Superman flies in for Zabeel Mile test

Not many horses run on three continents but that will be the achievement of I Am Superman when he lines up in the G2 Zabeel Mile on Friday – the highlight of night three of Dubai World Cup Carnival action.

Trained in Ireland by Michael O’Callaghan, the seven-year-old has reached winner’s enclosures both there and in Australia. Most recently, he finished second in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield, when in the care of Peter and Paul Snowden.

“We’re delighted with I Am Superman since arriving in Dubai,” said O’Callaghan. “He’s in really good form ahead of Friday and Colin Keane is over to ride both him and Fastnet Crown.”

Charlie Appleby has won the Zabeel Mile on a record five occasions and he could well make it six when the smart Master Of The Seas lines up as one of five Godolphin runners.

Second to subsequent Group 1 winner Naval Crown on his sole Meydan start in February 2021, Master Of The Seas then landed the G3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket, before finishing second in the Qipco 2000 Guineas. The son of Dubawi has been lightly raced lately, winning his only 2022 start in the G3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket.

“Master Of The Seas has settled in well in Dubai, but we are very much working back from Dubai World Cup night and Super Saturday,” said Appleby, who also runs Listed winner Modern News. “There will be some natural improvement from whatever he does here.

“Modern News goes into this fit and certainly won’t look out of place in the field.”

Saeed Bin Suroor won this race 12 months ago with Real World and this time he pitches in Desert Fire, who drops in trip from his most recent run in the G1 Dubai Turf over 1800metres, Laser Show and Land Of Legends.

“This looks a tough race for the three of them,” said the trainer. “Desert Fire has won over course and distance, so dropping back to a mile won’t be a problem, while Land Of Legends enjoys racing around Meydan.

“Laser Show has soundness issues which kept him off the track for a long time, but I was pleased with his latest piece of work and he’s ready to go again.”

Seven fillies line up in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas, over 1600metres on the dirt. Chief among them is Mimi Kakushi, who upheld trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer’s high opinion of her when winning the trial for this race, beating Asawer and Awasef, who reoppose for trainer Doug Watson.

“Both fillies are in top form,” said Bin Ghadayer of Mimi Kakushi and stablemate Here We Are, winner of a maiden last time out. “They are facing the same fillies they ran against before. I’m happy with Mimi Kakushi, even with the extra furlong from her last race.”

Pia Brandt’s Silva was the last European-based filly to win this race in 2019 and Cite D’Or will try to emulate her for UK-based handler Harry Eustace.

“She travelled out to Meydan on December 29^th,” said Nick Bradley, majority owner of the dual turf winner. “She’s done everything right to date but the dirt is an unknown. She’ll go from here to the UAE Oaks which has been her target since November.”

The card’s other Pattern race is the Listed Al Khail Trophy, race six, which sees the return of G2 Derby Italiano winner Ardakan, now in training with Marco Botti. Placed in Group 1 company in Germany, the four-year-old tries this 2810metre trip for the first time, having been last seen finishing fourth in the G3 Jockey Club Derby at Aqueduct.

“Ardakan joined us after his run in the US,” said Lucia Botti, overseeing the team in Dubai. “He’s a lovely big, imposing, young horse whose plan is to run hopefully in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup.

“He has settled into his daily routine nicely here and we are all very excited to see him racing for us, up in distance, on Friday.”

Ardakan’s opposition includes Ismail Mohammed’s Away He Goes, who has been placed on four of five starts in the UAE. He will bid to reverse form with the Bhupat Seemar-trained Wickywickywheels, who beat him by a length and a quarter in the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship in December.

Seven go to post for the second race, a handicap over 1200metres on dirt, but they include the exciting Colour Up, who has already won twice this season, over this course and distance and at Jebel Ali.

“Colour Up has improved in his last two starts and we hope he will improve again,” said owner Sayed Hashish of the five-year-old. “The draw [7] is not good but it’s not a big field and we know he likes Meydan.”

Opposition includes My Dubawi, who makes a quick return after winning by five lengths on his local debut at Jebel Ali last week, and Rawy, winner of the 2000 Guineas Trial last season.

“Rawy got put up 7lbs after his last race, so I hope he will cope with top weight,” said trainer Bin Ghadayer. “He’s done one piece of work since his last race and went very well.”

Eight go in race three, a handicap over 1000metres on turf. Boomshalaa, winner of three of his six starts in the UK, looks an interesting local debutant for Watson, while the sole overseas runner in the field is the Jamie Osborne-trained Hierarchy, twice a winner over 1200metres.

The closing 1400metre turf handicap is much more international, with horses from Ireland, the UK and Spain joining the locals. O’Callaghan runs four-time Irish winner Fastnet Crown, who drops in grade and trip after finishing sixth in the G2 Al Rashidiya last week.

“Fastnet Crown came out of the Al Rashidiya in very good form,” said the handler. “He drops back into handicap company Friday night, which should see him to good effect.”

Spanish trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta earned a placing last week when Samedi Rien ran third in the Ipi Tombe Stakes and he is hoping for even better from Raiku, who makes his Dubai debut. The five-year-old will be ridden by multiple Spanish Champion Jockey Vaclav Janacek from stall six.

“I think it’s a very open handicap; it will be a fast race,” said the rider. “We have a good starting gate and seven furlongs is his best distance, so I just hope we have a clear trip.

“We bought him last summer and he’s improved with every race. We don’t know his limit yet, so I have faith in him.”

The card opens with the new Big Easy Sprint Championship for Purebred Arabians, over 1200metres. Three-time UAE Champion Trainer Ernst Oertel has a strong hand, sending out four of the eight runners, including dual winner AF Marmuq, the pick of stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea. Namrood, a course winner over a mile, maybe be the biggest danger.

Racing begins at 6pm and tickets are available from dubairacingclub.com, priced from just AED2 for General Admission.