It’s not often that a ten-year-old, two nine-year-olds, and two seven-year-olds contest a Listed race but it happens on Friday when golden oldies square off in the AED500,000 Dubai Creek Mile at Meydan Racecourse.
Winner of the G2 Godolphin Mile in 2021, ten-year-old Secret Ambition (pictured) deserves top billing here. The 12-time winner wrapped up last season with success at Jebel Ali and is trained by Bhupat Seemar, who also runs Al Nefud. Second in the G2 Maktoum Challenge R2 in 2022, Al Nefud has been purchased by owners the Burke family and will carry their silks for the first time. He is drawn wide in 11, while Secret Ambition, the winner of this race in 2019, will break from post one.
“I wish we could have swapped the draws!” said Seemar. “Both horses are in good form, but as most people know, our horses improve for a run.”
The trainer to follow so far this season has been Michael Costa, who is currently operating at a 32.2 per cent strike rate, having amassed 10 winners. He debuts the five-time US winner Home Brew, who joined the stable last season but has yet to run in the UAE.
“Home Brew has been working well and continuing to improve in every work out,” said the master of Jebel Ali Stables. “This is a nice starting point to kick off his preparation.”
Getting upwards of a kilo from her 12 rivals is three-year-old Mimi Kakushi, winner of the G3 UAE Oaks. The daughter of City Of Light was last seen finishing a respectable eighth in the G1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
