By Alan Carasso
In this series, we will have a look at first-time starters entered for age-restricted maiden races on the week's main live program at Meydan Racecourse, focusing specifically on pedigree and/or performance in sales ring, both domestic and abroad. With the exception of Thursday, Dec. 1, Super Saturday, Mar. 4, and Dubai World Cup night Mar. 25, the main meeting at Meydan takes place on Fridays. Six meetings are to be staged at the UAE's flagship racecourse prior to the start of the Dubai World Cup Carnival Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Nine Carnival cards are programmed from January through March. Here is a look at this this Friday's entries:
7th-Meydan, AED82,500 ($22,464), Maiden, 2yo, 1600m
The final pre-Carnival meeting at Meydan concludes with this intriguing 14-runner affair, nine of which are making their first trip to the races.
Much of the focus is liable to fall on SHARAR (c, 2, Gun Runner–Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado), one of three in the race for trainer Fawzi Nass. Bred by Runnymede Farm & Catesby Clay, the Apr. 2 foal is a half-brother to Eclipse Award and five-times turf Grade I winner Lady Eli (Divine Park) and Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex), also a two-time Grade III winner on the grass. Eddie Woods's Quarter Pole Enterprises paid $250,000 for the colt at last year's Keeneland September Sale before he blossomed into a $600,000 OBS March juvenile (:21 3/5). Pat Cosgrave rides from gate one.
Jassar (Blame), one of two entrants from the Doug Watson barn, has the pedigree to succeed in these environs, as his 'TDN Rising Star' half-sister Polar River (Congrats) won the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas and G3 UAE Oaks before finishing runner-up in the G2 UAE Derby in 2016. The bay is also kin to Down On Da Bayou (Super Saver), who won the UAE Oaks two seasons ago. Jassar was a $160,000 KEESEP grad last fall and was bought back for $300,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale before hammering for $200,000 at that auction house's Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale this past May (:10 3/5).
Charles Fipke's Shirl's Bee (Bee Jersey), a half-brother to MSP Spikes Shirl (Speightstown), is out of an unraced full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare upsetter Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}), whose 'TDN Rising Star' son Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) won this year's GI Maker's Mark Mile and was the recent runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Armavir (Runhappy), who cost $62,000 at KEESEP, is out of a half-sister to SW & GSP Abby's Angel (Touch Gold), the dam of UAE Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed dirt sprinter Comicas (Distorted Humor).
Click here for the field (12:30 p.m. ET).
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