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| Staff Writer |
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Last Friday, the Carnival came to life with a nine-race card, which included the Gr.2 Al Maktoum Mile and the Gr.2 Al Rashidiya. The turf course was used for four races for the first time this season, and the inside rail was pushed out eight metres to preserve the inner line for future meetings.
RB Rich Lyke Me emerged victorious in the AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE (PA) despite facing a tough challenge. In his previous start, he had put up an impressive performance, making this race a difficult one to back up. Although he didn't perform at his best, he managed to win. His latest win seemed to have taken a toll on him, as he recorded a final time of 1.46.09s, which was 1.37s slower than the track record he set last year when he won this race. The race was strongly run, evident from his slow final quarter mile of 27.41s and finishing speed percentage of 96.76%. The horses appeared to slow down in the final two furlongs, finishing tired. Although he is better than this, he likely needs to be freshened up now.
The winner of race two Dubai Dash was Ponntos, who secured for Czech trainer Miroslav Nieslanik his first win races this season. Ridden by James Doyle, Ponntos, a very fast horse who won impressively by leading from the start. Although many believed that all the runners would move towards the stands' side, He chose to take the opposite route and scorch straight from stall 1. The sharp nature of the turf sprint course played to the horse's main strength, which is raw speed. The winner's gate speed was remarkable, and with a second furlong of 10.19s.
The winner of the Storm Coaster race was Manama Gold Debutante. Manama Gold had a great performance and easily won the race. Jockey Adrie de Vries was impressed with her performance, stating that she had shown improvement since her trial at Meydan. Although she looked a bit awkward in the straight for a brief moment, she quickly regained composure and surged ahead, leaving the other horses behind. The race was evenly run with the first two horses staying prominent throughout. The pace was such that the leaders proved hard to catch, with an FSP of 99.60%. The final two furlongs were covered in 24.28s, indicating a relatively strong finish due to the early even tempo. The winner, Manama Gold, should now be considered for the UAE 1000 Guineas.
Kevin Philippart de Foy -trained Vafortino, ridden by Doyle, won the Business Bay Challenge, which was only the second-ever to be dispatched by De Foy. Despite facing some trouble during the race, the 5YO gelded son of New Bay won the Listed 1400m turf affair and narrowly-edged Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint winner Danyah on the line by a head. He demonstrated a sharp turn of foot and completed the final two furlongs in 23.09s. The race was run strongly, with prominent racers getting at it a long way from home. Danyah, who raced prominently, deserves credit for using his energy from a wide draw to get a prominent slot. The final time of 1.22.23s was a good one, just 1.23s off the track record, indicating that Vafortino was a good value for the win.
Isolate emerged victorious in the fifth race Gr.2 Al Maktoum Mile. This talented performer proved to be a cut above the rest, showcasing his class with a dominant display. Despite a sluggish start, Isolate quickly made his way to the front of the pack, setting honest early fractions. He further extended his lead with a quick second furlong of 10.77 seconds, and maintained his advantage with strong performances in the ensuing three furlongs of 11.32s, 11.62s, and 11.41s. As he cruised through the final two furlongs in 25.15s, jockey Tyler Gaffalione expertly eased him down. Isolate's FSP of 96.63% suggests he may have been tired in the final quarter mile, but this is not a reliable figure given the ease with which he won. With his unexposed potential, he could potentially go further than a mile, making the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup possible targets. Partnering with Isolate for a comeback win in the Al Maktoum Mile at Meydan Racecourse, Tyler Gaffalione believes that this year is going to be a fun one.
Godolphin’s Measured Time emerged as the winner in the sixth race group two race held at Al Rashidiya. All eyes were on Real World, who was expected to reclaim his lost glory, but he failed to impress. The handicapper raised Measured Time's rating by 11lb after his impressive win. William Buick, the jockey of the winner, played the race smartly. Though Measured Time was a bit keen early on, Buick kept him in a prominent position and saved ground on the inside, allowing him to dictate the race. Measured Time's final two furlongs of 23.31s were impressive, and horses ridden more patiently were unable to catch up with him. Ottoman Fleet, who finished third, is a perfect example of this. He made up a lot of ground after racing in last place, but still finished six lengths behind the winner. Measured Time has a lot of speed and stamina in his pedigree, making him a perfect fit for Dubai Turf instead of Longines Sheema Classic.
The Entisar race was won by Julio Olascoaga’s Atletico El Culano. The race had a very strong pace, which made it difficult for deep closers like the 7YO chestnut. However, jockey Jose L Da Silva was passive from the gates and allowed the race to unfold in front of him. He rated his horse perfectly and recorded an FSP of 100.43%. Atletico El Culano raced evenly within his comfort zone while the other horses went too fast. The winner didn't quicken but kept going as the others stopped. The final two furlongs of 25.02s show that he simply kept going better than his rivals. Military Law in second returned to something like his best and did well to finish second.
Dhahabi won the Dubai Racing Club Classic. Although the race was not strongly run, Dhahabi recorded an FSP of 105.26%. He saved energy to allow him to finish off strongly. He recorded a final two furlongs of 23.32s, which was 5.26% quicker than he ran the preceding 10 furlongs. Scottish Anthem, in second, was dropped out from a wide draw in 13 and ran well to be second without being able to match the sharp turn of foot that Dhahabi displayed.
Morning won the Dirt Handicap (75-95). The race was weak, but it was run at quite a strong pace for the grade. Mr Kafoo probably went a bit too hard in front. The winner had a terrible trip, was forced wide from off the pace, and is a bit better than the bare result. However, the race collapsed, allowing him to finish strongly recording an FSP of 102.73%. Al Tariq in second tracked the pace, and this was a return to form for him.
Major General Dr. Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Board Member and Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club, was thrilled with the reception that Festive Friday received. The event demonstrated the development of horse racing in the country and highlighted the capabilities that allow these world-class horses to take Dubai as a springboard to participate in the races. The victories achieved by international horses are very important as they send a strong message that Dubai possesses all the capabilities to push quality horses to participate and win titles.
The next Meydan Racecourse feature night will take place on 26th January when the iconic venue will host 'Fashion Friday', where racegoers will be encouraged to embrace the concept of 'dress to impress.'