former Carnival winner in Vafortino for Charlie Fellowes and Karl Burke’s Holloway Boy, who finished second in this race last year behind Poker Face.

The card opens with the AED300,000 Zabeel Turf (Sponsored by Binghatti), over 2000metres, for which 14 line up, including four trained by Appleby. Arabian Light beat the re-opposing Sean over 1800metres in the Lord Glitters Handicap last season and looks hard to beat again, despite top weight and a wide draw in 12.

“His seasonal debut will have brought him forward,” said trainer Jamie Osborne of Sean, who finished eighth over 1800metres three weeks’ ago. “I would expect a better performance this time. He’s at the right end of the handicap to show those younger legs that he’s still got it a day after his ninth birthday.”

Rematch in the Jumeirah Stakes

The Jumeirah Stakes, sponsored by The Jockey Club for the second time, race four, looks very competitive with 15 going to post over 1400metres on turf.

They include Power For Power and Do Or Do Not, first and second in a course and distance maiden last time. Osborne is hopeful of another good run from the latter who makes his second start for his yard.

“He has a chance,” he said. “But it looks like a strong renewal of this race, with any number of potential improvers in the field. However, we have the strongest form and he will be sharper for his Dubai debut.”

Newmarket-based trainer James Owen sends out the filly Callahan, winner of a novice race at Kempton Park on her latest start in October.

“We’re looking forward to having our first runners in Dubai,” he said. “We’re really pleased with Callahan. She won well last time out and the horse that finished second has won since.

“She’s thrived and we think she’s well above her current rating, on her homework. It’s a tough task against the boys, but we’ll see where we’re at and her next two races will be against fillies only, hopefully ending up in the [Jumeirah] Fillies’ Guineas.”

The UAE Guineas Trial [Sponsored by Churchill Downs], race seven, has a capacity field of 16 including Lino Padrino, an impressive four-length winner on debut over course and distance on 5 December. Paul Ebbs. Managing Owner for Suited & Booted and My Future Champions Racing, is hopeful of the same again.

“In his first race he had a wide draw and was slightly slowly away,” he said, “but then on the back straight he really stretched out which we hadn’t seen him do before, so that was great to see.

“He’s got explosive speed over the seven furlongs [1400metres] – he does that very easily. After this he will step up to a mile [1600m] for the Guineas on 23 January.”

There are four Europeans in the field, including Rugby Union, who finished ninth behind Lino Padrino on his local bow last time out.

“He underperformed on his dirt debut,” said trainer Osborne, ever realistic. “He lacks maturity and is a work in progress. I’m expecting a better performance, but you’d need a fairly vivid imagination to see him beating the leading protagonists here.”

Versatile Burdett Road starts Middle East Trail

The day’s longest race is the concluding Zoho Handicap, over 2810metres on turf. The field of 13 includes four Europeans, one of whom is Burdett Road who was last seen finishing third in a Grade 2 steeplechase at Cheltenham.

“Burdett Road has been a dual-purpose horse, but some of his flat form is really solid,” said trainer James Owen. “I’m hoping that this clicks well and can be a path to the Red Sea Handicap that he’s entered in in Saudi.”

Among his rivals is Kihavah, who will be a first Meydan runner for British-based Adrian Keatley.

 “We’ve been very happy with Kihavah since he arrived,” he said. “He lost a lot of weight traveling but he’s put most of it back on now and did a nice piece of work with Pat Dobbs on him [Tuesday] morning.

“We’re delighted to have him here and we’ve been looked after extremely well. We think going on his line of form with Burdett Road and his Ebor second that we’re in with a shout of earning a few quid.”

The card also features two sprint handicaps. The first of them, race two, the Binghatti Handicap, has a capacity field of 14 while the same number line up in the ARN Handicap, race four, over 1200metres on turf. Protagonists include the exciting G2 winner Arabie, who makes his local debut for Burke, and the Richard Spencer-trained quartet of Righthere Rightnow, Twilight Calls, Run Boy Run and Two Tribes.

Racing begins at 5:30pm and a range of tickets can be purchased on dubairacingclub.com

Opera Hits The High Notes on Meydan’s Festive Friday

Opera Ballo has been an exciting horse throughout his short career. He landed win number five and a first Group success when beating stablemate and four-time G1 winner Nations Pride in the G2 Al Rashidiya [sponsored by Emaar] – an early prep for the G1 Dubai Turf.

Jockey William Buick sat confidently in third in the 1800metre turf contest and asked for an effort just before the 200metre marker, when the response was immediate. Opera Ballo (pictured) quickened clear and crossed the line three lengths ahead of Nations Pride.

“His biggest challenge is himself,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “William had to get him behind a horse and try and get him to settle.”

“He was entitled to come forward for that [in fitness]. The most logical place to go now is the Group 1 Jebel Hatta [23 January] and then we’ll see if he’s a World Cup night horse.”

Buick, winning this race for the third time in a row and fifth overall, added: “the race just set up well for him and he had cover, which was crucial stepping up in trip.

“We came here wanting to learn something and to teach Opera Ballo something and I think we did that. We always thought he was a horse worthy of going to the top level and tonight he showed he is on the way there.”

Heart Of Honor Stakes World Cup Claims

The Listed Entisar Stakes [sponsored by Emaar] is often an early pointer towards the Dubai World Cup and it could have been so again, with last year’s fourth Walk Of Stars taking his place in the line-up.

He and Tadhg O’Shea set steady fractions up front which may not have suited closer Heart Of Honor, but he got the job done, despite being pushed along by jockey Saffie Osborne for much of the race. Turning in, the three-year-old made relentless headway and mowed down Walk Of Stars and runner-up Artorius with something in hand – by a length and a half and two lengths.

“I thought I was going to finish last down the back straight,” said Osborne, who rides the horse for her trainer father Jamie. “As soon as I started asking him questions around the bend I realised how lazy he’d been down the back.

“Today he showed what a quality horse he is, which I didn’t really know before as he doesn’t give you much of a feel when you’re pushing him along. He was relentless.

“I think when he’s a little bit more mature and a little bit more streetwise, we could have a seriously exciting horse on our hands.”

“Never in doubt was it?!” quipped Osborne Snr, who trains Heart Of Honor for Jim and Claire Bryce. “Today he showed how brave he is, how much he wants it and how much he stays. The dream is still alive!”

That dream is now likely to take them to the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge, on Fashion Friday, 23 January.

Imperial Emperor Rules Again

The evening’s official feature was the AED1million G2 Al Maktoum Mile [sponsored by Emaar] in which Imperial Emperor led home a one-two-three for trainer Bhupat Seemar.

The Deva Racing-owned gelding made it to the Dubai World Cup last season, finishing down the field, but is back to his best on this evidence. Ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, the five-year-old was in a handy position throughout the race and found plenty inside the final 200metres to beat stablemates Commissioner King and Mendelssohn Bay.

“He’s a class horse – he’s won a Group 2 very impressively and was a second in a Group 1,” said Seemar, who ran eight in the race. “I’m glad we came back to a mile as I don’t think we’ve tightened all the bolts yet and he’ll come on for that.”

On the gelding’s future he added: “he’s just as good at a mile and a quarter [2000metres] so we’ll speak with the owners and come up with a plan.”

O’Shea added: “He’s a stronger horse this season and it’s great to see these older horses retaining their enthusiasm, which he has. I think we should go two turns [2000metres] and work back from the big one [Dubai World Cup].”

Buick Takes Turf Four-Timer

Mysterious Night loves a jaunt around Meydan and Appleby’s gelding registered his third course success in the Listed Business Bay Challenge [sponsored by Emaar].

Ridden by Buick, the five-year-old overcame a 287-day absence and a battle with the race-fit Khanjar in the 1400metre turf contest, prevailing by a neck.

“Will [Buick] had a great position round there and his [Mysterious Night’s] homework had been good,” said Appleby. “I was pretty confident he was fit coming into this evening. We’ll see what Will has to say and decide whether we stick at this trip or step up for the Zabeel Mile.”

Buick doubled up an hour later when Cover Up successfully defended his title in the Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash [sponsored by Emaar] over 1000metres on turf.

It might have been nervous watching for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford as he had to wait for a run but was explosive once the gap arrived, sprinting clear and easily holding off the closing Rabaah by two lengths.

“He won the race last year but made hard work of it.” said Buick. “This year he was very comfortable, travelled sweetly and from halfway he had things under control.

“I think this could set him up for a really nice campaign out here.”

Buick made it four wins on the night when By The Book strolled away with the Dubai Racing Club Classic, over 2400metres on turf.

Making just his fourth start, the son of Frankel was far too good for his rivals, beating Asgard’s Captain by four and a half lengths.

“We’ve always liked the horse and thought that this style of racing and track could suit him,” said winning trainer Appleby after his own treble. “We’ll see how far he can progress throughout the winter.”

New Star Among Arabian Ranks

Muraad is a newcomer to UAE racing but the French G1 winner made light of his new surroundings and dirt debut when adding to his CV in the opening G1 Maktoum Challenge Round 1 for Purebred Arabians.

Ridden by Silvestre de Sousa for trainer Majed Al Jahouri, he was keen in the early stages but had enough left to see of the persistent Mubeed, defending champion, by a neck.

Salem bin Ghadayah’s Labwah only managed fourth on debut behind Yuno but turned that form around with an emphatic win in the Shahama Stakes [sponsored by Emaar] for two-year-old fillies on dirt.

The daughter of Charlatan led throughout under Bernardo Pinheiro and found more in the straight, charging home by a quarter of a length from Star Mirage.

“The team expected a lot from her,” said Pinheiro. “She’s a very quiet filly in the yard; she does everything right. We had a good draw, she jumped well and I managed to take a breather on the turn and look after her.”

Jebel Ali Stables trainer Michael Costa emulated Seemar by saddling a one-two-three in the last. Raajehh, under Andrew Slattery, did his best work late to deny the filly Mouhjah in the Emaar Stride Conditions race, for two-year-olds over 1200metres.

“They’re all nice horses and they’ll all go onto better things,” said Costa. “Raajehh is a horse we’ve got a lot of time for and we’ve had a Guineas sort of campaign in mind for him. We’ll see how he pulls up as to whether he goes to the Guineas prep or straight to the [G3 UAE 2000] Guineas.”

The Dubai Racing Carnival is back in action on Friday, 2 January when the Group 2 Zabeel Mile and Group 3 Dubawi Stakes take centre stage.