Elnajmm Defeats Mysterious Night At Meydan

Dawson And Elnajmm Prove Undeniable Carnival Class

The penultimate Dubai Racing Carnival meeting produced a memorable Group race double for Ray Dawson, with Elnajmm, trained by Michael Costa and owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, building on his January Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort victory to rout Group One winner Mysterious Night, trained by Charlie Appleby, in the Gr.3 Ras Al Khor.

Ibrahim Al Hadhrami's Munir Du Soleil, recording a fourth career success and first win since racing in Qatar in 2021, took the Gr.2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah honours, denying stablemate AR Rawaa by half a length. Elsewhere on the card, the Simon and Ed Crisford operation extended its fine recent run of form through Involvement in the Downtown Dash Handicap, while Richard Mullen and Musabbeh Al Mheiri combined for a double through Sirocco Winds and Elyabri.

Elnajmm Shines In Gr.3 Ras Al Khor

Proving his January Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort win was no fluke, Elnajmm produced a decisive display in the Gr.3 Ras Al Khor, worth US$231,000 (AED850,000), over 1400 metres on turf. The 6YO Sea The Stars gelding travelling just behind the leaders under Dawson before quickening clear in the straight, sweeping past Mysterious Night by 2¾ lengths, with Andreas Vesalius (Ahmad bin Harmash) a further neck back in third. Chicago Critic (John Patrick Murtagh), Dubai Treasure (Saeed bin Suroor), English Oak (Hamad Al Jehani), Vafortino (Charlie Fellowes), Witness Stand (Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole), Khanjar (Musabbeh Al Mheiri), Hawksbill (Richard Spencer), Two Tribes (Richard Spencer), Fort Payne (Nicolas Caullery) and Audience (David O'Meara) completed the field.

"He's a very nice animal," said Dawson after his 33rd winner of the season. "We thought he would need the run last time as he's a big solid horse. He's improving with every run. The only concern was the penalty, but once I got him going up the straight he really galloped through the line very well. He's a lot more relaxed now and his work at home is exceptional. I won this race last year on Marbaan and it's nice to pay back the favour from Sheikh Ahmed [bin Rashid Al Maktoum, owner] and the confidence he's had to put me on the horse."

Munir Du Soleil Takes Mazrat Al Ruwayah

The Gr.2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah, worth US$82,000 (AED300,000), over 1400 metres on turf for Purebred Arabians, became a battle between two Al Hadhrami-trained greys, with the 9YO Munir Du Soleil landing his fourth career victory and first win since racing in Qatar in 2021. Arriving late under Dawson, he denied AR Rawaa by half a length in a close stablemate verdict. Zouhair (Majed Al Jahoori), Edalbar (Musabbeh Al Mheiri), Bucanero (Ibrahim Al Hadhrami), So'ud (Majed Al Jahoori), Zamer (Mohammed Al Mahrooqi), Djafar (Doug Watson), Listo De Faust (Musabbeh Al Mheiri), Af Layth (Ernst Oertel), RB Blynd Date (Musabbeh Al Mheiri), Bassam Al Wathba (Majed Al Jahoori) and Mukatel Al Shahania (Hamad Al Marar) followed home.

"I'm delighted for the horse – he doesn't win very often but he always runs nice races," said Dawson. "I wanted to be handier, but they went pretty quick early. He had a bit of ground to make up on the stablemate, but he put his head down and really knuckled down. His work at home is unbelievable, so I'm really happy for the horse and connections."

Elyabri Lands Champions Stakes On The Rail

The Champions Stakes, worth US$82,000 (AED300,000), over 2200 metres on dirt produced a remarkable comeback from 5YO Elyabri, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri. The American Pharoah gelding looking beaten turning into the straight under Mullen before fighting back tenaciously along the rail to defeat Valdivia (Ahmad bin Harmash) by 2¾ lengths, with Al Amir (Bhupat Seemar) a further neck back in third. Arlan (Doug Watson), Flying Honours (Ahmad bin Harmash), Base Note (Simon and Ed Crisford), Go Soldier Go (Fawzi Nass), Claymore (Jane Chapple-Hyam) and Gamestars (Salem bin Ghadayer) completed the field.

"He loves the rail," said Mullen. "There's not too many races over this 2200metres and he's the ideal horse for it. He broke well and then the pace horses came over and I got shuffled back, but once he's got that rail he's a very genuine horse. Thanks to Musabbeh, Maria [Ritchie, Assistant Trainer] and the whole team at Oasis Stables as they've been very good to me this year and given me plenty of winners."

Involvement Denies Masai Moon In Downtown Dash

Adding to a treble secured on Super Saturday, the Simon and Ed Crisford team struck again when Involvement powered home in the Downtown Dash Handicap, worth US$68,000 (AED250,000), over 1900 metres on turf. The 5YO Lope de Vega gelding held up early by Silvestre De Sousa before making telling progress towards the business end, going for home at the 100-metre marker and passing Masai Moon (Charlie Appleby) by two lengths, with Emperor's Star (Charlie Appleby) a further nearly a length back in third. Jeff Koons (Hamad Al Jehani), Blue Trail (Kareem Ramadan), Excel Power (Salem bin Ghadayer), Dante's Lad (Ian Williams), Native American (Hamad Al Jehani), Sean (Jamie Osborne), Miss Of Change (Miroslav Nieslanik), Monaadah (Bhupat Seemar) and High Season (Bhupat Seemar) followed.

"Last time I didn't ride him, but looking at the race, he did a little too much in a race without much pace," said De Sousa. "Today I had a very kind draw [8] so I could judge the pace and I was happy to be down the back. It picked up well from the 1200metres and they started to stretch out which is beneficial to a horse coming from the back. Everything went smooth."

Desperate Hero Edges Momentum Handicap By Nose

A thrilling three-way finish in the Momentum Handicap, worth US$68,000 (AED250,000), over 1200 metres on turf saw 6YO grey Desperate Hero, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, hold on for his second win in three starts. Bernardo Pinheiro producing the gelding late along the stands rail, prevailing by a short head over Postmodern (Hamad Al Jehani), with Do Or Do Not (Jamie Osborne) a further short head back in third. Bombay Bazaar (Bhupat Seemar), Billy Webster (Doug Watson), The Man (Richard Spencer), Megarry (Veronika Jandova), Twilight Calls (Richard Spencer), Rapper's Delight (Richard Spencer), Jouncy (Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga), Almutanabbi (Rashed Bouresly), Rasas (Ahmad bin Harmash), Donde Firmo (Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga) and Logo Hunter (Ali Al Badwawi) completed the field.

"This horse used to be a five furlong [1000metre] horse," said Pinheiro. "He came to us late last year and took a while to find his form. He got a nice win over this distance but then we dropped him back to five [furlongs, 1000metres] which is a bit of a rush for him now as the pace is different in Europe. I was very confident with him today as I have been riding him every day at home."

Honest Desert Strikes Again In Next Mile

Honest Desert, the 3YO Honest Mischief gelding trained by Ahmad bin Harmash, secured a second win from four starts in the Next Mile Conditions race, worth US$57,000 (AED210,000), over 1200 metres on dirt. Under Connor Beasley, he tracked pace-setter Miss Yechance (Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga) before passing her in the straight for a length victory, despite starting from gate 14. Wajjeeh (Michael Costa), Ishtiah (Musabbeh Al Mheiri), Menaki (Marwan Al Baidhaei), State Glory (Musabbeh Al Mheiri), Jabal Jais (Salem bin Ghadayer), Imarat (Doug Watson), Magic Art (Bhupat Seemar), Mustakbal (Rashed Bouresly), Dream Of Tuscany (Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga), Hannem (Rashed Bouresly), Cat Belling (Rashed Bouresly) and Ashwaan (Bhupat Seemar) followed home.

"We had a wide gate in 14 but his homework has been very professional," said Beasley. "It's probably taken him a few runs just to get the gist of things. I've ridden him plenty at home and his last piece of work was very good. I know how quick the filly [Miss Yechance] is on my inside is so to have the pace to lie up with her was very pleasing."

Sirocco Winds Storms To Surge Handicap Win

The unexposed 4YO Sirocco Winds, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, recording a second win from just three starts in the Surge Handicap, worth US$52,000 (AED190,000), over 1400 metres on dirt. Reversing form with Nyaar (Doug Watson), the Dubawi gelding driven clear by Mullen to win by 3¼ lengths, with Laasudood (Bhupat Seemar) a further seven lengths back in third. Desert Wisdom (Musabbeh Al Mheiri), Al Fareeq (Ahmad bin Harmash), Don Vaccaro (Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga), Army Ethos (Fawzi Nass), Sound Money (Bhupat Seemar), Go Chrome Go (Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga), Smart System (Ali Al Badwawi), Capitana Bling (Silja Storen), Military Artist (Musabbeh Al Mheiri), Kubrick (Musabbeh Al Mheiri), Action Point (Salem bin Ghadayer), Muzaahim (Bhupat Seemar) and Desert Peace (Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga) completed the field.

"On paper he was one of my nicer rides on the night," said Mullen. "I liked him in the trial and then I won a maiden on him, when he came home well up the hill [at Jebel Ali]. He's still very mentally backward but he's matured from that last run. Physically he's still very lightly framed and I think he's a horse they'll have a lot of fun with, as he'll be even better next year onwards."

Vercors Breaks Local Duck In Velocity Handicap

A first local win arrived for Vercors, the 5YO Invincible Spirit gelding trained by Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga, in the Velocity Handicap, worth US$48,000 (AED175,000), over 1400 metres on turf. With Silvestre De Sousa navigating a passage through from the back of the field, Vercors beat Jumaira Bay (Doug Watson) by ¾ of a length, with Open Mind (Saeed bin Suroor) a further half a length back in third. Jungle Mac (Bhupat Seemar), Mostabshir (Ali Al Badwawi), Arigatou Gozaimasu (Salem bin Ghadayer), The Trickster (Musabbeh Al Mheiri), Chaldero (Miroslav Nieslanik), Ehraz (Ali Al Badwawi), Music Of Time (Bhupat Seemar), Giustino (Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga), Calyxoh (Jane Chapple-Hyam), Righthere Rightnow (Richard Spencer), Arabian Angel (Bhupat Seemar), Original Outlaw (Doug Watson) and Deep Hope (Bhupat Seemar) followed home.

Results
Gr.3 Ras Al Khor
1. Elnajmm (T: Michael Costa / J: Ray Dawson)
2. Mysterious Night (T: Charlie Appleby / J: William Buick)
3. Andreas Vesalius (T: Ahmad bin Harmash / J: Connor Beasley)

Gr.2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah
1. Munir Du Soleil (T: Ibrahim Al Hadhrami / J: Ray Dawson)
2. AR Rawaa (T: Ibrahim Al Hadhrami / J: Connor Beasley)
3. Zouhair (T: Majed Al Jahoori / J: Abdul Aziz Al Balushi)

Champions Stakes
1. Elyabri (T: Musabbeh Al Mheiri / J: Richard Mullen)
2. Valdivia (T: Ahmad bin Harmash / J: Saif Al Balushi)
3. Al Amir (T: Bhupat Seemar / J: Tadhg O'Shea)

Downtown Dash Handicap
1. Involvement (T: Simon & Ed Crisford / J: Silvestre De Sousa)
2. Masai Moon (T: Charlie Appleby / J: William Buick)
3. Emperor's Star (T: Charlie Appleby / J: Richard Mullen)

Momentum Handicap
1. Desperate Hero (T: Salem bin Ghadayer / J: Bernardo Pinheiro)
2. Postmodern (T: Hamad Al Jehani / J: Daniel Tudhope)
3. Do Or Do Not (T: Jamie Osborne / J: Andrew Slattery)

Next Mile Conditions
1. Honest Desert (T: Ahmad bin Harmash / J: Connor Beasley)
2. Miss Yechance (T: Antonio Cintra & Julio Olascoaga / J: Francisco Leandro Goncalves)
3. Wajjeeh (T: Michael Costa / J: Ray Dawson)

Surge Handicap
1. Sirocco Winds (T: Musabbeh Al Mheiri / J: Richard Mullen)
2. Nyaar (T: Doug Watson / J: Patrick Dobbs)
3. Laasudood (T: Bhupat Seemar / J: Sandro Paiva)

Velocity Handicap
1. Vercors (T: Antonio Cintra & Julio Olascoaga / J: Silvestre De Sousa)
2. Jumaira Bay (T: Doug Watson / J: Sam Hitchcott)
3. Open Mind (T: Saeed bin Suroor / J: Ray Dawson)