Meydan Racecourse gets the festivities underway this weekend when G1 winners Kabirkhan, Walk Of Stars and King Gold (pictured) are among a host of equine stars in action on ‘Festive Friday’.
The nine-race card includes one Purebred Arabian Group 1, two Group 2s and three Listed events, with the official feature being the G2 Al Maktoum Mile (sponsored by Emaar), race 7, which is worth AED1million.
Defending champion Meshtri is among 13 runners for the 1600metre dirt event, but faces some tough rivals, including G1 winner King Gold, runner-up in the G2 Godolphin Mile in April after winning the G3 Firebreak Stakes over this same trip in January.
“That horse is just amazing, with the final 200metres he ran in the Godolphin Mile,” said Marine Henry, wife and assistant to King Gold’s trainer Nicolas Caullery. “We think he is still in the same form – he is certainly happy to be back in Dubai!”
Trainer Bhupat Seemar sends out eight runners, including G2 Al Maktoum Classic winner Imperial Emperor, whose rise through the ranks last season saw him finish up running in the Dubai World Cup.
“He got the privilege of running in a handicap last season even though he was a Group horse in the making,” said the trainer. “He’s filled out a bit and is a much thicker horse, so I just hope he’s fit enough first time out.”
Seemar also runs Killer Collect, who has won three of his six starts but hasn’t been seen since December last year, when running second to the reopposing Mendelssohn Bay.
“He’s a seriously good horse and a gorgeous horse, with a lot of talent,” said the trainer. “He’s just got terrible feet and they hold him back. It’ll be good to get him back as his owners [Michael and Negar Burke] have been tremendous supporters of ours.”
West Saratoga is an interesting newcomer to the Seemar barn, having won the G3 Iroquois Stakes in the US and finishing twelfth in the 2024 Kentucky Derby for the late trainer Larry Demeritte.
“He’s doing great and I have to thank Sheikh Rashid [bin Humaid al Nuaimi, [owner] for sending me the horse,” said Seemar. “We may have to do a little factfinding with him. I know he ran in the Kentucky Derby, but he may have to start at a level and work up to the big races. At the moment we’re going to start in the big races and see where he goes.”
Mendelssohn Bay beat Killer Collect a year ago and was impressive when winning in Listed company last time out.
“He stamped his authority over some very highly rated horses in the Dubai Creek Mile,” said Paul Ebbs, Managing Owner of the Suited & Booted Syndicate. “He’s had the run, compared with some of the others, so we’re ready, and he hasn’t done anything wrong over the mile so far.”
Godolphin Stars Clash in Turf Feature
The G2 Al Rashidiya [sponsored by Emaar], race six, is an early pointer to the G1 Dubai Turf on Dubai World Cup night.
The 1800metre turf contest has been won five times by Charlie Appleby, and the Godolphin handler has a team of three this time. The exciting Opera Ballo is the mount of William Buick, James Doyle gets on four-time G1 winner Nations Pride and Billy Loughnane rides dual course winner First Conquest.
Appleby said: “We have taken Opera Ballo to the Rowley Mile [Newmarket] twice and been beaten on both occasions, so I think we can say it’s not his course. We were keen to get him back on a turning track and the style of racing at Meydan will hopefully suit. We feel he is a nice colt and we are hoping to get him back to winning ways here.
“Nations Pride knows his way round here and has benefitted from a break following his runs in the US and Canada. We also know First Conquest enjoys racing around Meydan and he goes into this fit and well. I feel we have three strong contenders.”
Those taking on the formidable blue army include Listed winner Chicago Critic, for trainer Johnny Murtagh, and Caramelito, a Group 3 winner in France who is now in the care of Caullery.
Group 1 Winners go for Entisar Glory
The Listed Entisar Stakes [sponsored by Emaar], race five, is a typically strong renewal, with G1 winners Walk Of Stars and Kabirkhan clashing with G1 Preakness Stakes fifth Heart Of Honor, a three-time course winner.
Trained by Seemar, Walk Of Stars won this race last year before landing the G1 Maktoum Challenge and bouncing back from a disappointing 12th in the Saudi Cup with a good fourth in the Dubai World Cup.
“The plan was originally to skip this race, but after talking with the owners [Athbah Racing] we decided that going into a Group 1 the next time [Maktoum Challenge, 23 January] might not be the most ideal thing for the horse,” said Seemar. “So we are going into this race slightly undercooked, but he’s ready to run.”
The dual UAE Champion Trainer is also responsible for the Kazakhstan-owned Kabirkhan, winner of G1 Maktoum Challenge in 2024, who joined him from Doug Watson at the end of last season.
“Kabirkhan was healthy when he came from Doug’s,” said Seemar. “So far, I can’t fault him. For a huge horse, and for a horse who doesn’t have the perfect conformation, my gosh he can stride on that dirt track.
“He’s another one working back from the Dubai World Cup.”
As one of only two three-year-olds in the field – along with last time out winner Honest Moon – Heart Of Honor receives weight from all bar one rival. Jamie Osborne’s gelding returned to Meydan a month ago with a facile win over 1600metres.
“I’d hoped I would see him win like he did and thankfully he did, phew!” said Osborne. “This is the first time he’s been against older horses, and it is a pretty strong Entisar, so it’s going to test him.
“It’s hard to know how he’s going to stack up against those older horses at this stage, but we’re obviously hopeful.”
Speedy Sprinters Dash in the Ertijaal
Cover Up and Ponntos, the last two winners of the Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash, clash in this year’s renewal of the 1000metre turf event, which has also attracted dual course Group winner West Acre.
Cover Up returned to the UK in the summer, winning at Ascot, and co-trainer Ed Crisford has been pleased with his progress.
“He had a good summer, running in some good races, and has been going super well since he arrived back here,” he said. “We didn’t over-race him, in a view to coming back to Dubai, and he’s another year older and stronger.”
After going close last week with Righthere Rightnow, trainer Richard Spencer saddles three-year-old The Man, a dual winner in the UK, in a quest for his first Dubai winner.
“He’s lightly raced and comes here a fresh horse off the back of some nice races in England,” said the British handler. “Whatever he does here, he’ll come on for the run.”
Saeed bin Suroor runs the Listed-winning filly Dubai Treasure, who drops to this distance for the first time.
“Dubai Treasure won a Listed race on her latest start and has been working nicely going into this,” he said. “It is her first run of the winter and I’m looking forward to seeing how she goes.”
The Listed Business Bay Challenge [sponsored by Emaar], race two, looks very competitive. It features multiple Group race winner Marbaan and Mysterious Night, who finished second to him twice last season and won the 2024 G2 Al Fahidi Fort over course and distance.
Mysterious Night is trained by Appleby who also runs G1 winner Al Qudra and dual UK winner Anno Domini.
“Mysterious Night always runs well fresh and has shown his liking for this course and distance in the past,” said the trainer on Godolphin.com. “His homework has been good and we are very happy with him.
“Al Qudra has been gelded and has enjoyed the benefit of a long break since his last start in the spring. We feel the track at Meydan and style of racing suits him and the best of his form will make him a player at this level. He is a younger set of legs compared to some in the field and I have been pleased with his preparation.
“Anno Domini also comes into this on the back of a layoff. This will be his first run at Meydan, so it will be a new experience, and he is drawn a bit wider than my other two, which will make it slightly tougher.”
A high-class field of Purebred Arabians line-up in the opening G1 Maktoum Challenge Round I [sponsored by Emaar], including Mubeed, who defends his title, and G1 winner Muraad who has joined trainer Majed Al Jahouri after a successful career in France.
Later, 15 two-year-old fillies run in the Emaar-sponsored Shahama Stakes, race three, over 1400metres on dirt.
They include Julio Olascoaga’s Tjareed who aims to go one better after finishing second to the re-opposing Yuno on her Meydan debut.
“She ran a very good race in second when she desperately needed the run and needed experience, so I think there is a lot more to come from her,” said the trainer. “She came out of the race super well and I think she will be hard to beat.”
The card winds up with the Dubai Racing Club Classic [sponsored by Emaar] over 2410metres on turf, and the closing Emaar Stride Conditions race for juvenile colts, in which Seemar’s Salloom looks an interesting contender.
