For the next eight Thursdays and a couple of Saturdays, the sprawling Meydan Racecourse plays host to the Dubai International Racing Carnival, which kicks off this evening with the running of Round 1 of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge going the modified one-turn mile.
Despite a return to a conventional dirt surface for the first time since Well Armed (Tiznow) won the 2009 G1 Dubai World Cup, a smattering of internationally and turf-flavored pedigrees line up for the quarter-million dollar event, including Godolphin's Outstrip (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Best known to the American audience as the winner of the 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, the homebred will be trying the main track for the first time, but has a license to adapt to it.
The gray colt is the first foal to race out of Asi Siempre (El Prado {Ire}), whose major career victory came in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. over the Keeneland Polytrack, but who also crossed the line second in the 2006 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and was runner-up in a pair of Grade II tests on the main. She was acquired by Sheikh Mohammed's operation for $3 million at Fasig-Tipton in November 2007.
Outstrip, his dam's second produce, defeated The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the 2013 G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster and kicked home to best Giovanni Boldini (War Front) at Santa Anita two starts later. He was winless in four runs last year at three, but ran with credit when a close third to Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G1 St James's Palace S. and when fourth to that top miler in the G1 Sussex S.
“We are really looking forward to running him,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “He is a real favourite in the yard as he was my first Group 1 winner and he was running with credit in good company last season. We train on dirt and he handles it really well at home. He should really like Meydan and the turns, so we are hoping for a big run. We just need to see how he copes with any kickback in a race situation.”
Zabeel Racing International's Surfer (Distorted Humor), multiple Group 2-placed on the old Tapeta track, is bred top and bottom to excel on this surface, but had not experimented with it until last time, when he registered a half-length victory over fellow American-bred Ennobled Friend (Malibu Moon) in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile over the track and distance Dec. 28. Emirates Flyer (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) was runner-up in last year's G3 UAE 2000 Guineas and was beaten less than four lengths when third to Toast of New York (Thewayyouare) in the G2 UAE Derby in March. The bay has one start since, a second-place effort over the Wolverhampton all-weather in October, but he–like many of his rivals–has surface questions to address. Grand Salute (Brz) (Salute the Sarge), a three-time stakes-winner in Uruguay before being sold to Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid al Maktoum, will look to bounce back here off a somewhat disappointing sixth to Surfer in the Dubai Creek Mile last time out.
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