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In a dramatic finish of the Azizi Mina Handicap, leading trainer Doug Watson won his 600th race in the UAE when Cool Silk Partnership’s Midnight Sands (pictured below) won in the final yards by a short head over Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) alumnus Ambassadorial. The milestone comes 10 weeks after Watson made history by sweeping an entire card of six races—the first trainer to either sweep a card or win six races on one card in the UAE—on Nov. 7. Midnight Sands, admittedly one of Watson’s favourite horses, won his fourth race from five UAE starts and appears a star on the rise.

DUBAI (January 16, 2020)—Thursday’s six-race, $1.05 million Dubai World Cup Carnival card at Meydan Racecourse is highlighted by the Group 2 $250,000 Cape Verdi, a 1600m filly and mare grass affair named after Godolphin’s champion and 1000 Guineas (G1) winner. Thursday also features the inaugural running of the $175,000 Zabeel Turf (Listed), as well as a stellar 1600m dirt handicap with a global field, a 1600m turf handicap attracting Group 1 winners and a pair of sprint handicaps that may have Dubai World Cup night implications.

On Monday 6 January, 2020 the Emirates Racing Authority Stewards inquired into reports received from the Dubai Equine Forensic Unit, that the prohibited substance cobalt, above the permitted threshold, was detected in post-race urine samples taken from AF SOLF (AE) at Al Ain racecourse on Friday 22 November, 2019 after finishing 7th in the Wathba Stallions Cup (1600m) and LA ATAB (AE) at Abu Dhabi racecourse on Sunday 8 December, 2019 after finishing 13th in the Al Ajban Maiden (1200m).

DUBAI (January 8, 2020)—Thursday’s eight-race, $1.31 million Dubai World Cup Carnival card at Meydan Racecourse features the most exciting matchup of the UAE season thus far, as well as the return of one of the top-rated turf horses in the world. Two Group 2 affairs top the night, while the classic generation on both surfaces will get its chance to shine and Group 1 Purebred Arabians clash to kick off the evening. A trio of super-competitive handicaps add depth to the night and the entirety of the meeting is sponsored by pillar partner Longines.

DUBAI (January 5, 2020)—Dubai Racing Club invites media members to apply for 2020 Dubai World Cup accreditation. The $35 million race day—the richest in the world—will take place on Saturday, March 28, at Meydan Racecourse and marks the historic 25th edition. Early applications encouraged.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Applicants should upload 1MB jpg scans of their passport photo page and a photograph. UAE residents will also require 1MB jpg scans of their Emirates ID (front and back) and valid UAE visa scans.

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Treble for Satish Seemar; Doubles for Mickael Barzalona and Tadhg O'Shea

DUBAI (January 4, 2020)—Racing at Meydan on Saturday may not have been a Dubai World Cup Carnival card, but it was surely full of DWC Carnival aspirants and winners worth following into the ultra-valuable international extravaganza (night two of the DWC Carnival is Thursday, Jan. 9). Four handicaps open to horses just below the required handicap mark of 90 were among the seven fixtures, highlighted by the District One Villa Award handicap.

DUBAI (January 3, 2020)—Racing at Meydan on Saturday may not be a Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting, but does feature numerous DWC Carnival aspirants throughout the seven-race card. The evening is sponsored in its entirety by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City—District One. Four of the handicaps, three on turf, are open to horses rated 89, which is one pound below the required mark for the carnival. The fifth race, a 2000m turf handicap (District One Villa Award), is arguably the highlight on what really is a cracking card.