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| Staff Writer |
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The Lambourn-based trainer Jamie Osborne is launching his most comprehensive assault on the Middle East racing scene, armed with an eight-horse contingent for the Dubai World Cup Carnival, plus additional targets in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. With the carnival offering over US$12.5 million in prize money across its eleven-week programme, Osborne's meticulously assembled squad represents the culmination of a year's careful planning, combining proven carnival performers with emerging talent across different age groups, distances, and surfaces.
"The years prove that we enjoy coming to Dubai, but winning is much better than losing. If we're going to travel horses, we want to ensure that when they get on the plane, we believe they can be really competitive," Osborne reflects. "Races are very difficult to win everywhere in the world."
In a strategic departure from his previous campaigns, Osborne introduces his first juvenile contingent to Dubai. Secret Combination, secured for just €7,000 (approximately US$7,630) at the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-up sale, leads this initiative following her successful debut at Chelmsford. The Maximum Security-sired filly’s purchase price looks increasingly shrewd, given her progressive profile and dirt-oriented pedigree.
"She won a seven-furlong maiden in England, but really, she wants further than that," Osborne explains. "I'm pretty sure she'll stay on the dirt - she's a strong filly.”
The Fingal Raven, owned by David Kavanagh and Dominic Griffith, represents another exciting juvenile prospect. Currently rated 88, the son of Mehmas has shown marked improvement since being gelded. His campaign began on 3 January in a seven-furlong conditions race, before targeting the mile event on 31 January, with the Al Jumeirah Classic on 1 March as the ultimate carnival target. A potential trip to Qatar remains on the table if his Dubai performances warrant it.
While optimistic about his prospects, Osborne remains realistic about the challenge ahead with other prominent trainers.
"I didn't feel I got the best out of him this summer. He's matured very well since being gelded, and I think he is significantly better than his official rating."
The addition of dirt specialists to his string demonstrates Osborne's evolving strategy. Heart of Honor, having impressed in just his second start on the surface, represents a calculated move into the classic dirt programme. The Honor AP colt, purchased from the Arqana Breeze-up sale, has already shown significant promise with a strong second in a seven-furlong maiden at Southwell.
The colt's dam, a Chilean 1000 Guineas winner, encourages his ability to handle both the surface and potential step up in the trip. "His immediate target would be the 2000 Guineas, and if that goes well, we'll step him up in trip for the Al Bastakiya, obviously with the hope that he's good enough for us to run in the UAE Derby," Osborne outlines. Success in this programme could potentially open doors to more prestigious international targets.
His dirt-bred pedigree and early promise suggest he could be one of the stable's most exciting prospects for the carnival season, particularly in a division where Osborne sees strategic opportunity.
Italian Guineas winner See Hector, owned by Mali Al Basti, brings fresh Group-winning credentials to the team. His late acquisition means flexibility in campaign planning will be key. "Ideally, I would have had more time to get to know him at home, but we only had him for three weeks before he shipped in yesterday. He's a horse that could be a carnival regular over the next few years if he takes to it well." Initial targets include either the mile or Lord North Stakes, with potential participation in the valuable Doha Mile also under consideration.
Jungle Drums, fresh from his Rockingham Stakes triumph at York, represents an intriguing prospect for the sprint division. Owned in partnership with Jim and Claire Bryce and first-time Dubai owners John and Kay Collins, the horse presents what Osborne describes as "a shot from outside the box." With six-furlong conditions races on 10 January and later in the carnival programme offering suitable targets, the key question will be his adaptation to faster ground. "I think ground is going to be the key factor. He's got speed, and the straight six furlongs there would be ultra-suitable as long as he can find his best form on a quicker surface."
While some horses are firmly aimed at Dubai targets, Osborne maintains flexibility with campaign planning. Many of his strings hold Qatar entries, with several likely to head to Doha depending on their Dubai performances. Sean, another potential Qatar runner, adds depth to the stable's international options.
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The Qatar campaign centre around Emaraaty Ana's defence of his Dukhan Sprint crown on 15 February, but Osborne's Qatar ambitions extend beyond this proven performer. See Hector holds an entry in the valuable Doha Mile, while The Fingal Raven could target Qatar's 3YO race if his Dubai form warrants the trip. Both Ouzo and Sean are being considered for Qatari targets, with their Dubai performances set to determine final plans.
Qatar Dukhan Sprint winner Emaraaty Ana returns for what could be his final Middle East campaign. The veteran sprinter arrives in Dubai with options for either one or two preparatory runs before attempting to defend his Qatari crown on 15 February. A possible start in a 3 January handicap, followed by a conditions race on 31 January, could provide ideal stepping stones to his main target. At nine years old, Osborne maintains a realistic outlook on his prospects, "We're probably not good enough for Group One races anymore. I don't necessarily want to hang around and run him in a race that he can't win."
Ouzo, returning after successful wins in the Lord North and Lord Glitters handicaps, faces the challenge of competing off a mark of 101. The gelding's immediate target is the Lord North Handicap on 10 January, which will help determine whether connections pursue ambitious targets like the race won by Brave Emperor last year. His previous Dubai form, including victories in two of the carnival's most competitive handicaps, provides hope that he can overcome his elevated rating.
Sean, owned by Ian and Claire Barratt Racing, returns to settle unfinished business after several near-misses last carnival, including a narrow defeat in the Dubai Millennium Stakes. His programme offers multiple options, from the Lord North to the Dubai Millennium Stakes. "I'd love to win with Sean out there this year because I felt he was the unlucky horse of the carnival last year," the trainer reflects.
The jockey situation remains fluid, with Saffie Osborne currently impressing during a stint with Ciaron Maher in Australia. While the trainer hopes his daughter might be available for some key meetings, he expresses complete confidence in Adrie de Vries as an alternative. De Vries's success on Ouzo last season, when deputising for an injured Saffie, demonstrated his ability to deliver at the carnival.
Managing an international string requires meticulous planning, particularly with the varied programme of races across Dubai, Qatar, and potentially Saudi Arabia. Osborne's approach to the carnival has evolved through experience.
"We've been doing this for a number of years. The more we do it, the more we understand what is required to try and win these races," he reflects.
This understanding extends to market positioning, with the trainer noting, "Everybody knows when you bring horses to the carnival, you need to either get lucky in the handicaps or you need to have a horse that can beat Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby. That's really a very difficult thing to do."
The strategic targeting of specific divisions, particularly with the 2YOs and dirt horses, reflects this pragmatic approach. "Sheikh Mohammed allows us to come and play in his country, and he puts up the money - it's his prerogative to try and win it back," Osborne observes. "With the 2YOs, particularly with the dirt horses, it's really a question of trying to find some horses to compete in a category where Godolphins aren't necessarily that strong."
This carefully assembled team represents Osborne's most comprehensive assault on the carnival to date. The success of this expanded operation relies not just on the horses but on a robust support team and years of experience managing the unique challenges of the carnival, from acclimatisation protocols to training schedules that maximise the use of Meydan's facilities.
The diversity of his 2024 squad - from proven carnival performers like Emaraaty Ana and Ouzo to promising juveniles Heart Of Honor and The Fingal Raven - reflects a calculated approach to finding success across multiple divisions. The addition of dirt specialists and 2YOs demonstrates an evolution in strategy, targeting categories where opportunities might be more accessible.
Using a football analogy encapsulating his strategic approach, he explains, "We try not to bring horses that are shooting from the halfway line. We like to have them in the penalty area when we're taking the shots." With this meticulously planned squad and clear-eyed approach to the challenges ahead, Osborne's 2024 Middle Eastern campaign promises to be his most ambitious yet. The combination of established carnival performers, classic prospects, and strategic acquisitions suggests that while competing with racing's global powerhouses remains challenging, this could be the season when Osborne's carefully crafted strategy bears its richest fruit.