Meshakel stars on intriguing Friday evening card

The action returns to Meydan Racecourse on Friday with a seven-race dirt card during which some potential Dubai World Cup Carnival stars are on show.

The featured Nakheel Handicap, race five, is worth AED105,000 and has attracted a field of nine. They include Meshakel, who looked a potential Godolphin Mile candidate when cruising home by seven and three-quarter lengths over a mile back in March 2021. Currently racing off a mark of 104, he has the Carnival well within his sights but must overcome the layoff.

“Last season he had a problem and had to have surgery,” said trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer. “We’ve passed that problem well and he’s ready to go, but we’ll have to see what will happen as he has a wide draw [8]; and top weight. However, he’s in super form and we couldn’t be happier with him”

Meshakel faces a race-fit rival in Celtic Prince, who was third here over 1600metres last week, and the reliable Zero To A Hundred, winner on his most recent Meydan start in March, also over 1600metres.

The card starts at 6pm with the first Purebred Arabian Group race of the season. The G2 Bani Yas takes place over 1400metres and has attracted a strong field of 14. They are headed by G2 Mazrat Al Ruwayyah winner AF Alajaj who lines up for three-time UAE Champion Trainer Ernst Oertel, who also sends out the filly Iridesse. An interesting race also sees course winner Namrood and the consistent Gold Silver in the mix, while the lightly-raced Heros De Lagarde takes a drop down in class from Group 1 company.

Next year’s female Classic contenders are on show in the two-year-old The Pointe Maiden, race two, over 1200metres. Group 1-winning trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer sends out two, with Here We Are, the mount of Royston Ffrench, looking the first string on this occasion.

“Here We Are, we bought her from the Breeze-ups in Europe,” says the trainer. “She’s a lovely little filly and we are so happy with her – she did a trial at Jebel Ali.”

Bin Ghadayer’s other runner is Mimi Kakushi, who cost $250,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic Sale.

“Mimi Kakushi is a City Of Light who we bought from an American Breeze-up sale, a very nice filly,” continues Bin Ghadayer. “She’s one step behind the other filly on work, but in the last three weeks she’s started to show good form and I think she will be one of the best fillies I have in my yard.”

Doug Watson saddles Cairo Prince’s daughter Awasef, a $100,000 Ocala Spring purchase, in the silks of Al Rashid Racing.

“Awasef seems a nice type, she trialed well, but is still a little green,” said the trainer, who has declared a visor on the filly. “We will learn a lot from the race.”

The third race on the card, a 1400metre three-year-old maiden sponsored by Palm West Beach, has an interesting runner in Long Kiss, who was second on his latest start, at Maronas in Uruguay, in August.

“Long Kiss has just arrived from Uruguay,” said Julio Olascoaga, Assistant to trainer Antonio Cintra. “It looks like he’s adapting well and liking the Meydan surface so far. We’re expecting a good run from him, although he will be facing horses that are more experienced than him. Jose da Silva will take the ride as he also did in Uruguay.”

 The race will also see the silks of well-known American stud farm Three Chimneys carried on a UAE track for the first time domestically when Green Jacket lines up for Bhupat Seemar. Second on his only start at Belmont in 2021, the colt has blinkers for this local debut.

“He’s a Curlin and he ideally wants ten furlongs [2000metres] so this is a little short for him,” said Seemar. “But it’s a good place to start him. He’s fit, he’s ready and he’s with his own age group, so this is a good spot for him. From here on we’ll probably move up in distance. He’s for a new owner, Three Chimneys Farm, so it’s good to have this horse.”

Seemar also runs Violet R, who has been well-beaten on both of her starts so far. “Violet R is doing OK,” he reports. “She’s a filly, but she’s among her own age group. Hopefully from here we can go to the fillies’ races.”

Seemar, who has made a good start to the season with four winners so far, runs three in the 1200metre The View at the Palm handicap, race four. They are Zahau, who will be ridden by stable claiming rider Connor Panas, consistent Rayig and Ranaan, a winner here over this trip in January.

“Zahou, we’ve got the apprentice on him and he’s bottom weight so he should have a good chance with only 53.5kg,” said Seemar. “Rayig ran a good race the other day so it’s a good spot for him. Ranaan is also ready to run. He’s fit and he always runs well at Meydan, so I’m pleased with all of them.”

One of the most impressive winners during the early part of last season was Taking Names, who scooted in by eight lengths on debut. He failed to build on that but has been gelded during the summer and remains an interesting prospect for trainer Watson, who said: “Taking Names is doing well at home and we wanted to stretch him out in trip on his breeding. Hopefully, he goes well fresh like he did last season.”

Watson also runs Qareeb, who makes a quick return after tiring into fourth over 2000metres last week. “Qareeb came out of that race well and should be a little fitter with the run,” said Watson.

The card concludes with the 1600metre Palm Beach Towers Handicap, in which trainer Michael Costa will be hoping Tahdeed can go one spot better than the second he managed last week.