Ed Marnane
Dubai Kahayla Classic
The Group 1 Arabian showpiece, the traditional curtain raiser, kicks off a cracking day of racing at Meydan and it is a competitive renewal with runners from France, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Last year’s winner, Saudi Arabian champion Tilal Al Khalediah is back to defend his crown and will be hard to beat. Rated 129, the seven-year-old arrives in Meydan at the top of his game, winning the Obaiyah Arabian Classic (Group 1) for a third successive year at Riyadh last month.
Asfan Al Khalediah, third in last year’s race, gives Saudi Arabia a strong hand. Winner of 16 of his 19 races, he is a multiple Group 1 winner and narrowly defeated Tilal Al Khalediah with the help of the stewards in February.
He demands plenty of respect from a good draw. Unleashed, one of seven local trained Arabians, has thrived this season, winning twice at Meydan and impressed when making all in the Al Maktoum Challenge R2 (Group 1).
The draw (15) hasn’t been kind and Richard Mullen’s mount will find it hard to dominate his rivals jumping from the second widest gate. Ray Dawson has enjoyed a terrific season and enjoyed a Group 1 success aboard the progressive Mubeed in the final leg of the Al Maktoum Challenge, over the same course and distance. He is a strong stayer and is one to consider.
Rb Malexis, representing France, is a multiple winner on dirt in the USA, the most recent when winning the Grade 1 UAE President Cup in Gulfstream Park four months ago. She created history in the America’s biggest Arabian race by becoming the first filly to win the race, prevailing in a three-way photo.
Now under the care of Thomas Demeaulte, she has been sold to Abu Dhabi Racing and on the official figures will need to raise her game on her Meydan debut.
She has an awkward gate to overcome, as well. First Classs, the 2022 Dubai Kahayla Classic winner, returned from a spell in the wilderness, thanks to his victory in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Gold Cup, before posting another solid effort behind Hm Alchahine in the Emirates Championship, both Group 1 races.
Doug Watson’s eight-year-old could reward each-way backers at decent odds.
Dubai Gold Cup
A field of 10 goes to post for the staying showpiece and last year’s winning trainer Aidan O’Brien has excellent prospects of winning the prize with Continuous, winner of the 2023 St Leger and the mount of Dylan Brown McMonagle.
He ran well when a staying-on third in the Red Sea Turf Handicap and is entitled to be sharper for the race. He is suited by the conditions and is bidding to give O’Brien and Coolmore a third successive Dubai Gold Cup.
Al Nayyir, last year’s runner-up, returns for another a crack at the race over a track he has enjoyed plenty of success. He was well held in the Red Sea Turf Handicap under top weight on the back of a break, having failed to quicken when beaten just over six lengths by the shock Japanese winner Byzantine Dream.
He can’t be discounted with the benefit of that run in Riyadh and is proven under the conditions.
Epic Poet, a winner at Meydan earlier in the year, wasn’t beaten far in the Red Sea Turf Handicap. He endured a troubled passage and with a clear run would have gone close.
David O’Meara’s smart stayer is a strong traveller and has a turn of foot. He demands respect.
Double Major, a smart stayer with Group 1 winning form, carries the hopes of France and shaped nicely in minor event at Chantilly last month, his comeback after a break. He should be thereabouts if he proves as effective at Meydan.
Trawlerman, one of three runners representing Godolphin who have won the race three times, was good third in last year’s race and is a consistent performer in top staying races.
The son of Golden Horn, the mount of William Buick, has a smart record fresh, so a 168-day break isn’t a negative. He is clearly one to consider in an open race.
Dubai Future, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, caused a surprise when winning the Nad Al Sheba Trophy, a key local trial. He will need to further improvement stepping up in grade and makes little appeal of giving his trainer a first win since Cavalryman won the 2013 renewal. Term Of Endearment, now under the care of William Haggas, enjoyed a successful campaign last year, winning a Group 2 and 3 at Goodwood and York for Henry de Bromhead.
She was sold at Tattersalls December Sale and returns after a six month break. This looks the stiffest task of her career to date and hard to make a case for the daughter of Sea The Moon in this grade off a break.
Godolphin Mile
The most competitive race on the card, featuring a big field of 14, several trained overseas who are taking on a strong local challenge, and luck in running will be critical.
Doug O’Neill sent out last year’s winner and returns with Raging Torrent, a Grade 1 winner on his most recent appearance. He has the services of Frankie Dettori and the Italian rider is the most successful jockey in the history of the race with seven wins.
The four-year-old is less exposed than his 12 rivals and is open to further progress.
Chilean-bred Mufasa, winner of three of his four races since arriving in the US, is an exciting new recruit for Bhupat Seemar. He will attempt to give his new owners RRR Racing their second win in three years.
He defeated the smart White Abarrio, the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, on his final start in the Mr Prospector Stakes, the same race Coal Front won en-route to Godolphin Mile glory winner five years ago.
Doug Watson has a fine record in the Godolphin Mile, winning the race three times in the last decade and runs Oasis Boy, the mount of Christophe Soumillon.
A son of Dubai Triple Crown winner Asiatic Boy, he is a winner over the track and posted his best effort in Dubai when caught close home by Fort Payne in the Burj Nahaar.
It’s hard to ignore the claims of the Nicolas Caullery-trained pair Fort Payne and King Gold. The French-bred pair are effective under the conditions, with preference for the last named under Adrie de Vries. He is very unexposed on dirt and showed a determined attitude to upset Laurel River in the Firebreak Stakes.
Of the rest, the French-trained No Lunch is an interesting runner on his Meydan dirt debut. He is highly progressive and racked up a hat-trick of wins at Chantilly last month. Being by Dubawi, he’s bred for the conditions but has to overcome a wide draw, not ideal in a competitive race taking on seasoned and battle-hardened dirt milers.
Al Quoz Sprint
Southern Hemisphere-bred sprinters have a good record in the race and the Australian-bred Howdeepisyourlove, representing Hong Kong, holds leading claims.
Trained by John Size, he has run third behind Ka Ying Rising, the world’s top sprinter, at Group 1 level in his last two runs at Sha Tin. He has the assistance of James McDonald and should go close to giving the in-form Size his first win at the fourth attempt in the Emirates.
Believing, bought by Coolmore at the Tattersalls December Sale, will be popular on her seasonal debut for George Boughey. It’s hard to fault her record and only a Group 1 victory is missing from her illustrious CV. This looks a good opportunity to make the breakthrough at the highest level and she has the services of William Buick, the leading rider at Meydan this year.
West Acre, the sole three-year-old in the field, has blossomed since arriving in Dubai and impressed winning in a track-record time in the Blue Point Stakes before following up in the Nad Al Shea Turf Sprint. He’s a progressive sprinter and possesses an electric turn of foot.
Audience, the highest rated runner in the race, returns after his winter break and John and Thady Gosden’s six-year-old can boast Group 1 success, winning the Lockinge Stakes, over a mile, at Newbury 10 months ago.
A confirmed-front runner, he could be hard to catch if allowed dominate as he’s a talented performer on his day, albeit has often disappointed many times.
Graham Motion’s Isivunguvungu, owned by Hollywood Racing, is a two-time Grade 1 winning sprinter that holds each-way claims at big odds. He shaped nicely in his prep over an inadequate distance at Tampa Bay Downs and South Africa has had success in the race.
Regional, a Group 1 winner sprinter at Haydock in September 2023 has an outstanding record off break, winning on his seasonal debut at two, three and five. He showed a decent level of ability last year, although he failed to get his head in front when restricted to just three appearances. He can’t be overlooked in a competitive event.
Local sprinters historically have largely struggled in the Al Quoz Sprint, as only three winners have kept the prize at home since the race was switched to Dubai World night in 2010 to coincide with the opening of Meydan.
Hopes rest with Marbaan, trained by Michael Costa and the lone UAE-trained runner. He comes here at the top of his game, building on an encouraging comeback at Abu Dhabi when winning the Al Fahidi Fort and the Ras Al Khor, both at Meydan.
He hasn’t raced over 1200m for almost two years and will need to take a big step forward to make an impression in this grade.
UAE Derby
In recent years Japan has dominated the race, winning the last three renewals and are responsible for four of the nine runners in this year’s race.
Shin Emperor failed to see off the late challenge of Golden Vekoma in the Saudi Derby, having tried to lead all the way in the 1600m event and given the manner he faded in the closing stages, the step up in distance is an obvious concern.
The Japan trio, Don In The Wood, Admire Daytona and Dagon, finished third, fourth and fifth respectively in the Hyacinth Stakes (Listed) behind Luxor Café. The winner gave the form a timely boost on Saturday when bolting up the Fukuryu Stakes and setting up a possible trip to Churchill Downs for a tilt at the Kentucky Derby.
Don In The Mood is fancied to finish ahead of Admire Daytona and Dagon, once again, on Saturday, as he had a wide trip in the Hyacinth Stakes and is open to improvement going up to 1900m.
Flood Zone, winner of the Gotham Stakes (Grade 3), represents the USA and created a big impressed when defeating Sand Devil and Garamond at Aqueduct, his first run for Brad Cox. Acquired privately by Wathnan Racing after winning a maiden at Gulfstream Park, he is an exciting prospect and holds strong claims.
Heart Of Honor, trained by Jamie Osborne, has progressed since switched to dirt at Meydan, winning two of his four races. He has been unlucky in the UAE 2000 Guineas and Al Bastikiya, twice undone by slow starts.
The application of first-time blinkers should help him focus early and he should go well, as he is a strong stayer and I can’t knock his attitude.
Osborne sent out 2014 UAE Derby hero Toast Of New York. Queen Azteca, winner of the UAE Oaks, is suited by the conditions and is bidding to become the first filly to win the UAE Derby since Godolphin’s Khawlah landed the 2011 renewal. She’s hard to fancy in this grade and readily dismissed.
Galactic Star, surprise winner of the Al Bastikiya Stakes, is improving and can’t be ruled out, representing a top trainer/jockey combination.
Dubai Golden Shaheen
Top US dirt sprinter Straight No Chaser is fancied to deny Tuz, UAE’s champion sprinter, back-to-back wins in a race American horses have an outstanding record, winning it no less than 13 times since the race attained Group 1 status in 2002.
The selection, trained by Dan Blacker, comes here at the top of his game, racking up a hat-trick of wins, the latest when slamming his 11 rivals in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint. The son of Speighster, who is blessed with early pace and a powerful finish, can land another major prize in the Middle East.
Bhupat Seemar’s Tuz, now seven, hasn’t lost any of his enthusiasm and remains a formidable sprinter at his beloved Meydan, a venue he has won eight of his 15 starts and hasn’t been beaten since March 2023.
Tuz is trying to become the oldest winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen and join Caller One and Mind Your Biscuits as back-to-back winners.
At bigger prices, Nakatomi holds each-way claims for US-based trainer Wesley Ward. In last year’s renewal, he broke awkwardly, lost position and got well behind before staying-on late to finish a never-nearer third.
He is a smart sprinter and impressed when winning the Vanderbilt Handicap (Grade 1) at Saratoga last July. He is a frustrating horse for connections having disappointed many times but he could be the horse to take advantage of a potential pace meltdown, which is possible with Tuz and Straight No Chaser likely to dominate from the front.
Of the others, Super Chow, a multiple winner on dirt in the USA, is one to consider. Trained in Florida by Jorge Delgado, he warmed up for his trip to the Middle East by winning the Listed Gulfstream Park Sprint under a change of tactics. He was ridden patiently before being delivered fast and late to nail Concrete Glory close home, clocking a fast time.
Japan’s Remake, the 2023 Riyadh Dirt Sprint winner, is contesting the Dubai Golden Shaheen for third year in a row. He was soundly beaten in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint six weeks ago and no reason why he can turn the form round.
Dubai Turf
Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior is a warm favourite and clearly the horse to beat, six weeks after his heart-breaking loss to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup, his first defeat in two-and-half years.
Winner of 18 of his 24 races, 10 at Group 1 level, he is unbeaten in Dubai having won the Jebel Hatta, over the same course and distance, last December.
It’s an obvious concern Romantic Warrior had a very hard race in Riyadh and at very skinny odds, I am happy to take him on. Japan runners command respect in Dubai and Soul Rush spearheads their four-pronged assault, the highest-rated of the quartet.
Impressive winner of the Mile Championship, in Tokyo, last November, he was narrowly beaten in his prep, the Nakayama Kinen, last month.
Liberty Island, who swept the 2023 Triple Tiara Crown series, has run well at Meydan, finishing a good third in the Sheema Classic 12 months. She holds leading claims and won’t be far away.
Brede Weg, a lightly raced daughter of Lord Kanaloa, sire of outstanding 2019 Dubai Turf heroine Almond Eye, wasn’t far behind Soul Rush in the Mile Championship. She is unexposed and remains open to improvement on just ninth start of her career.
It is hard to make a case for Meisho Tabaru, the final Japanese runner. He has been soundly beaten in two runs since winning at Group 2 level last September and is easy to oppose.
Charlie Appleby, 0-7 in the Dubai Turf, runs the globe-trotting Nations Pride, winner of three of his four runs at Meydan and third behind Lord North in the 2023 renewal. The Godolphin-owned homebred holds minor each-way claims. He will appreciate a strong pace.
Last year’s winner, Facteur Cheval, representing France, will enjoy being back on turf having struggled badly in the Saudi Cup, trailing in a remote seventh behind Forever Young. If you can forgive that dull effort, he can’t be discounted at big odds.
Dubai Sheema Classic
This year’s race is a cracking renewal, attracting a strong international cast and progressive French gelding Calandagan is the favourite.
Trained by Francois-Henri Graffard, he thrived last year and created a big impression at Royal Ascot, crushing his rivals in the Hardwicke Stakes. Stepped up to Group 1 level, he wasn’t beaten far behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte, before rounding off the year when an unlucky second in the Champion Stakes. This has been his target all winter and he pleased connections in a racecourse gallop at Saint-Cloud last month.
Last year’s winner, Rebel’s Romance, a Grade/Group 1 winner in five countries, is back to defend his crown and is trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, the most successful owners in the history of the race with seven wins. Now seven, the oldest horse in the field, he could be vulnerable to a younger horse and is too short price to put up.
Shin Emperor was given a fine front-running when winning the Neom Turf Cup, clearly enjoying the quick ground and switch to positive tactics. He hails from a yard that has a remarkable strike-rate in the Middle East and is one for the shortlist.
Danon Decile, shock winner of the Japan Cup last year, showed his wellbeing when winning the American Jockey Club Cup last time. He’s another Japanese raider that warrants respect, along with Japan Cup fourth Cervina, the only filly in the field and winner of half of her eight races.
Durezza, the fourth and final Japanese runner, never threatened behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte Stakes. He returned to his best back on home soil when dead-heating for second with Shin Emperor in the Japan Cup. He has an each-way shout at decent odds in an open-looking race.
Giavellotto, trained by Marco Botti, rounded off 2024 by winning the Hong Kong Vase, overcoming a troubled passage under Oisin Murphy. He possesses a sharp turn of foot, is effective on the world stage and shouldn’t be underestimated from a yard that has enjoyed big-race success in the Emirates.
Dubai World Cup
It’s hard to see past Forever Young, gallant winner of the Saudi Cup following an epic battle with Romantic Warrior. He’s undefeated in the Middle East and back in the UAE, 12 months after winning the UAE Derby.
It is a worry his hard race may have left a mark and he only has had six weeks to recover. That said, he is a tough colt and his determined attitude is his greatest asset.
Bhupat Seemar suffered a big blow after last year’s impressive winner Laurel River was ruled out of the race last month, but he has two runners — Imperial Emperor and Walk On Stars — that hold obvious claims of giving him back-to-back wins.
Preference is for Imperial Emperor, the choice of stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea and Forever Young’s biggest threat. He has improved since joining Seemar and switching to dirt, winning three of his four races at Meydan.
He impressed winning the Al Maktoum Classic, over the same course and distance, the key local prep. By Dubawi, he defied the widest gate in the 15-runner event and readily quickened clear, crossing the line nearly nine lengths ahead of stable companion Artorius. He’s clearly thriving at present and will be thereabouts.
Seemar has booked Mickael Barzalona, a brilliant jockey on dirt at Meydan, to ride Walk On Stars, winner of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge (made all) when holding off the challenge of Imperial Emperor.
Walk On Stars flopped in the Saudi Cup and is on a retrieving mission back on home soil. However, he was found to have an infection in the aftermath of the Saudi Cup and has six weeks to make a full recovery. He can’t be ruled out over a track he has proved highly effective.
Japan’s Ushba Tesoro, winner of the 2023 Dubai World Cup, is trying to emulate Prince Bishop, the last eight-year-old to win the Dubai World Cup 10 years ago. He was well held when finishing third in the Saudi Cup, beaten 11 lengths. He isn’t the force of old and is hard to fancy.