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  • 02 March 2023
    Abu Dhabi five for O’Shea, four apiece for Al Nabooda & Oertel

    Over 1400m, the Group 2 Liwa Oasis was the Thursday highlight on the turf at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and was won in gritty fashion by AF Alajaj, a fourth homebred winner on the card for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda saddled by Ernst Oertel, all partnered by Tadhg O’Shea who was victorious in each of the first five races.

    Carrying a penalty and thus conceding weight to all his 13 rivals, the 6yo entire was always travelling well before hitting the front inside the final 275m and digging deep to cling on for a hard fought success. He has now won half of his 14 career starts.

  • 02 March 2023
    Friday is Derby Day in Al Ain

    Friday’s Al Ain card is another restricted to Purebred Arabians, seven races highlighted by the eighth running of the 1800m Al Ain Derby, a Prestige contest for 4yos foaled in the UAE and for which six have been declared with the unbeaten Fadwaan seemingly the one to beat.

  • 01 March 2023
    Quality Thursday card in the capital

    Over 1400m, the Group 2 Liwa Oasis is the Thursday highlight on the turf at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club with 14 due to face the starter, including the penalised AF Alajaj.

    Trained by Ernst Oertel for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, the homebred 6yo entire is seeking a seventh career success, on his 14th start.

  • 26 February 2023
    Jebel Ali Sunday a super one for O’Shea & Seemar

    Seven races at Jebel Ali on Sunday afternoon, highlighted by the Future Champions Cup, a 1400m conditions contest for 3yos, won impressively by debutant Southern Artist, completing a rapid double for Bhupat Seemar and a treble on the card for Tadhg O’Shea.

    Homebred by Fitri Hay, the Munnings colt always appeared to be travelling strongly under the Champion Jockey and the pair put the race to bed, in a few strides, entering the final 200m.

  • 25 February 2023
    Appleby back for another crack at Jebel Ali on Sunday

    Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby’s first ever Jebel Ali runner, Sovereign Prince, was never able to land a blow in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile 15 days ago but the handler will be hoping for better luck with his second, Modern Dancer, on Sunday.

    A homebred Kingman colt, he is set to face 10 rivals in the Future Champions Cup, a 1400m conditions race for 3yos and, if reproducing his turf form from Britain, is likely to hold serious claims under William Buick.

  • 24 February 2023
    Moonlight shines again to complete double in carnival’s fillies’ features

    Meydan Racecourse hosted the eighth fixture of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival on Friday, highlighted by the Group 2 Balanchine Stakes, a turf contest for fillies and mares over 1800m and won easily by With The Moonlight, a sixth consecutive Godolphin winner in the race and fifth in a row for Charlie Appleby.

  • 23 February 2023
    Moonlight appears likely shine again at carnival

    Meydan Racecourse hosts the eighth fixture of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival on Friday evening, undoubtedly highlighted by the Group 2 Balanchine Stakes, a turf contest for fillies and mares over 1800m and a race in which Godolphin runners have dominated in recent years, winning each of the last five renewals, six of the most seven recent editions and seven times in ten years.

  • 19 February 2023
    Meydan Racecourse Sunday feature landed in style by First Winter for Dawson & Bin Harmash

    Meydan Racecourse staged a third consecutive Sunday afternoon meeting this weekend, officially highlighted by a 2000m turf handicap which, on paper at least, looked competitive but, in reality, proved a relatively straightforward task for First Winter, once sent to the front with about 350m remaining by Ray Dawson never looking likely to be denied.

    Saddled by Ahmad bin Harmash for Sultan Ali, the 6yo Dubawi gelding was adding to a 1600m turf course victory a fortnight ago, his first local success and now has four wins to his name.

  • 18 February 2023
    Competitive afternoon action at Meydan Racecourse on Sunday

    Meydan Racecourse stages an eight-race card on Sunday, highlighted by a 2000m turf handicap due to be contested by the capacity filed of 14, the weights headed by Gentile Bellini, Bernardo Pinheiro in the saddle for Musabbeh Al Mheiri.

    A 7yo entire son of Dubawi, eight of his nine UAE outings have been on dirt, two at Jebel Ali and six here, including a 1600m victory on his third local start and seasonal debut at the beginning of November 2021. He did win his maiden, in Ireland, over 2000m on turf.

  • 17 February 2023
    Trebles for Appleby & Buick as Godolphin dominate seventh carnival card with four winners

    Meydan Racecourse hosted the seventh fixture of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival on Friday evening, seven races officially highlighted by the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, a 2810m turf contest in which Godolphin secured a tenth overall and seventh consecutive success, Siskany and William Buick delivering the goods for Charlie Appleby.

    Completing a treble on the card for the owners and doubles for jockey and trainer, the 5yo gelded son of Dubawi always appeared to be travelling strongly for Buick and once they were in front about 225m from home the result was never in doubt.

  • 17 February 2023
    First leg heroine seeks second Al Ain Marathon series success

    No less than 10 races to look forward to at Al Ain on Saturday with the featured second and middle leg of the Al Al Ain Marathon series the final contest on the card.

    A 4100m handicap, it has attracted a field of 13, including Al Mahbooba, victorious three weeks ago in the first leg of the series, a 3200m handicap.

    That was her second UAE start and for Doug Watson having previously been trained in the UK by former Champion Purebred Arabian Champion Trainer James Owen who still owns the 7yo mare as part of his racing club.

  • 16 February 2023
    HH President Cup Abu Dhabi double for Mullen

    The second, thus middle, of the biggest three meetings staged during the season on the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club turf, Thursday’s HH The President Cup card was highlighted by the 2200m AED 2,500,000 Purebred Arabian Group 1 HH The President Cup and the Al Asayl team were celebrating a famous victory after their Mujeeb landed the prize.

  • 16 February 2023
    Classy carnival card on Friday

    Meydan Racecourse hosts the seventh fixture of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival on Friday evening, seven races officially highlighted by the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, a 2810m turf contest in which Godolphin are seeking a tenth overall and seventh consecutive success.

    For them, Charlie Appleby has saddled four of the five most winners and is doubly represented with William Buick opting to partner Siskany, a course and distance winner in the Listed Al Khail Trophy on his only previous UAE appearance at the end of January last year.

  • 15 February 2023
    Reigning champions back to defend President Cup crowns

    One of the biggest meetings of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club’s season on Thursday, the HH The President Cup, card looks a fixture to savour with six races highlighted by the 2200m AED2,500,000 Purebred Arabian Group 1 HH The President Cup, won in each of the last two years by Somoud.

    Trained by Jean de Roualle for Yas Racing, the now 9yo homebred full horse has also won two editions of the Group 1 Emirates Championship over this same course and distance, seemingly his optimum conditions.

  • 12 February 2023
    Meydan Racecourse double for Barzalona highlighted by feature race success

    Meydan Racecourse hosted a six-race afternoon card on Sunday, officially highlighted by a 2410m turf handicap, won in great style by Deciduous, confidently partnered by Mickael Barzalona for Salem bin Ghadayer in the colours of Salem Rashid Ghadayer.

    The 4yo gelded son of Dubawi was seemingly cantering entering the straight but, inside the 400m marker, the gaps closed and Barzalona had to wait and edge out to make his challenge. Once the horse saw daylight he eased to the front, soon asserting and scoring comfortably.