Dubai Carnival Graduates Primed for Royal Ascot

2023 saw stars such as Mostahdaf, Khaadem and Pyledriver all carry Dubai form with them to Royal Ascot and win at the most prestigious meeting on the British calendar. So, what does 2024 have in store? We will see plenty of Dubai Racing Carnival visitors on course when the meeting gets underway on Tuesday, June 18th.

Dubai racing fans are in for a treat from the very first race of the five-day meeting, when G1 Dubai Turf [sponsored by DP World] winner Facteur Cheval lines up in the G1 Queen Anne, over 1600metres. Not seen on track since his narrow success at Meydan Racecourse, the five-year-old was second to Big Rock in the G1 QEII on his previous run at Ascot in October, when the ground was soft.

“We don’t have any questions about good ground because he won on it in Dubai,” said trainer Jerome Reynier. “He’s done the straight course at Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth so everything seems to be in good shape for him.”

Cairo, unplaced in the 2023 UAE Derby and 2024 Dubai Turf, also runs in the Queen Anne, for his new trainer Alice Haynes.

British trainer George Scott sent Seven Questions to the Carnival and the Victorious-owned gelding returned home with a bang, winning the G3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. He has been supplemented for the G1 King Charles III Stakes on Tuesday.

“I’m not going to say he’s going to win, but he’s earned the right to be there,” said Scott. “He’s a quirky horse, so we will travel him to Ascot the night before and give him a canter on the track in the morning.”

Joining Seven Questions in the King Charles III are fellow Dubai visitors Emaraaty Ana, Equality and Al Quoz Sprint third, Diligent Harry.

Tuesday’s card is looking a busy one for Dubai runners, with dual Carnival winner Ouzo heading to the Listed Wolferton Stakes for trainer Jamie Osborne. Given a break since his victory in the Lord Glitters Handicap in February, the eight-year-old will be ridden by Osborne’s daughter Saffie, who made history when becoming the first female to ride a winner at Meydan Racecourse earlier this year.

Lord North aims for fifth G1

Wednesday’s action features the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes in which Lord North aims for his second Royal Ascot win, having won the Queen Anne Stakes in 2020. A history-maker in Dubai where he has won three editions of the G1 Dubai Turf, the John and Thady Gosden-trained star finished eighth in the Turf this year.

Among the favourites for that race is Auguste Rodin, who bounced back for a close second in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup after his disappointing run in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.

“Even though he was beaten, the run was always going to bring him on,” said O’Brien of the Curragh race. “Royal Ascot has been a big part of the plan with him, and we couldn’t be happier with where he is at the minute.”

The prestigious Hunt Cup also takes place on Wednesday and features a progressive Dubai graduate in Wild Tiger. Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor who won the race in 2021 with Real World, the five-year-old was second on his Meydan debut and has won twice since returning to the UK.

“Wild Tiger is doing well and has improved from his win,” said the trainer. “A mile will be fine for him.”

Gold Cup Glitters for Grads

Coltrane disappointed in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup but has bounced back with aplomb since, winning one of the main preps, the G3 Sagaro Stakes. Andrew Balding’s star heads to the G1 Gold Cup, the feature of the whole week, in which he could face former Dubai Racing Carnival winner Enemy, as well as Trawlerman, third in the Gold Cup.

Friday sees Al Wasl Stakes second Starlust take on the fastest of his fellow three-year-olds in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. Trained by Ralph Beckett, the Zoustar colt got back to winning ways at York last time out.

The final day of the meeting could see former Carnival runners Kinross and Khaadem clash in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, which Khaadem won last year.

Royal Ascot will be shown throughout the UAE on Dubai Racing Channel and Yas Sports.