Muraad And First Classs Eye Kahayla Classic

Million Dollar Meydan Classic Awaits Top Arabians

Muraad, the 6YO chestnut trained by Majed Al Jahoori and carrying a career record of six wins from 10 starts, bids to complete a hat-trick of Group One victories in the Gr.1 Dubai Kahayla Classic at Meydan, a richly contested 2000 metre dirt event carrying total prize money of US$1,000,000, with the winner collecting US$580,000.

Coming up against First Classs, the 9YO grey gelding trained by Doug Watson and partnered by Connor Beasley from draw 9, the chestnut son of Thakif renews rivalry with a rival he accounted for by 2 3/4 lengths in a Group One dirt contest over 1900 metres at Meydan, with AA Lahab a further 1 length back in third and Djafar beaten a further 1 1/4 lengths in fourth.

Finding his path to further glory eased by the withdrawal of the top-rated RB Kingmaker, rated 127 and a winner of the Gr.1 in Saudi Arabia, the Gr.1 at Deauville on turf and a Listed contest at Abu Dhabi among 10 career victories for trainers Helal and Tahnon Alalawi, Muraad presents as the clear standard-setter in a deep and fascinating renewal.

Muraad's Brilliant Form Puts Him Firmly Clear

Stepping out from draw 12 under Silvestre De Sousa and carrying an official rating of 126, Muraad arrives having dominated the Purebred Arabian dirt division throughout the winter season. Earning his Group-race reputation in France under the training of Damien Watrigant, he won the Gr.1 over 2000 metres at Chantilly and the Gr.3 over 1900 metres at La Teste while finishing second to Luwsail in the Gr.1 at Paris Longchamp and second to RB Kingmaker in the Gr.3 at La Teste, before making the transition to Al Jahoori's operation in the UAE.

Since that move, he has been untouchable on the Meydan dirt, first seeing off Mubeed by a short head in the Gr.1 over 1600 metres and then accounting for First Classs and the field in the Gr.1 over 1900 metres. Unbeaten on the Meydan surface across both trips, the son of Thakif out of Gabra represents a formidable challenge for all in opposition.

First Classs, a son of Dahess out of Toppoftheclass, travels to the contest having warmed up with a commanding Group One victory at King Abdulaziz Racecourse over 2000 metres on dirt, beating Vizhir by 3 1/2 lengths with Moshrif in fourth. Watson's 9YO grey gelding, combining consistency across 40 starts and 10 career victories, also landed the Gr.1 at Meydan over 2000 metres, winning by 3/4 of a length, and won the Gr.1 at Abu Dhabi over 2200 metres on turf, confirming his versatility across surfaces.

Watson, one of the most accomplished trainers in UAE Arabian racing, also saddles Djafar (draw 3) and Al Zeer (draw 2), completing a powerful three-horse challenge for the stable and confirming his status as the most significant force in the race by number of runners.

Mubeed And Falaah Both Present Strong Cases

Mubeed, the 6YO chestnut son of Mahabb out of Jazeerah Al Reef, enters from draw 14 under Ray Dawson for trainer Jaber Bittar having proven himself among the division's leading performers this season. Winning the Gr.2 over 1400 metres at Meydan by 4 3/4 lengths, he then pushed Muraad to a short head in the Gr.1 over 1600 metres before going down by just over 1 length to Falaah in the Gr.1 over 2000 metres, with Raad Lembarak third, RB Motherload fourth and Uptown Walk the Line fifth.

Carrying a rating of 120 and recording all six of his victories on dirt, Bittar's consistent campaigner is well suited to stepping up to the full 2000 metre trip and cannot be taken lightly.

Falaah, the 8YO grey gelding by AF Albahar out of Zeina, provided one of the season's major surprises when landing the Gr.1 over 2000 metres at Meydan by just over 1 length from Mubeed, with Raad Lembarak a further 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

Trainer Ahmed Al Balushi and jockey Al Moatasem Al Balushi, lining up from draw 15, have produced an Oman-based campaigner whose recent wins at Al Rahba in conditions and handicap company kept him sharp before that stunning Group One success. Wearing a visor and tongue tie and carrying a rating of 118, Falaah has already demonstrated he belongs at the highest level and merits serious consideration in a race where Group One form counts for everything.

Gammell Pair And Dark Horses Add Intrigue

Anthony Gammell saddles two compelling contenders in AA Lahab (draw 4) and Raad Lembarak (draw 8). AA Lahab, the 7YO grey gelding by Burning Sand wearing blinkers and a shadow roll, arrives for Richard Mullen having placed at Group One level twice this season, finishing third in the Gr.1 over 1900 metres beaten 3 lengths by Muraad, and earlier third in the Gr.2 at Meydan over 1900 metres beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Vizhir.

Winning a trial at Jebel Ali by 5 9/10 lengths, he has retained the sharpness to compete at the top level and a new rider could unlock further improvement. Raad Lembarak, the 6YO bay gelding by Sir Bani Yas wearing blinkers and ridden by Sam Hitchcott, has been admirably consistent through the campaign, placing third in the Gr.1 over 2000 metres, second in a conditions race at Abu Dhabi, and collecting further placed efforts across different grades at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club to underline his durability.

Vizhir (draw 1), the 6YO bay son of Manark trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri and ridden by Fahad Alfuraydi, won the Gr.2 over 1900 metres at Meydan before finishing second to First Classs in Saudi Arabia, marking him out as a course and distance performer with obvious claims on current form. Joe Star (draw 13), the 7YO grey gelding by Al Mourtajez, has thrived on turf for trainer Hamad Al Marar, winning the Gr.1 over 2200 metres at Abu Dhabi by 2 1/2 lengths under Bernardo Pinheiro and finishing second in the Gr.1 at Abu Dhabi over 2200 metres, but must now translate that turf form onto the Meydan dirt surface.

Moshrif (draw 11), the 8YO grey horse by Dahess trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, brings a Gr.2 victory at Casablanca by a neck over Al Zeer and placed fourth to First Classs in Saudi Arabia. Djafar (draw 3), the 9YO grey by Dahess now transferred to Watson from François Rohaut, seeks a revival having won the Gr.2 over 1600 metres at Meydan and placed third at Goodwood in the Gr.1 on turf. Al Zeer (draw 2), another Watson representative wearing cheek pieces under Patrick Dobbs, brings turf credentials including a Gr.3 win at Waregem and a second-place finish behind Moshrif at Casablanca, needing to reproduce on dirt what he has achieved on grass.

RB Motherload (draw 7), the 6YO grey by RB Burn now under the care of Ahmad bin Harmash and ridden by Tadhg O'Shea, won a Gr.2 at Lone Star Park in the United States and followed up with a Meydan trial victory over 1000 metres. Madhmoon (draw 10), trained by Hussein Al Senaidi and ridden by Amur Al Rasbi, has dominated Omani racing across the season and brings a fifth-place finish in Saudi Arabia as his strongest form reference at this level.

Tariq (draw 6), trained by Al Jahoori and ridden by Jules Mobian wearing cheek pieces, has placed in Group-race company this season without landing the prize he seeks, while Uptown Walk the Line (draw 5), trained by Saif Almarar and partnered by Sandro Paiva, has all five career wins recorded on dirt and rises sharply in class.

Dubai Kahayla Classic 2026

1. Muraad (T: Majed Al Jahoori / J: Silvestre De Sousa)
2. First Classs (T: Doug Watson / J: Connor Beasley)
3. Mubeed (T: Jaber Bittar / J: Ray Dawson)
4. AA Lahab (T: Anthony Gammell / J: Richard Mullen)
5. Falaah (T: Ahmed Al Balushi / J: Al Moatasem Al Balushi)
6. Moshrif (T: Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte / J: Mickael Barzalona)
7. Vizhir (T: Musabbeh Al Mheiri / J: Fahad Alfuraydi)
8. Djafar (T: Doug Watson / J: Daniel Tudhope)
9. Raad Lembarak (T: Anthony Gammell / J: Sam Hitchcott)
10. Al Zeer (T: Doug Watson / J: Patrick Dobbs)
11. Madhmoon (T: Hussein Al Senaidi / J: Amur Al Rasbi)
12. RB Motherload (T: Ahmad bin Harmash / J: Tadhg O'Shea)
13. Joe Star (T: Hamad Al Marar / J: Bernardo Pinheiro)
14. Tariq (T: Majed Al Jahoori / J: Jules Mobian)
15. Uptown Walk the Line (T: Saif Almarar / J: Sandro Paiva)
NR: RB Kingmaker (T: Helal and Tahnon Alalawi)