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| Rowan Anderson |
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The sprint stars will be showcased when Meydan Racecourse hosts the sixth meeting of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival later today.
With a card of seven highlighted by the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint the meeting is sure to excite and whet race fans appetites as the Carnival continues to heat up.
In a quality field of thirteen trainer Charlie Appleby prepares a pair of genuine contenders for Godolphin with the master trainer looking to defend his title.
With him returns winner of last year’s edition of the race in the 6YO Lazuli with the gelded son of Dubawi victorious last year by 1.5 lengths over Acklam Express.
He returns to the track after winning last start in the Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash in his seasonal debut beating home stablemate Man Of Promise, who also lines up here in the feature.
Man Of Promise returns after back to back seconds but after a last season that proved greatly successful for the 6YO having taken the spoils in the Listed Dubai Sprint as well as the Group Three Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint. James Doyle picks up the ride on him for the first time since June last year while William Buick gets the ride on the title defender.
“Both Lazuli and Man Of Promise go into the Blue Point Sprint in good order. We know Lazuli is tried and tested over five furlongs at Meydan and this is his optimum trip. He is in great form and, even with his draw in stall one, he has speed horses around him and looks the one to beat,” Appleby said.
“Man Of Promise ran a good solid race behind Lazuli over this distance in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash and seems to be taking his racing better these days.”
Doug Watson trains Khuzaam who will be wearing the famous blue and white silks worn by Waady who won this race in 2020 for the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Dane O’Neill gets the ride here on the 2022 Listed Jebel Ali Sprint winner.
Shadwell’s homebred 7yo gelded son of Kitten’s Joy has not been seen in public since the 2022 Dubai World Cup card when beaten four lengths, in seventh, in the 1200m Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint.
“He is really well and in good form having taken time to come around after the summer. He has been off a long while which is not ideal in such a strong race but he is certainly a really nice horse,” Watson said.
The Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas will run as race six over 1600m on dirt with nine three year old colts seeing the trip.
Doug Watson will be ready to once again unleash Shirl’s Bee on the track after a classy win on debut for his career over the distance seven weeks ago.
“We have always really liked him a lot, he looks great and has been working very well. He has a good draw and we are really looking forward to running him again,” Watson said.
Tiger Nattion however will be out to put a dampener on Watson’s plans for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer as he looks to make it three on the trot for his career. The Tamarkuz x Silken product made it look easy on his first start winning by 4.25 lengths over the 1200m at Jebel Ali. He then backed up 12 days later beating home the Julio Olascoaga trained Es-Unico in the Meydan dirt.
The hope with the hype is Tall Boy, a Calumet Farm owned colt, who trained by Doug O’Neil is still a maiden after four starts but stepping out for his UAE debut. With the talent of William Buick onboard it places him in the best position to crack the maiden and land O’Neil another win in the feature after taking the prize in 2020 with Fore Left under Buick on board on that occasion also.
Assistant trainer Leandro Mora said the team was hopeful and confident this would be the race for him to break through.
“We think he will be a horse for the UAE Derby and this looks the ideal starting point towards that race.
“He seems to love the Meydan dirt surface and is a really nice, big, strong horse. He should run well.”
Racing starts at 6PM tonight with the Palm Jumeirah handicap.