Runners from Seven Countries Contest Valentine’s Day Card

Meydan Racecourse is feeling the love this Valentine’s Day with eight highly competitive races scheduled for the twelfth Dubai Racing Carnival card of the season on Friday.

Excellent prize money of AED350,000 has attracted a strong field of ten for race six, the Lincoln Aviator Presidential Handicap. This season’s leading trainer Michael Costa fields three, with stable jockey Ben Coen on Saleymm, third last time out on dirt.

“We were looking to start him off over six [furlongs, 1200metres] but based on how he got ready this was the only available option for him,” said the Jebel Ali Stables trainer. “This will decide if he goes to the Ras Al Khor or finds himself back on the dirt for something like the Burj Nahaar.”

Costa also runs Embesto, sixth on his local debut at Jebel Ali three weeks’ ago, and Elnajmm, who finished fourth in a dirt trial.  “Embesto is well for his comeback to turf,” he said. “We would have preferred it over a little bit further, but we’ve limited options so we need to get a run under his belt before he steps up in trip.

“Elnajmm came recently from William [Haggas]. He’s been running over a little bit further so he’s on the fresher side for this. We’ll be looking to step him up a bit, too, but there’s not a lot of turf options left so we might have to try the dirt with him next.”

Godolphin run two, with recent Meydan winners Native Approach and Creative Story, the pick of stable jockey William Buick, clashing for trainer Charlie Appleby.

“I feel we have two strong contenders and hopefully one of them can get the job done,” said the trainer, who has saddled 13 winners so far this Carnival. “Creative Story (pictured) put up a good performance on his first Dubai appearance and came out of the race very well. 

“Native Approach was impressive in the Business Bay Challenge but disappointed slightly in the Al Fahidi Fort. We are hopeful that we can get him back on track here.” 

Another interesting contender is dual Meydan winner El Nasseeb, who tries turf after winning two of his three starts on dirt for Musabbeh Al Mheiri.

Earlier on, the Lincoln Corsair Handicap, race two, over 2000metres on turf, has attracted a new trainer to Meydan in Georges Mikhalides, based in Qatar. The multiple Group 1-winning handler runs Kadovar, whose two career wins have come at the contrasting tracks of Epsom and Doha.

“The draw [15] is a bit wide but over 2000metres we should be OK,” said Mikhalides, who has booked Irish jockey Dylan McMonagle for the ride. “The jockey is good and strong, so hopefully things will go our way.”

Another drawn wide is Lucie Botti’s Berkshire Nugget, who aims to build on an excellent second last time but must break from post 16 under Ray Dawson.

“He is in great nick after his excellent run when he finished a close second at Meydan last month,” she said. “The draw is certainly not an advantage though.”

An international evening of racing also includes representation from Sweden and Nina Lensvik sends out Havandi in race seven, the Lincoln Handicap over 2200metres. Twice a winner at home on dirt, the four-year-old has been ridden regularly in training by Silvestre de Sousa, who gets onboard him in a race for the first time on Friday.

“Silvestre has been riding him a lot and fancies him on the dirt, which seems to suit him,” said Lensvik. “He’s obviously still very green, as this will be only his fourth run, but I think very highly of this horse.

“He should be able to run a good race with a good placing.”

Friday’s action begins at 5:30pm local time with the Al Tayers Motors Handicap for Purebred Arabians, over 2000metres, in which Sand Storm AA aims to follow up her heroics from a week ago, when she was successful here over 1600metres.

“Sand Storm loves the dirt so hopefully she can build up on her win last week,” said trainer Ernst Oertel, who also runs AF Afham, who jockey Tadhg O’Shea has chosen to ride.

“AF Afham has a great draw [4]. I have always felt that he will be a Group horse and have been disappointed in his results, even though he has won.

“I expect him to step up and show how good he is over the extended distance.”

Tickets for Friday night’s meeting start at AED5 for General Admission and are available from dubairacingclub.com. A special Valentine’s Day menu is also on offer in the Winner’s Circle Restaurant.