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| Staff Writer |
Group race action features heavily on the traditional dress rehearsal of the Dubai World Cup. Meydan hosts a quintet of Group Three events, dual Group Two, a Group One and a couple of Listed races on a card headlined by top quality horses such as Sisfahan, Warren Point, Clapton, Military Law and Ponntos.
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The Gr.1 Al Maktoum Classic over 1900-metre distance on the dirt – the same track and almost the same trip as the US$ 12 million Dubai World Cup race on March 30 headlined by heavy weights such as Clapton, Military Law, Hypothetical and possibly even Kabirkhan makes for a fantastic night of entertainment. The Gr.2 Dubai City Of Gold with 12 entries also looks to be a fascinating affair.
The former, like many dirt races at Meydan during the Carnival, looks to be anybody’s game. Doug Watson’s lightly raced but powerful Kabirkhan looks to be the one to beat if he comes out to play. Out of six possibles, Bhupat Seemar has two heavy weights up his sleeve with Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge runner-up Franz Strauss looking for a rematch and his recent American import, the lightly raced King Ottoman who was earlier trained by Steven Asmussen for Three Chimneys Farm.
The other highest-rated horse for the night is Chad Summers’ Clapton. Summers hopes to raise the bar for securing a berth in the Dubai World Cup race.
While Julio Olascoaga saddles his highly rated charge, Ajuste Fiscal.
Given his recent line of successes success British trainer Jamie Osborne has been all smiles. He saddles Solid Stone in the Dubai City Of Gold under daughter Saffie who hopes to pick up another accolade at Meydan. In what looks to be a repeat of the Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Rifle conditions race Al Wathnan racing’s Simca Mille goes up against old foe Jeff Koons and Henk Grewe’s highly regarded Sisfahan. Appleby saddles top colts, Gr.3 Dubai Millennium Stakes’ recent winner Warren Point and the lightly raced but highly successful Castle Way.
Jessica Harrington saddles Moyglare Stud Farm homebred Trevaunance.
The Gr.3 Burj Nahaar, over 1600m over dirt, looks to be a replay of the Firebreak Stakes with most of the same prospects hoping to break Hypothetical’s stranglehold on the distance.
Doug Watson’s Mahab Al Shimaal (2024) winner Sound Money hopes to lead the pack while Seemar brings out Laurel River and Morning into the fray.
The leading Godolphin trainer saddles the Shamardal filly, Cinderella's Dream in the Listed Jumeirah 1000 Guineas along with Beautiful Love.
Appleby’s unbeaten filly, successful in the Jumeirah Fillies’ Classic last time, faces nine possible rivals in the 1600m turf contest and will be ridden by William Buick.
Among Cinderella's Dream’s rivals are Amy Murphy’s Geologist and Nicolas Caullery’s Nadelia, a good fourth and fifth in their last outing.
De Foy Excited About Group Three Contest
The talented New Bay colt, Vafortino hopes to notch up another win at Meydan, defeating Ismail Mohammed trained powerhouse, Nibras Passion.
They go up against Francis Henri Graffard trained Demain and Michael Costa duo, Marbaan and Yonafis.
Charlie Appleby’s Noble Dynasty, undefeated in his last two contests might be the one to beat in his Meydan debut.
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The 1200m Group Three sprint, Mahab Al Shimaal won previously by Bhupat Seemar-trained Sound Money, features the hereto undefeated Ma Yetal. The 3YO Flameaway colt will be saddled by Australian Michael Costa who will be looking to secure a three-peat with his stable star.
The 107-rated Go Chrome Go, unbeaten in his last seven runs in Argentina, makes his Meydan debut for Julio Olascoaga.
Heading the 15-runner field for the 1000m Gr.3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint is the Charlie Appleby-trained Star Of Mystery. The Kodiac filly won on his last outing defeating Ponntos who is seeking a rematch.
The leading 2023 – 2024 trainer Michael Costa has two top-class entries, Tajalla and Bilhayl. Jockeys have not been selected for these rides.
Ahmad bin Harmash saddles the 2023 third-place winner of this contest, Thunder Of Niagara, who will be looking to showcase both thunder and lightning.