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| Staff Writer |
Romantic Warrior, the world's highest-earning racehorse with US$22.82 million in prize money, takes centre stage at Meydan Racecourse this Friday in the Gr.1 Jebel Hatta. Regular partner James McDonald makes his UAE debut aboard the nine-time Group One winner.
"It was a quiet gallop, but he did six furlongs and breezed home," McDonald reported after Tuesday's preparatory work. "He's got a beautiful nature, nothing fazes him, and he enjoys travelling so it's a bit like a holiday for him."
Trainer Danny Shum carefully manages expectations: "I believe he's at 80-90 per cent of his best condition. If you really want me to give a specific assessment, I would say he's a little over 80 per cent but not quite 90 per cent. He doesn't need to be in top form right now, because our main goals are the following two races."
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Defending champion Measured Time, trained by Charlie Appleby, enters following his track-record breaking performance in the Gr.2 Al Rashidiya. The Manhattan Stakes victor, a half-brother to Rebel's Romance, brings impressive 2023 form including fourth in the Gr.1 Dubai Turf and second in the Gr.1 Sword Dancer Stakes.
Stablemate Ottoman Fleet arrives with strong international credentials, having claimed the Gr.3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket before a successful American campaign yielding the Gr.3 Arlington Stakes and Gr.2 Wise Dan Stakes double at Churchill Downs. His subsequent third behind Carl Spackler and More Than Looks in the Gr.1 Fourstardave highlights his class.
"There's obviously a slightly different look to this year's Jebel Hatta, with Romantic Warrior providing a lot of interest, and it's going to be a great event to be part of," Appleby noted. "We are following the same route we took with Measured Time last year and he was an impressive winner of the Al Rashidiya on his comeback run. He goes into this in great order."
Simon and Ed Crisford's Poker Face enters following Gr.2 Zabeel Mile success. "He's done seriously well since he came here, he just loves it in Dubai," Ed Crisford shared. "The Jebel Hatta looks like a very strong renewal with Romantic Warrior and Measured Time in there, but I think he can step up and run a very good race."
Co-World's Best Racehorse Laurel River returns in the Gr.3 Firebreak Stakes. Trainer Bhupat Seemar explains the tactical approach: "In my opinion it's always better to start shorter and build up. Our goal is the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup, so this is just a prep. He's ready for it, he's doing very, very well."
The nine-strong opposition includes stablemate Artorius, Group One winner King Gold, and Meshtri, fresh from Gr.2 Al Maktoum Mile success. French star Facteur Cheval attempts dirt for the first time, with trainer Jerome Reynier noting: "He's training really well on the surface, but it will be a very different scenario with the rhythm and the kick-back and everything."
Doug Watson's Kabirkhan defends his Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge crown, while Seemar also fields progressive pair Imperial Emperor and Walk Of Stars. Of Imperial Emperor, Seemar observes: "He's improved every run and taken to the dirt like a duck to water. We've come through the handicap ranks and we're going in a big race now. He'll have to get his big boy pants on and prove he can do it."
Local sprint star Tuz seeks a fourth consecutive victory in the Gr.3 Al Shindagha Sprint. "He's doing so well, I just don't want him to get too fresh," Seemar commented. The speedster faces Colour Up, unbeaten Ma Yetal, and Ponntos, while Robert Cowell's new recruit Jakajaro contests the Gr.2 Blue Point Sprint.
The Gr.3 UAE 2000 Guineas sees the exciting Heart Of Honor put his unbeaten record on the line for trainer Jamie Osborne. The progressive colt has demonstrated significant improvement in his two Meydan appearances, drawing clear impressively on both occasions while suggesting there's more to come.
"He looks fantastic; the team here have done a great job," Osborne shared. "Obviously it's going to be his biggest test. There's a lot of runners so we're going to need a bit of luck. There will be loads of pace on and he's not the best in the gate. He's just not properly sharp yet, so he's going to have to get a bit of dirt in his face. Hopefully he's going the right way. He looks like the best three-year-old dirt colt we've seen out here so far."
Opposition includes Argentinian star Giustino, Golden Vekoma, and Saeed bin Suroor's Kodiac colt Midnight Thunder, who brings dual UK turf victories and recent Al Wasl Stakes fourth-place form to his dirt debut.
The Gr.3 Al Khail Trophy features an international lineup including Geelong Cup victor Onesmoothoperator for Brian Ellison. "He loves travelling, he enjoys the one-on-one experience," Ellison shared. "He did a good work out on Tuesday with Ben Robinson on him and we're very happy with him."
British raiders Caius Chorister (David Menuisier), Prydwen (George Scott), and Epic Poet (David O'Meara) add depth. Charlie Appleby's duo includes multiple Listed winner King Of Conquest, who was narrowly denied by a neck in his recent Meydan debut over fourteen furlongs. The consistent performer has demonstrated his versatility across various tracks, with Appleby noting: "King Of Conquest is a rock-solid horse, who came out of his run earlier this month in good shape. He should be a big player."
Alongside him, Group Three winner Flying Honours, who steps up in trip following an encouraging return at Meydan in December over twelve furlongs, completes the Appleby pair. A Group Three winner over ten furlongs at two, Flying Honours demonstrated significant promise in his juvenile campaign. His trainer believes the step up in distance could unlock further improvement: "Flying Honours stayed on well over a mile and a half, and we feel that stepping up to this trip might hopefully see some improvement."
The Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort sees the return of Group winner Mysterious Night, who makes his first start since finishing second in the Gr.3 Poker Stakes at Saratoga in June. The progressive son of Dark Angel brings strong Meydan form, having captured this race in 2023 alongside another course and distance victory.
He joins Too Darn Hot's son Native Approach, who returns following an exhilarating Business Bay Challenge victory last month. Charlie Appleby reports: "Mysterious Night comes into this fresh and well on the back of a nice break. He has won twice over the course and distance, including this race last year, and should run his race again."
The dual Group Two-winning globetrotter brings international form from America, Britain, and France, establishing himself as a versatile performer at the highest level. His course form and proven ability to perform fresh make him an intriguing contender as he begins his 2024 campaign.
Ruling Court, the US$2.5m son of Justify, is thriving in Dubai as connections eye a potential Classic campaign following his encouraging juvenile season.
The Charlie Appleby-trained colt made an impressive debut at Sandown last July, powering clear by five lengths of subsequent 111-rated Stanhope Gardens.
Though beaten in the Gr.3 Acomb Stakes at York, he finished behind The Lion In Winter from Aidan O'Brien's yard in what proved a stellar renewal. James Owen's Wimbledon Hawkeye filled second spot before progressing throughout the term.
"He's done well out in Dubai. We felt that the training conditions out there would suit him and he's on target to run in the (Jumeirah) 2000 Guineas on Super Saturday (March 5)," said Appleby.
"We could potentially look at the 2000 Guineas nearer the time. I think he will stretch out beyond a mile, so it's whether we look at him as a Guineas horse or a Dante horse after his run at Meydan."
The Godolphin handler is focusing on Europe this term with his strengthened squad, including Notable Speech, who could start in the Lockinge before targeting the Queen Anne, while Arabian Crown will campaign over 12 furlongs.
"We were left with a hole a couple of years ago in our older horses, but this year hopefully the likes of Notable Speech and Arabian Crown will fill the gap," Appleby added.
"You've got to have a good one to go and win them, you can't just turn up. I just felt we didn't have that, but hopefully this year we will have."
Racing commences at 5:30pm with the Gr.1 Maktoum Challenge Round 2 for Purebred Arabians, where 2022 Dubai Kahayla Classic winner First Classs faces defending champion Barakka in a competitive renewal.