Gold and Silver Sparkle at Meydan

Gold and Silver Sparkle at Meydan

It’s taken three trainers and almost two years, but Drew’s Gold finally got his win in the UAE, taking the feature race on a magical evening for Bhupat Seemar at Meydan Racecourse.

The dual UAE Champion Trainer collected four wins, but Drew’s Gold (pictured) was peerless in the Dubai Island Handicap, race six, over 1200metres on dirt. Originally brought to Dubai by US-based Chad Summers in 2024, he had a spell with Julio Olascoaga before moving to Seemar. The stable switch meant he was ridden by Tadhg O’Shea who kept the five-year-old wide from his draw in 12 and unleashed him at the 300metre point for a seven-length win over Echo Point.

 “It was my first time riding him in a race,” said the 12-time UAE Champion Jockey. “He was third to Tuz in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint but there was no Tuz in there tonight.

“He was a Stakes horse in the States and he had top weight this time, which is not easy to do around here – he impressed me tonight.”

British-based trainers have made a fine start to the Carnival and Dylan Cunha followed Jamie Osborne onto the scoresheet when Silver Sword collected his second Meydan win in as many seasons.

The five-year-old was backing up quickly, from a dirt run last week, in the Palm Beach Towers Handicap, the first turf race of the season. Ridden by George Wood, he battled hard to see off the favourite Emperor’s Star by just under half a length.

“I wasn’t too sure, coming to the final furlong, whether he would stick his head out, but he really did today,” said Wood. “Fair play to Dylan and his team as he was in cracking form.

“I was a bit worried that Billy [Loughnane, jockey, Emperor’s Star] had kicked and gone but luckily the gap opened just in time.”

Reflecting on his first Meydan win, he added: “It means everything. I was over here four or five years ago for Charlie Appleby and had a great experience before the opportunities dried up, but it’s going well now.”

Appleby’s Derby Contender?

Appleby had his own win when the exciting Devon Island picked up his second Meydan success from as many starts in the Como Residences Conditions event, for two-year-olds over 1600metres.

The son of Practical Joke provoked G2 UAE Derby chatter after this latest success, which was achieved despite facing the kickback he avoided during his initial win. Piloted again by James Doyle, he came from behind horses to beat Brotherly Love – also second to him last time – by three and a half lengths.

“He got enough kickback to suggest that he faced it well,” said Doyle. “He feels like a galloper, so ten furlongs [2000metres] around here shouldn’t be a problem. He’ll have a few stepping stones between now and the big night [UAE Derby, 28 March] and he would need to keep improving. He’s a big raw baby and has plenty of things to do mentally to really switch on, but I believe he will.”

Doyle rode a double, completed when Native American took the closing Palm Jumeirah Handicap, over 1800metres on turf. The win was a first at Meydan from Wathnan Racing’s new permanent base in Grandstand Stables, but it was close enough, by a quarter of a length, from Laneqash.

“He ran well last year here from a bad gate so I was keen to get him out quickly tonight even if it meant forfeiting some ground,” said Doyle, who was drawn in 12. “He traveled through the race very smoothly and came home well.

“We’re a small team here, led by Hamad [Al Jehani, trainer] and Tommy [Allen, Assistant Trainer], so it’s nice when the team all come out to watch.”

Class Shines In Arabian Feature

Group 1 winner Vizhir showed he has adapted extremely well to his new home in the UAE, taking the opening G2 Madjani Stakes (sponsored by Nakheel) – the card’s sole pattern contest.

Formerly based in Saudi with trainer Salem Alotaibi, the five-year-old remained in the UAE after finished tenth in the G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic in April and made an immediate impact for new trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri.

Ridden by O’Shea, he hit the lead in the led final 300metres but had to be tenacious when headed by Nassif, eventually winning by half a length.

“I was on a Thoroughbred the other day and was struggling to keep up with him!” said O’Shea. “He’s a good Arabian and I’m thankful to get the ride. Connections were super-confident and they told me to ride him accordingly. He went around there like a motorbike!

“I would imagine they will work back from the Kahayla Classic now.”

The second leg of O’Shea’s treble came when Muzaahim won the Palm Central Handicap, over 1200metres on dirt.

Riding for his main boss Seemar, O’Shea galvanised the three-year-old for a half-length win over Royalcorrespondent.

“This horse had been knocking on the door at Jebel Ali,” said the jockey. “We thought a flat track would suit him and Bhupat and the team had him in excellent shape.”

Seemar struck again 35 minutes later when Power For Power caused a shock in the 1400metre Palm Jebel Ali maiden on turf.

The Blue Point colt was slowly away under Silvestre de Sousa but came home best, downing hot favourite Do Or Do Not by three-quarters of a length, with Zumbezi third.

“He’s a lovely horse; I know him from England,” said the reigning UAE Champion Jockey. “I rode him work at Roger’s [Varian] and I always thought he would suit Dubai. He quickened for me and then I got within half a neck of the other horse and didn’t want to ask him for much more, but he stuck to his task.”

Owners Local Creator Racing and Seemar celebrated another winner in the very next race, when Zandvoort picked up his second career win in the Nakheel Handicap, over 1600metres on dirt.

Ridden by Richie Mullen, the ex-Steve Asmussen trainee was wayward in the closing stages but had enough in reserve to see off Gun Carriage by a length and three quarters.

Trainer Michael Costa didn’t leave empty-handed, he and Ray Dawson combining to take the Naya Residences Handicap, over 1200metres on turf, with Yotarid.

The five-year-old now has four wins from six starts after this narrow success over Righthere Rightnow, for UK-based trained Richard Spencer.

Meydan is back next week, Friday 19 December, for the first feature meeting of the season, Festive Friday. The G2 Al Maktoum Mile and G2 Al Rashidiya are the highlights on a nine-race card.