Dividend became the latest international winner at an extremely cosmopolitan Dubai Racing Carnival when winning the Lord Glitters Handicap [sponsored by Azizi Developments] – the feature race of meeting 11.
Ridden by Rossa Ryan, the four-year-old was produced from midfield with a beautifully-timed challenge which saw him easily hold off King’s Charter by three-quarters of a length.
“Absolutely superb!” was the summary from co-trainer Dr Richard Newland, who works in partnership with Jamie Insole. “It’s our first ever winner abroad and lovely to nab one. This horse has been knocking at the door in big handicaps and we were hopeful tonight that the extra furlong and cheekpieces would help. Rossa was keen not to deliver him too early and he judged it perfectly.”
Ryan, also winning for the first time at Meydan, said: “I had the two Godolphin horses and the Wathnan horse in front of me and I thought ‘I’m definitely in the right spot.’
“He has a good turn of foot and a tight turning track like this suits him down to the ground. I think the best way is to drop him in the middle and ride him for an explosive turn of foot and that way he enjoys it.
“It’s great for the owners [Commercium] as it’s their first horse out here.”
Another British trainer, Ed Walker, is making the Carnival look easy. He celebrated his third win from four runs when Northern Champion took his Meydan record to two from two in the Dubai Trophy [sponsored by Azizi Developments].
The colt was dropping in distance to 1200metres having won the Jumeirah Stakes over 1400metres but came with a determined run down the centre of the track under Oisin Murphy to win by two lengths from Maximized.
It was a first Meydan winner for five-time British Champion Jockey Murphy since 2020 and he was glad of the opportunity.
“I used to be a regular visitor here and have lots of winners, but it’s great to get the leg up on his fellow and I’m grateful to Simon Sadler, his owner, who organised my trip,” he said.
“It was a good decision by Ed Walker to go back to six furlongs. I didn’t take a pull out of the gate and he had a little bit of pressure on his left. From halfway I let him get racing and he picked them off as they slowed down.”
British-based South African trainer Dylan Cunha has thrown plenty at this year’s Carnival and he was rewarded with a second win. Tailgunner Joe blazed up the inside under Bernardo Pinheiro in the Azizi Venice Handicap, over 1600metres on turf, beating Jolly Roger by a quarter of a length.
“I followed the horse since he arrived in Dubai,” said Pinheiro. “I saw his races on dirt and then his races on turf were in a high class, so when I saw him in a handicap I got in touch and asked for the ride.
