Meydan

Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal) became just the fifth horse in history to win the first two rounds of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge in the same year. Stepping up to 1900 metres for this first time in this $350,000 main track event sponsored by Emaar, the chestnut was forced to cover extra ground when leaving from stall eight. Unable to save any real estate on the clubhouse turn, he avoided the kickback generated by pacesetters Secret Victory (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) along the fence and Bendoog (Gun Runner), to that foe's outside....

Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) added another tick in the win column with a stalk-and-pounce triumph in Meydan's Listed Jumeirah Classic Presented By Longines on Friday. Punching the breeze from his wide draw, he was content to let One Nation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) take the lead for the opening quarter mile. Eventually steered back through the field to get some cover, the hooded bay revved back up by the 500-metre mark and arrived with his run at the 300-metre pole. It took him until the 50-metre mark to collar One...

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...

Having celebrated a maiden-breaking victory in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs Dec. 23, MIMI KAKUSHI (f, 3, City of Light--Rite Moment, by Vicar) ran out a convincing 4 1/2-length winner of Friday's $150,000 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas at Meydan. The bay, fourth in her first two trips to the races over sprint distances in November and early December, jumped well enough for Mickael Barzalona, but was beaten for speed by Awasef (Cairo Prince) to the outside and was ultimately eased back and into the two path to...

The G2 Zabeel Mile Presented By ARN is the showpiece during Friday's Dubai World Cup Carnival card at Meydan. The $180,000 1600-metre event has attracted a field of eight, five of which carry the Godolphin blue. However, the most intriguing runner is Michael O'Callaghan's dual group winner I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). Back from a successful sojourn Down Under where he landed the G2 Shannon S. in 2020 and the G2 Ajax S. in 2021 for Peter & Paul Snowden, the 7-year-old is hoping to tally a win in...

3rd-Meydan, Cond, $60,000, 3yo, 7f, 1:24.51, fs. TIGER NATION (c, 3, Tamarkuz--Silken, by Out Of Place) rocketed straight to the vanguard while under pressure to his outside from Morning (Munnings). Striding out in a good rhythm, the dark bay's lead shrank to a neck as Morning inched closer, but he found another gear at the 350-metre mark and motored home a 1 1/4-length victor. Es-Unico (Brz) (War Secretary) produced an eye-catching turn of foot to take second, 5 1/4 lengths ahead of Sharp Army (Sharp Azteca). Morning faded to fourth....

Widely regarded as one of the best dual-purpose trainers in Ireland, Charles Byrnes has taken over the training of classy Flat stayer and 2021 G1 Irish St Leger scorer Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}), who could make his debut for his new connections in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on Mar. 25. Sonnyboyliston has not been seen since finishing second in a valuable handicap at Riyadh almost a year ago for Johnny Murtagh, who guided the gelding to six career wins, including an epic in the valuable Sky Bet Ebor before...

Mick Appleby will bid to begin the new year with a bang when stable star Raasel lines out in the Dubai Dash at Meydan. Appleby will run four horses in total at Meydan over the coming weeks and months, all of whom cost just over £60,000 combined, which illustrates the Northern England-based trainer's ability to sniff out a bargain at the sales.    In this week's Starfield Stud-sponsored Conversations Q&A, Appleby discusses his approach to sourcing talent, speaks out on the poor prize-money in Britain and how difficult it is...

7th-Meydan, AED82,500, Maiden, 2yo, 1600m, 1:38.92, ft. SHIRL'S BEE (c, 2, Bee Jersey--Shirl's Soul, by Perfect Soul {Ire}) was the subject of some pre-race buzz and turned in a tough debut effort to stamp himself one to watch in next year's 3-year-old events in Dubai. Nicely into stride from gate two, the homebred colt appeared set to challenge for the lead at the rail, but was taken hold of by Pat Dobbs and immediately began to overrace. More settled as they raced past the half-mile marker, Shirl's Bee faced a...

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....

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....

3rd-Meydan, Maiden, AED82,500, 11-25, 1400m, 1:24.56, ft. ROYAL DUBAI (FR), (c, 2, Seahenge-Sand Rose {Fr}, by Aussie Rules) was making his debut, and appears to be a colt with plenty of potential after polishing off his rivals by 6 3/4 lengths at Meydan on Friday. Scrubbed on to maintain his position as the gates flew, the colt was in a four-way battle for supremacy on the backstretch and established a one-length lead entering the far turn. Tackled by Magic Petition (Good Magic) in upper stretch, he easily shrugged off that...