Firebreak Friday Feature As DWCC Rolls On

The Dubai World Cup Carnival enters its fourth week and the card is anchored by the 1600-metre $150,000 G3 Firebreak S. Presented By Longines. Trainers Bhupat Seemar and Doug Watson field three entries apiece in the eight-horse field.

Godolphin-bred but Naser Askar-owned Law Of Peace (GB) (Shamardal) is aiming to take his winning streak to four, and will be the mount of Tadhg O'Shea from stall eight. Four of his five wins have occurred in the desert, two over track and trip, and the 6-year-old is coming off a career high–albeit a lengthy layoff–after taking the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship over 2200 metres at Abu Dhabi last March.

“Law Of Peace is having his first run, but he's beaten Discovery Island (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and he's a very versatile horse as to distance and surface,” said Seemar. “He's drawn a bit wide, but he's going to come from behind so that's OK.

“Discovery Island has drawn one. He was second in the G2 Maktoum Challenge R1 and I think he's a better horse than last year. He should run a good race.”

Fifth in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1, Prince Eiji (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) hopes to bounce back to the form that saw him win the Listed Dubai Creek Mile in December. The highest-rated Watson runner, the 7-year-old will bear the silks of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.

Dubai Sprint Draws 15

Turf sprinters are not in short supply in the first black-type race of the card–the Listed Dubai Sprint Presented By Longines, the second race of the day, and there is a strong foreign presence as well.

One of these European invaders is Nicolas Caullery trainee Batwan (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who is perfect in two starts over the Meydan turf going 1200 metres. The grey visited Dubai last winter, and came away with a brace of wins in a January conditions affair and a February handicap. His best performance in seven more 2022 appearances was a second in the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis at Deauville, and he faces a stiff test on Friday.

“Batwan is back in his home, he loves Dubai,” said Marine Henry, partner and assistant to trainer Nicolas Caullery. “He settled in like a superstar and worked really well. He hasn't raced since the beginning of October so he may need the race and it's also stronger than the two he won here last year.

“We hope to get our revenge and get to the G1 Al Quoz Sprint this year.”

Topping the field is Godolphin's Man Of Promise (Into Mischief), who was only 1 1/4 lengths off of Lazuli (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in a rated conditions affair going 200 metres shorter on the opening day of the DWCC, Jan. 6. A three-time stakes winner locally, the 2022 G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint hero was third in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.

“Man Of Promise has definitely come forward for his first start of the year and has a good draw in 14,” said Appleby. “Stepping back up to six furlongs [1200m] will play to his strengths and I feel he is the one they all have to beat.”

Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Nahaarr (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) makes his UAE debut on Friday. Leaving from gate 11, he was second in the Listed Cathedral S. at Salisbury on June 12 and is rated 112.

Sophomores Set To Shine

Friday's Listed Jumeirah Classic Presented By Longines turns the spotlight on the 3-year-old colts, and G1 Dewhurst sixth Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) is one of three in the race bearing the Godolphin blue and hailing from the Charlie Appleby yard. A winner of his first four starts, including a pair of listed affairs at Ascot and Hadyock in July and September, respectively, the colt will be stepping up to 1800 metres for the first time.

“Naval Power showed a progressive profile as a 2-year-old before disappointing in the Dewhurst S., when he produced an unsatisfactory scope afterwards,” said Appleby. “I have been pleased with his preparation but there will be improvement to come for the run. We are looking at potentially giving him one start in Dubai before looking at some of the Classic trials in the UK.”

Of his other runners, Highbank (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and One Nation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), he added, “We were very pleased with Highbank's run in the trial, when he settled well and did everything the right way round. He has come on for that.

“One Nation has done well from two to three. He has a bit to find with a couple of his rivals on ratings but he won't look out of place in the field.”

Johnny Murtagh ships in Bay Of Plenty (Ire) (GB) to challenge the Godolphin trio. A winner at first asking at Naas in September, the gelding is looking to improve off of a first-out eighth locally to the re-opposing Long Kiss (Brz) (Adriano) on Jan. 6.

In the fillies' equivalent, the Jumeirah Fillies Classic Presented By Longines, 'TDN Rising Star' Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) looks very tough for Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor. Successful in the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. last July, she was third to Cartier Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 24.

“Mawj ran a good race in the Cheveley Park S. on her latest start,” said Bin Suroor. “She has been out in Dubai since November and has been working nicely. This will be her first appearance over seven furlongs and she is coming up against some nice fillies, but everything has gone well with her.”

Among her rivals is owner/trainer Nicolas Caullery's Solaire (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}). Already sporting 10 starts under her belt, the conditions winner was fourth in the G3 Prix Miesque at Chantilly two starts back and ended her season with a fifth-place finish in the Listed Criterium du Languedoc at Toulouse in November.

“Solaire is a little 3-year-old who Nico bought in a claimer after the summer,” said Marine Henry. “She's changed a lot so we're taking the chance in the new 3-year-old filly races.

“She's got used to Dubai quite easily, more easily that I thought at the beginning. The race is quite open so I think she can do well, although I probably prefer her in the next race, over 1600metres.”

Rated one pound higher than Solaire at 99 is Axdaliva (Fr) (Elusive City) for trainer Yann Barberot. Fourth in the G2 Prix du Calvados in August, the filly scored in a 1300-metre all-weather affair at Deauville on Dec. 22.