The Charlie Appleby-trained Measured Time (GB) faces eight rivals on the Festive Friday card at Meydan when he attempts to repeat his 2023 success in the AED850,000 G2 Al Rashidiya Sponsored by Emaar.
No horse has ever won back-to-back renewals of the Al Rashidiya, but Measured Time is likely to be a warm order as the sole previous Group 1 winner in the line-up. He followed last year's victory in this race with a first Group 1 triumph in the Jebel Hatta and a fourth-place finish in the G1 Dubai Turf, both run over the same course and distance as Friday's race. He later doubled his tally at the top level when beating stable-mate Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the GI Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga in June.
“Measured Time has had a nice break and goes in stronger to this year's Al Rashidiya,” Appleby said of the son of Frankel (GB), who was last seen filling the runner-up spot in the GI Sword Dancer Stakes, also at Saratoga, in August. “We're looking forward to him starting his Dubai campaign on Friday.”
Among his rivals is Royal Dubai (Fr) (Seahenge), a three-time Meydan winner, who returns after a summer campaign in Britain.
“He did really well in Dubai last season, improving 15lbs and winning two races,” said trainer Lucie Botti. “He's proved he belongs in this company, but he's had a little break so it's going to be stepping stones to bigger things.”
The international contingent is bolstered by Sean (Ger) (Excelebration {Ire}), trained by Jamie Osborne. He was a consistent performer in Dubai last season when finishing fourth in the G2 Zabeel Mile, second in the G3 Dubai Millennium and third in the G2 Singspiel Stakes.
“Sean is back again in an attempt to avenge last year's unlucky defeats,” said Osborne. “It's not going to be easy for him but we are hopeful he can have a fruitful Meydan campaign this year.
“Measured Time should be in a league of his own and it's likely Sean will tighten up for the run. We are probably all playing for second. This race will tell us whether his next run should be the [G2] Zabeel Mile or the Lord North [Handicap].”
US Imports Clash in Maktoum Mile
The official feature on the Festive Friday card is the G2 Al Maktoum Mile Sponsored by Emaar, which offers total prize-money of AED1,000,000 and is an early pointer towards the G1 Dubai World Cup and G2 Godolphin Mile. It has attracted a field of six, including Bhupat Seemar's exciting new recruit Artorius (Arrogate).
“Artorius won the Curlin Stakes in America but hasn't been here that long, so we're still finding out about him,” said Seemar. “He's by a Grade I winner and out of a Grade I winner [Paulassilverlining] so he's certainly bred for the job.”
Another US import who could provide the stiffest opposition to Artorius is the Doug Watson trainee Clapton (Brethren). Formerly trained by Chad Summers, Clapton finished third in both the G1 Maktoum Challenge and G2 Maktoum Classic last season, before an eleventh-place finish in the Dubai World Cup.
“He had a busy schedule for three years,” said Watson. “He's had some time off and he's fresh and well with us. I don't think the drop back in trip is a problem. We're just going to let him run where he's happy.”
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