Batwan returns for Carnival week four

Flying French grey Batwan is one of several star attractions as Meydan Racecourse hosts a bumper eight-race card on Friday,

Horses from ten different countries clash at this fourth meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, including from France where trainer Nicolas Caullery is based. He has three runners, including Batwan (pictured) who puts his perfect Dubai record on the line when going for a third 1200metre turf win in the Listed Dubai Sprint (Presented by Longines), race two. The eight-year-old is looked after at Meydan by Caullery’s partner and assistant Marine Henry, who issued an upbeat bulletin.

“Batwan is back in his home, he loves Dubai,” she said. “He settled in like a superstar and worked really well. He hasn’t raced since the beginning of October so he may need the race and it’s also stronger than the two he won here last year.

“We hope to get our revenge and get to the G1 Al Quoz Sprint this year.”

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Man Of Promise was third in the Al Quoz last year and rates as one of the biggest dangers to Batwan, having finished runner-up to Lazuli in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash over 1000metres three weeks ago.

“Man Of Promise has definitely come forward for his first start of the year and has a good draw in 14,” said Appleby. “Stepping back up to six furlongs [1200m] will play to his strengths and I feel he is the one they all have to beat.”

An open race also sees UAE newcomer Nahaarr take his chance for Michael Costa, while Ahmad Bin Harmash’s Thunder Of Niagara makes a quick return after winning over 1000metres last week.

The official feature is the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes (Presented by Longines), which is a good prep for the G2 Godolphin Mile with Heavy Metal in 2018 and Secret Ambition in 2021 winning both races in recent years.

Champion Trainer Bhupat Seemar runs three of the eight-strong field. Stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea opts to partner Law Of Peace, with Antonio Fresu on Discovery Island and Ray Dawson on Imperial Empire.

Twice a winner over course and distance, Naser Askar’s Law Of Peace makes his seasonal debut here, having been last seen winning the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship in March.

“Law Of Peace is having his first run, but he’s beaten Discovery Island and he’s a very versatile horse as to distance and surface,” said Seemar. “He’s drawn a bit wide [8], but he’s going to come from behind so that’s OK.

“Discovery Island has drawn one. He was second in the G2 Maktoum Challenge R1 and I think he’s a better horse than last year. He should run a good race.”

Imperial Empire reverts to a mile after finishing ninth in the G3 Dubawi Stakes last time out and Seemar is confident this will suit him.

“Imperial Empire is doing great as well,” he said. “Unfortunately, in the 1200metre Dubawi Stakes the sprinters were out of the gate and gone, so he couldn’t really get involved. I think this is where he belongs.”

Rivals to the Seemar trio include Prince Eiji, fifth in Maktoum Challenge R1 last time out, and his Doug Watson-trained stablemates Everfast and Thegreatcollection, while Salem Bin Ghadayer brings out two recruits from the UK, Ever Given and Mister Saint Paul.

Mawj the one to beat in Fillies’ Classic 

The card stages a new race, the Jumeirah Fillies’ Classic (Presented by Longines), over 1400metres on turf. A field of 12 includes Mawj, a Group 2 winner in the UK for Saeed Bin Suroor.

“Mawj ran a good race in the Cheveley Park Stakes on her latest start,” said Bin Suroor. “She has been out in Dubai since November and has been working nicely. This will be her first appearance over seven furlongs and she is coming up against some nice fillies, but everything has gone well with her.”

Mawj’s rivals include four Europeans, one of which is Caullery’s Solaire, one of four rides on the night for French jockey Theo Bachelot who makes his Meydan debut.

“Solaire is a little three-year-old who Nico bought in a claimer after the summer,” said Henry. “She’s changed a lot so we’re taking the chance in the new three-year-old filly races.

“She’s got used to Dubai quite easily, more easily that I thought at the beginning. The race is quite open so I think she can do well, although I probably prefer her in the next race, over 1600metres.”

The three-year-old colts get their chance on turf in the Listed Jumeirah Classic (Presented by Longines), over 1800metres on turf, race seven. 

Appleby runs dual Listed winner Naval Power, sixth in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes last time out, as well as Highbank, third to the reopposing Long Kiss in the trial for this race three weeks’ ago, and One Nation.

“Naval Power showed a progressive profile as a two-year-old before disappointing in the Dewhurst Stakes, when he produced an unsatisfactory scope afterwards,” said Appleby. “I have been pleased with his preparation but there will be improvement to come for the run. We are looking at potentially giving him one start in Dubai before looking at some of the Classic trials in the UK.”

Of Highbank and One Nation, he added; “We were very pleased with Highbank’s run in the trial, when he settled well and did everything the right way round. He has come on for that.

“One Nation has done well from two to three. He has a bit to find with a couple of his rivals on ratings but he won’t look out of place in the field.”

The 1900metre Longines Legend Diver Collection Handicap, race three, sees Legionario, a ten-time winner on dirt, as the sole international taking on nine locals. He lines up for Spanish trainer Juan Osorio, who is returning to the Carnival for the first time since 2014.

“Legionario is doing OK, he’s a bit fat as he has been a long time without running,” said Osorio. “[Jockey, Vaclav] Janacek knows him really well, but Friday is a starting point to see where we are.”

Legionario’s rivals include top weight Withering, second last time out on turf, and Book Review, a five-length winner over course and distance three starts ago.

The final race is the fascinating Longines Record Collection Handicap, over 1400metres on dirt. Caullery runs King Gold up against a formidable bunch of locals, including Seemar’s Western Symphony and Raaebb for Musabbeh Al Mheiri.

“King Gold is a little bonus,” said Henry of the four-time winner. “He was on the list to come to Dubai but he wasn’t the first one on the list. He came because we had three horses and he was invited, so we took the chance.

“He absolutely loves Dubai. Of the four horses I’ve got, he’s the one who’s changed the most. It’s his first time on the dirt and we’re questioning ourselves about that, but he’s worked really well in the mornings on it so he might have a good chance as it’s a handicap. He’s the one I’m looking forward to the most of the three runners on Friday.”

The race also welcomes a new trainer to the Carnival in Czech-based Ingrid Koplikova, who runs Josephino, winner of his last two starts in France.

“We are very happy to have been invited to Dubai,” said Koplikova, who trains a string of 40 horses near to Prague. “Josephino acclimatized very well and we believe in the best possible result.

“I’m worried about the fast track, but I believe he can handle it.”

Racing starts at 6pm with the 1900metre Festival City Stakes [Presented by Longines] for three-year-olds on dirt. French-based trainer Hiroo Shimizu pitches in the filly Rise And Shine, a winner last time out at Deauville, while Turkey’s Cosmic Kid represents trainer Mehmet Demir.