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| Sumita Pawar |
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Real World, a veteran competitor in the Meydan arena, leads an impressive team from Godolphin for Festive Friday. This exciting event marks the beginning of the Dubai Racing Carnival's season and will take place on 22nd December.
In recent years, horses wearing royal blue silks have been the ones to beat in the Gr.2 Al Rashidiya. This year's nine-furlong race will see a strong challenge from four contenders, including Real World. The 6YO, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, was a standout winner of the Gr.2 Zabeel Mile at the course in 2022. He was also the runner-up in the Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes and Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes later that same season. Real World made a promising comeback last month after a break, finishing fourth in the Gr.2 Bahrain International Trophy.
Ottoman Fleet, a 4YO trained by Charlie Appleby, finished third in all three of his Meydan appearances last season, narrowly missing out on the Al Rashidiya title by just over a length. He returns after three strong performances in Europe and North America, including a victory in the Gr.2 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park.
Charlie Appleby also trains Measured Time, a progressive three-year-old who won his first three starts before finishing as runner-up in a Kempton Park Listed race in November.
Highland Avenue, another Charlie Appleby trainee, will be looking to improve on his eighth-place finish in the 2022 Al Rashidiya. The 5YO son of Dubawi posted a career-best victory in the Gr.3 Earthlight Darley Stakes at Newmarket in October, but had a disappointing finish in the Bahrain International Trophy.
Saeed bin Suroor said, “This will be Real World’s first start at Meydan since the Dubai Turf but he came out of his run in Bahrain in good order. He has been working well and nine furlongs is a good trip for him.”
Charlie Appleby said, “Ottoman Fleet has enjoyed a nice break since his American campaign. He had a racecourse gallop along with Measured Time at Chelmsford before heading out to Dubai, and they both came out of it well. It looks a competitive race, but he should be bang there.
“We feel that Measured Time has sharpened up for his run at Kempton Park and we are removing the hood this time as well. This is a step up in quality but he goes into it in good form and we are confident that he can be a big player.
“Highland Avenue was a good winner at Newmarket in the autumn and ran his race out in Bahrain last time. He has experience around Meydan and will be competitive based on the pick of his form.”
Mischief Magic, who goes in the Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash over the straight five furlongs, rounded off a superb two-year-old campaign in 2022 with victory in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Under the guidance of Charlie Appleby, the trainer, the son of Exceed And Excel showcased a resurgence in form by winning a conditions race at Kempton Park in October. Despite a commendable fifth-place finish in a Listed sprint at Lingfield Park last month, expectations remain high for this talented runner.
Charlie Appleby said, “We know that Mischief Magic is the class horse in the field if he manages to rekindle his juvenile form. We were pleased to get him back to winning ways at Kempton and then the race didn’t pan out how we expected at Lingfield. He came out of the race fine and we are heading into this with an open mind for the rest of the Carnival.”
Similar to Mischief Magic, Mysterious Night also tasted success at the Gr.1 level as a juvenile in North America in 2022, winning Canada's Summer Stakes in a convincing fashion. Despite finishing seventh in the Gr.2 National Museum Of Racing Hall Of Fame Stakes at Saratoga in August, the son of Dark Angel is now gearing up for the Listed Business Bay Challenge.
In the upcoming seven-furlong turf contest, Major Partnership, who finished fifth in the 2022 edition, is all set to make another attempt. The runner is trained by Saeed bin Suroor, who will also have another contender in the form of Wild Lion.
Charlie Appleby said, “Mysterious Night has been disappointing through his three-year-old season and I feel that a turning seven furlongs might suit – we might even consider dropping back further in trip with time. If he can rediscover his two-year-old form, it will hopefully make him very competitive.”
Saeed bin Suroor said, “Major Partnership should appreciate dropping back to seven furlongs and has been working nicely. Wild Lion also likes this distance and I have been very pleased with him in the mornings.”
One of the contenders for the 12-furlong handicap of the evening is Dubai Future, who has previously won the Listed race at this course and distance. He had a successful winter season last year, starting with a victory in the Bahrain International Trophy.
Dhahabi is also among the contenders and will be making his Carnival return after two promising performances over the same trip last year. Ruling Dynasty, an unexposed 4YO, along with Al Nafir, will be having their first experiences at Meydan.
In the closing six-furlong handicap, Secret Moment, a dual all-weather winner, will be making his dirt debut. His dam, Devotee, had won the UAE Oaks in 2009.