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  • 01 February 2023
    Thursday’s Abu Dhabi highlight features a fascinating rematch between old rivals

    A good quality six race card at Abu Dhabi on Thursday evening is officially highlighted by the 1200m Group 3 Al Ruwais, won last year by Ashton Tourettes, saddled by Ibrahim Aseeel for Ziad Galadari, a combination who will be hoping to follow up with Gold Silver.

    Adrie de Vries takes the ride aboard the 7yo entire who has finished runner-up on both his Abu Dhabi outings this season, each over 1200m, with two lesser efforts on dirt also this campaign. His most recent success was here in the capital, on his final start last season, over 1600m.

  • 29 January 2023
    Marathon card highlighted by marathon contest

    A mammoth nine race card at Al Ain on Sunday was highlighted by the concluding 3200m handicap, The First Leg of the Al Ain Marathon Series which was won in style by dirt debutante Al Mahbooba, now trained by Doug Watson for her previous trainer James Owen.

    A dual winner in the UK for Owen, the Shadwell-bred 7yo mare has always appeared a complete and out stayer so these conditions clearly suited and Hitchcott always looked happy just behind the leaders before taking full control early in the straight.

  • 28 January 2023
    Honours even as seven jockey/trainer combinations share Jebel Ali spoils

    Seven races at Jebel Ali on Saturday afternoon were officially highlighted by a 1400m handicap, won in determined fashion by Chosen Mark, responding gallantly to the urgings of Antonio Fresu over the final 450m.

    The pair hit the front with about 200m remaining, when at least half of the eight runners held realistic chances but the 5yo gelded son of The Last Lion, saddled by Ahmed Al Shemaili, was not going to be denied, holding off all challengers for the Italian, in the silks of Shoaib Ahmed Sarfaraz.

  • 28 January 2023
    Marathon Series returns as stayers take Al Ain limelight

    A mammoth nine race card at Al Ain on Sunday is highlighted by the concluding 3200m handicap, The First Leg of the Al Ain Marathon Series for which 11 have been declared, the weights headed by Goshawke, one of four in the race due to be saddled by Abdallah Al Hammadi for Al Ajban Stables.

    Owner and trainer have enjoyed much success in the Al Ain Marathon Series as a whole but, perhaps surprisingly, only landed this leg, inaugurated in 2014, twice, the second time last year when Whistle landed the spoils under Jesus Rosales.

  • 27 January 2023
    Watson & Appleby both enjoy 1-2-3s on fourth carnival card at Meydan Racecourse

    Friday’s fourth meeting of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse was officially highlighted by the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes, over the same 1600m on dirt as the Godolphin Mile, and dominated this year by the three runners sent out by Doug Watson.

    Having stalked the early speed, Sam Hitchcott committed Prince Eiji for home about halfway up the straight and never looked likely to be reeled in by Pat Dobbs aboard stablemate Everfast. Adrie de Vries and stable companion Thegreatcollection ran on to take third.

  • 27 January 2023
    Plenty to look forward to at Jebel Ali on Saturday

    Seven races at Jebel Ali on Saturday afternoon, highlighted by a quality 1400m handicap for which eight have been declared, including the Doug Watson-trained previous course and distance winning pair Mayaadeen and Violent Justice.

    The former, an 8yo gelded son of Invincible Spirit, registered the latest of his five career victories as recently as the middle of November, his first 1600m success having previously only won at 1400m. Owned by Shadwell, he was then runner-up over this track and trip before a lesser effort at Meydan.

  • 26 January 2023
    Godolphin Mile aspirants on show in Firebreak Stakes on fourth carnival card at Meydan Racecourse

    It is the fourth fixture of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival on Friday, Meydan Racecourse staging a card of eight races, officially highlighted by the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes, over the same 1600m on dirt as the Group 2 Godolphin Mile and for which eight have been declared, three by Champion Trainer Bhupat Seemar for whom Secret Ambition won both races in 2021.

  • 23 January 2023
    Herholdt celebrates Sunday Meydan double

    Racing at Meydan on Sunday, seven non-carnival contests, had no obvious feature but did offer competitive fayre.

    Four AED 95,000 handicaps shared top billing, the first, over the same 2000m on dirt as the Dubai World Cup, was won in style by Grand Dubia probably never headed under Bernardo Pinheiro, celebrating a double, for Musabbeh Al Mheiri and former Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Rayhi.

    Equally valuable, a turf handicap over 1800m pretty much only concerned Zucchini who was probably never headed, riding for Ahmad bin Harmash and the trainer’s son, Hamdan Harmash.

  • 21 January 2023
    Meydan Racecourse to stage competitive seven races on Sunday

    Racing at Meydan on Sunday, a non-carnival meeting, is highlighted by a quartet of AED 95,000 handicaps, the one over 1800m on turf (race 5) perhaps taking centre stage.

    The weights are headed by Godolphin’s Sense Of Wisdom and Valyrian Steel, trained by Fawzi Nass for Victorious.

    A 4yo gelded son of Shamardal prepared by Charlie Appleby, the Godolphin contender has only had three career starts and has not added to his debut success over 1600m on the Newmarket July Course last June.

  • 21 January 2023
    Godolphin again dominate carnival action at Meydan Racecourse

    Friday’s main race of seven at the UAE’s iconic Meydan Racecourse was on turf for the 1600m Group 2 Zabeel Mile, in which class prevailed, Godolphin’s Master Of The Seas proving himself by far the best horse in the race.

    The now 5yo gelded son of Dubawi was confidently ridden by William Buick for Charlie Appleby.

    Buick said: "He has always been a very smart horse and, hopefully he can build on this through Super Saturday and then Dubai World Cup night.”

  • 20 January 2023
    Alalawi charge adds touch of class to Al Ain on Saturday

    Racing returns to Al Ain for the first time this year on Saturday with the traditional seven races, this meeting highlighted by a 2000m conditions contest for which eight have been declared.

    Helal Alalawi, who trains locally, appears to hold the strongest chance courtesy of RB Frynchh Dude who is, arguably, a class above his seven opponents.

    The mount of Antonio Fresu, the 7yo entire won the Al Ain Cup, a Prestige contest, over this course and distance on his penultimate start at the beginning of April last year.

  • 19 January 2023
    Fresu & O’Shea enjoy Abu Dhabi doubles with Somoud proving his class in big race prep

    Racing at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Thursday was officially highlighted by the Abu Dhabi Classics for both 4yo fillies and colts foaled in the UAE but the proven class on show was competing in HH The President Cup Prep, over the same 2200m course and distance as the Group One feature itself, won in each of the last two years by Somoud who repeated his 2021 victory in this.

  • 19 January 2023
    Zabeel Mile the undoubted highlight on third 2023 carnival card

    Meydan Racecourse stages the third meeting of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival on Friday evening, highlighted by the Group 2 Zabeel Mile which has attracted a quality field of eight, including no less than five Godolphin contenders, the owners seeking a fifth consecutive and seventh success since 2015 in the 1600m turf feature.

  • 18 January 2023
    Fascinating Thursday card on the Abu Dhabi turf

    The second 2023 Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club fixture on their esteemed turf track is officially highlighted by a pair of Classics for 4yos, both carrying Prestige status over 1400m, ably supported with proven quality performers in the 2200m prep for HH The President Cup, as well as the only Thoroughbred contest, a competitive 1600m handicap.

  • 15 January 2023
    Watson and Dobbs combine for a Sunday treble at Meydan Racecourse

    Racing at Meydan on Sunday, a non-carnival meeting, was highlighted by a pair of turf handicaps, the first of which, over 2000m, became a duel over the final 350m when Withering hit the front under Adrie de Vries, stalked by Pat Dobbs aboard Al Nayyir.

    The latter, a Godolphin-bred 5yo Dubawi gelding trained by Doug Watson for Elbashir Salem Elhrari, gained the initiative, winning for a third time this season, adding this to a 2000m dirt victory and a scintillating 2400m turf success, completing doubles on the card for jockey and trainer.