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| Staff Writer |
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Cairo, last year's Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up, will debut new ownership colors in the Dubai Turf at Meydan next Saturday. Recently sold to Kuwaiti businessman Refai Alghuraban, the son of Quality Road joined his Aidan O’Brien stablemates, Auguste Rodin and Tower Of London, in transit from Ireland to Dubai for the Dubai World Cup night.
With odds at 16-1, Cairo aims to challenge Lord North for victory in the Dubai Turf, following a career-best performance last May when he finished second behind stablemate Paddington at the Curragh.
Cairo, a Group 3 winner at two, is familiar with Meydan, having been a favorite for last year's UAE Derby but struggled on the dirt track. In a recent race in Qatar, he narrowly missed victory, finishing second to Brave Emperor in a Group 2 event, with subsequent Bahrain winner Real World coming in third. Formerly owned by Coolmore, Cairo will continue training under O'Brien to compete in the $5 million Dubai Turf for Alghuraban.
The deal was brokered by Avenue Bloodstock's Mark McStay, who said: “'Cairo ran very well on his first start of 2024 in Doha last month and it's intended that he represents his new owner Mr Refai Alghuraban and his family in the Dubai Turf at Meydan on World Cup night.
"Cairo is an extremely well-bred horse who has some excellent form, particularly his run behind Paddington in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last season. As always it's a very strong renewal of the Dubai Turf but we're very hopeful for a big run in his new owner's colours. Mr Alghuraban is a leading owner in the gulf region.”
On Saturday, the quartet from John and Thady Gosden's stable - Emily Upjohn, Lord North, Nashwa, and Trawlerman - traveled to Dubai. They departed from Heathrow in the afternoon, with the last three completing their preparations with workouts at Chelmsford on Wednesday.