Mendelssohn Bay And Commissioner King Renew Burj Nahaar Rivalry
World Cup Rehearsal Provides Pivotal Carnival Tests
Mendelssohn Bay will be looking to confirm his superiority over old rival Commissioner King when the pair renew their Gr.3 Burj Nahaar rivalry on Super Saturday at Meydan. Trained by Bhupat Seemar, the progressive 5YO son of Mendelssohn scored a convincing 2¾-length victory over Commissioner King in the same contest last month, stamping himself as one of the leading dirt milers in Dubai.
The nine-race card, serving as the final dress rehearsal before the 30th running of the Dubai World Cup, features three Group Two contests and four Group Three races carrying combined prize money exceeding US$2.7 million (AED10 million).
Al Maktoum Classic Headlines The Programme
Topping the card is the Gr.2 Al Maktoum Classic over 2000 metres on dirt, a race offering direct entry into the US$12 million (AED44 million) Gr.1 Dubai World Cup. Imperial Emperor, the Dubawi gelding who has been the standout dirt performer during this Carnival, having won twice before finishing a close second to Walk Of Stars in the Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge, is expected to head the field. The Al Maktoum Classic has traditionally produced the key trial form for the big race, making it the most significant event on the programme.
The Gr.2 Dubai City of Gold over 2410 metres on turf, worth US$381,000 (AED1,400,000), provides a stepping stone towards the Gr.1 Dubai Sheema Classic, while the Gr.2 Singspiel Stakes over 1800 metres on turf serves as a final audition for Gr.1 Dubai Turf hopefuls.
Seemar Trio Spearhead Burj Nahaar Challenge
The Gr.3 Burj Nahaar, worth US$327,000 (AED1,200,000) over a mile on dirt and previewing the Gr.2 Godolphin Mile on World Cup night, looks set to produce a fascinating rematch between the leading local dirt milers. Mendelssohn Bay has been transformed since dropping back to 1600 metres, winning three of his last four starts at this trip including the course and distance Group Three last time. Richard Mullen, partnering him in all his recent outings, will be hoping to continue that winning thread.
Commissioner King, the durable 6YO Commissioner gelding, ran a solid second that evening, beaten 2¾ lengths, having earlier won at Sharjah over 1700 metres and finished a creditable runner-up to Imperial Emperor in the Gr.2 Al Maktoum Mile. Tadhg O’Shea retains the ride on a horse boasting five wins from 11 dirt starts.
Adding international intrigue is King Gold, the Nicolas Caullery-trained 9YO grey from France. The veteran Anodin gelding famously produced a remarkable shock in last season’s Gr.3 Firebreak Stakes over this course and distance, defeating Laurel River. He followed up with a fine second to Raging Torrent in the Gr.2 Al Maktoum Mile and returns in search of further Group glory under Adrie de Vries.
Masmak, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, arrives on the back of a Group Three victory at Jebel Ali, giving him strong recent form claims. The 5YO Vino Rosso horse, formerly trained in the United States by Richard Dutrow Jr, has won five of his 14 career starts and could relish stepping back to this trip after appearing to find the Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge over 1900 metres beyond him.
Among the supporting cast, Hypnus, trained by Hamad Al Jehani, finished third behind Mendelssohn Bay and Commissioner King on his previous visit and could improve for the step back from American graded company. James Doyle takes the ride on the Into Mischief colt. Crown Board, representing Jane Chapple-Hyam, tried this surface for the first time when fourth in that Group Three, beaten 6¼ lengths. Silvestre de Sousa rides.
Mount Kosciuszko, trained by Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga, ran an encouraging third at Jebel Ali behind Masmak and arrives with solid handicap form reading well. Swing Vote and Telemark represent Simon and Ed Crisford, with Telemark arriving off a handicap victory at this track under William Buick and stepping into Group company for the first time. Ryan Moore adds jockey star power aboard Castlewarden, though the Into Mischief 6YO produced a distant 13th behind Imperial Emperor on his latest run. Audience, Folk Festival, The Camden Colt and West Saratoga complete a competitive 14-runner field.
Sprint And Turf Trials Complete The Card
The Gr.3 Mahab Al Shimaal over 1200 metres on dirt previews the Gr.1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, while the Gr.3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint provides the final trial for the Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint.
The Gr.3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy over turf points towards the Gr.2 Dubai Gold Cup, and the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas (Listed), worth US$218,000 (AED800,000), rounds off proceedings with an eye towards the Gr.2 UAE Derby on World Cup night.
Burj Nahaar (Gr.3) Contenders, Super Saturday 2026
1. Audience (T: David O’Meara / J: Daniel Tudhope)
2. Castlewarden (T: Bhupat Seemar / J: Ryan Moore)
3. Commissioner King (T: Bhupat Seemar / J: Tadhg O’Shea)
4. Crown Board (T: Jane Chapple-Hyam / J: Silvestre De Sousa)
5. Folk Festival (T: Salem bin Ghadayer / J: TBC)
6. Hypnus (T: Hamad Al Jehani / J: James Doyle)
7. King Gold (T: Nicolas Caullery / J: Adrie de Vries)
8. Masmak (T: Salem bin Ghadayer / J: TBC)
9. Mendelssohn Bay (T: Bhupat Seemar / J: TBC)
10. Mount Kosciuszko (T: Antonio Cintra & Julio Olascoaga / J: Mickael Barzalona)
11. Swing Vote (T: Simon & Ed Crisford / J: Oisin Murphy)
12. Telemark (T: Simon & Ed Crisford / J: William Buick)
13. The Camden Colt (T: Bhupat Seemar / J: Richard Mullen)
14. West Saratoga (T: Bhupat Seemar / J: Sandro Paiva)