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| Staff Writer |
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The Dubai Racing Carnival meeting will witness two turf highlights, with Star Of Mystery, Great Truth, and Nezeeh joining forces to compete in the Al Wasl Stakes, a race that promises to be thrilling on 12th Januray.
Star Of Mystery, a Kodiac filly, is all set to make her debut at Meydan following a successful juvenile campaign in the UK. Her accomplishments include an impressive Listed win at Newmarket. Trained by Charlie Appleby, she finished as the runner-up in the Gr.2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes and secured a close sixth position in the Gr.2 Lowther Stakes on her final two-year-old outing.
Charlie Appleby will also be cheering for Great Truth, a Dubawi colt, in the six-furlong sprint race for 3YOs. Great Truth scored a comfortable victory on his debut at Leicester and was placed fourth in the Gr.2 Superlative Stakes on his only other start, where Champion 2YO elect City Of Troy emerged victorious.
Nezeeh, a son of Profitable trained by Saeed bin Suroor, had a winning debut at Thirsk. He will switch back to turf after securing fourth place in a dirt conditions race at the Carnival in December.
Charlie Appleby said, “Star Of Mystery heads into this in good form and I have been pleased with her preparation. She campaigned at a decent level last season, winning her Listed race and placing at G2 level before a creditable run at York.
“We feel that the drop back to six furlongs should suit Great Truth following two appearances over seven last year. We are slightly open-minded as to whether he has that natural pace for sprinting, but he has shown plenty of speed in his work.
“I think we have two live players, although it looks as though we all have Starlust to beat.”
Saeed bin Suroor said, “Nezeeh is a nice horse, who is improving all the time. He didn’t enjoy racing on the dirt on his last start but has been working well and looks to be going the right way.”
The Lord North Handicap, a nine-furlong turf race, is Friday's other featured event, and Military March will make only his third start since finishing fourth in the 2020 G1 2,000 Guineas.
Laser Show, another 7YO that Saeed bin Suroor trains, starts his season in the same race. Charlie Appleby has three horses in the race, with Highbank hoping to repeat his decisive handicap success at Newmarket in July. Majestic Pride, who finished third in the Listed Hyde Stakes in the UK on his most recent start, and Imperial Emperor are also running for the trainer.
Saeed bin Suroor has three contenders in a seven-furlong turf handicap, including Beautiful Secret, a lightly raced 5YO who makes her first appearance since October 2022. First View was a late scratching last week, while Al Khazneh finished a close fourth over the course and distance in last season's Carnival Jumeirah Classic Trial.
Big Team, a 7YO trained by Saeed bin Suroor, was nabbed close to home in December and will drop down slightly in distance for a 10-furlong handicap on dirt. Secret Moment, another horse trained by bin Suroor, will run in the evening's turf handicap over the straight five furlongs.