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 week's entries:
2nd-Meydan, AED82,500 ($22,464), 2yo, f, 1200m
A field of 10 American-bred juvenile fillies heads to the gate in the first Thoroughbred race on Friday's program. Last year's leading trainer Bhupat Seemar sends out MISCHIEVOUS AGE (Into Mischief) for prominent owner Mrs. Fitri Hay, who paid the equivalent of $437,533 for the Jan. 18 foal at last year's inaugural Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale held during World Cup week. Also a $45,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling, the bay was bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson and is out of their crack turf sprinter Ageless (Successful Appeal), a two-time and track record-setting winner of the GIII Royal North S. at Woodbine and six-time stakes winner overall. Antonio Fresu has the call.
Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) is the first local starter for her first-crop sire (by Quality Road) and is out of the dual Grade II winner Rite Moment (Vicar), also the dam of MSW Moment Is Right (Medaglia d'Oro) and SW Laudation (Congrats). A $180,000 graduate of last year's Fasig-Tipton July sale, the bay fetched $250,000 at the auction house's Midlantic sale this past May.
Bijjlee (War Front) is the first foal to the races from Dancing Rags (Union Rags), winner of the 2016 GI Darley Alcibiades S. A $170,000 acquisition by Grove Stud at KEESEP last fall, Bijjlee was hammered down to Satish Seemar for 220,000gns ($300,388) at this year's Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale (video). Dancing Rags is a half-sister to MGSW/GISP Coup de Grace (Tapit), while the filly's third dam is champion and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Jewel Princess (Key to the Mint).
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