The Dubai World Cup Carnival steps up a notch on Thursday, as the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas, the prep for the Feb. 20 G3 UAE Oaks, goes as the second race on the card. Nine 3-year-old fillies stand their ground with four hailing from the Godolphin yards led by G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. third Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for Saeed bin Suroor. The bay easily won the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial conditions race over 1400 metres by 1 3/4 lengths on Jan. 2.
“She was a good juvenile in Britain and won the trial well,” Bin Suroor said. “Hopefully she can follow up with the UAE Oaks the next target and we would like to think she will be a filly to challenge the boys in the UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night.”
Reopposing her on Thursday are several left in her wake that day including the second through fifth-place finishers: Salem bin Ghadayer trainee Down on Da Bayou (Super Saver)–a half-sister to UAE Guineas/Oaks heroine Polar River (Congrats), Nov. 7 Meydan maiden winner Rio Angie (Honor Code) for Doug Watson, fellow bin Suroor runner Dubai Love (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) who broke her maiden at Nottingham in October, and Silent Night (Swe) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), respectively.
Charlie Appleby sends out Chasing Dreams (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who saluted at first asking at HQ last April and doubled up in a Wolverhampton all-weather novice affair in October. She ran eighth to Final Song in the 1000 Guineas Trial, while stablemate Silent Wave (GB) (War Front), a winner at Goodwood in May, reported home fifth going 1200 metres over the Meydan sod on Jan. 9. The four-for-five Ascot Brass (Swe) (Juniper Tree {Ire}) makes her first start outside Sweden for Niels Petersen. She was 2 1/2 lengths the best in a 1400-metre Bro Park conditions race on Oct. 20. in her latest outing.
TATOCT co-topper Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a 2.6 million guineas purchase turned 2019 G2 Hungerford S. hero in August, is aiming for his first Meydan group victory in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort later on the card. Racing in the colours of Her Highness Sheikha Al Jalila Racing, the gelded 5-year-old ran ninth after a one-paced run in the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret on Oct. 6. Carrying four more pounds than his rivals, he faces Godolphin/Charlie Appleby stablemate Mythical Magic (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), who last visited the winner's circle in the Feb. 21 G2 Zabeel Mile, as well as MGSP Mubtasim (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}), successful in a Apr. 18 handicap going seven furlongs at Newmarket.
2018 G1 Criterium International victor Royal Meeting (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) lines up for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin. Off for almost a year following his win at Chantilly, he ran third in the G3 Moonga S. in Australia Oct. 19. and was unplaced in the G1 Cantala H. there on Nov. 2.
“He has settled in well since arriving from Australia and is working well,” Bin Suroor said. “The 1400m looks ideal for his comeback before, hopefully a crack at the Zabeel Mile and we hope he is a horse for Super Saturday and Dubai World Cup night.”
R3 Racing LLC and Calara Farms' Blitzkrieg (War Front), winner of the GIII San Francisco Mile S. at Golden Gate Fields in April, makes his first start in the desert. Seventh in the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 27, he was fourth coming off a lengthy layoff in New Year's Day's GII Joe Hernandez S. at Santa Anita for Doug O'Neill.
In the Listed Dubai Dash, Juddmonte's Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) attempts to redeem himself after an unplaced run in the G3 World Trophy S. on Sept. 21. Newly gelded for this appearance, he landed the Listed Scarbrough S. at Doncaster on Sept. 11. Shadwell's Group 3 winner Waady (Ire) (Approve {Ire}) scored in a local handicap on Nov. 7 before a runner-up performance in the Listed Garhoud Sprint on Dec. 5. The 8-year-old tired to fourth in the G3 Dubawi S. on Jan. 2. Reddam Racing's Prodigal Son (Square Eddie) makes his Meydan bow for trainer Doug O'Neill. A three-time winner Stateside, he saluted in a Dec. 29 allowance race at Santa Anita.
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