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Latest News

  • 22 January 2022
    Sprinters to take centre stage in Abu Dhabi on Monday

    Monday’s Abu Dhabi meeting is highlighted by the 1200m Group 3 Al Ruwais for which 11 have been declared including Elise Jeanne’s stable stalwart MH Rahal, the mount of Richard Mullen.

    Now an 8yo, the horse has been a great servant to his trainer and owner/breeder Mansoor Khalifa Sultan bin Habtoor since his debut third in early November 2017 at Abu Dhabi and losing his maiden tag a fortnight later on the dirt at Sharjah.

  • 21 January 2022
    Carnival treble at Meydan for Bin Suroor as Godolphin dominate with five winners

    Friday’s second meeting of the 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival featured two Group Two turf highlights, the Al Fahidi Fort and Al Rashidiya.

    Over 1800m, the Group 2 Al Rashidiya was won in style by Desert Fire, spearheading a Godolphin 1-2-3 under Hector Crouch for Saeed bin Suroor with the pair chased home by Charlie Appleby duo Royal Fleet and Art Du Val.

  • 21 January 2022
    Carnival aspirants get their chance to sign in Sunday’s Meydan feature

    Racing at Meydan on Sunday, a non-Dubai World Cup Carnival fixture, is highlighted by a 1600m turf handicap in which at least half the field must have realistic claims of a carnival berth if producing a good performance here.

    The weights are headed by Franz Kafka, the mount of James Doyle for Simon Crisford and, with an official rating of 95, already qualified for the carnival.

  • 20 January 2022
    Saturday’s Al Ain card highlighted by interesting conditions contest

    Racing at Al Ain on Saturday is highlighted by a 2000m conditions race for which ten have been declared, including Jugurtha De Monlau who has a lofty official rating of 105 suggesting he could be the one to beat.

    To be ridden by Fernando Jara, Yas Racing’s 6yo is trained by Jean-Claude Pecout and will be having just his fourth local outing having made his UAE debut on this weekend last year when third at Abu Dhabi in the HH The President Cup Prep.

  • 20 January 2022
    Land Of Legends seeking defend Al Fahidi Fort crown at Meydan

    Friday’s second meeting of the 2022 Dubai World Carnival at Meydah is highlighted by a pair of Group Two turf features with, predictably, Godolphin strongly represented in both.

    Their blue silks were carried to victory in the 1400m Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort last year by Land Of Legends and Frankie Dettori for Saeed bin Suroor. They will be hoping to repeat that success and are joined in the field by stable companion Storm Damage, the mount of Hector Crouch.

  • 17 January 2022
    Doubles for Fresu and Al Hadhrami before Mohammed opens seasonal account in Thoroughbred highlight

    Racing in Abu Dhabi on Monday was arguably highlighted by the finale and only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 2400m handicap, run at a frantic gallop which ultimately suited Celestial Spheres.

    He was settled in third, at the head of the main pack, with Autumn Pride and Terrain locking horns out in front until the latter waved the white flag with about 1100m remaining.

    Autumn Pride kept going though and was only caught by the winner in the final 300m but galloped on gamely to hold second.

  • 16 January 2022
    Whistle springs a surprise in Al Ain Marathon feature

    The First Leg of the Al Ain Marathon Series, a 3200m handicap, was the highlight of racing in Al Ain on Sunday and won, unsurprisingly for Al Ajban Stables by Abdallah Al Hammadi.

    However, the identity of the winner was arguably a surprise because the victorious Whistle probably appeared the least likely to land the prize from connections’ four runners.

    However, as it transpired, he was literally left to fly the lime green flag alone with his trio of stable companions filling the last three places.

  • 15 January 2022
    Prevent impresses in Jebel Ali feature on day course celebrates 30th anniversary

    Saturday’s first Jebel Ali fixture of 2022 was officially highlighted by a handicap over 1800m won in taking fashion by Prevent, Ray Dawson in the saddle for owner Ahmad Ghalita Almheiri and trainer Ahmad bin Harmash.

    Settled in about fourth by Dawson, the 7yo Poet’s Voice gelding started to creep closer early in the long straight before snatching the initiative about 300m out. They quickened clear and never appeared in danger of being caught.

  • 14 January 2022
    Golden Goal & RB Rich Lyke Me land opening rounds of Maktoum Challenge as carnival gets underway at Meydan

    Friday’s opening card of the 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival was highlighted by the first rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge, both over 1600m on the Meydan dirt track with pride of place going to the Thoroughbred version, won by Golden Goal, winning on the opening night of the carnival for the second consecutive year.

    He actually established a 1400m dirt track record on the opening night last year, when it was a week later, and this was a career best effort under Sam Hitchcott, sporting the silks of Dale Brennan for Doug Watson to take the Thoroughbred Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1.

  • 14 January 2022
    Thoroughbreds again highlight racing in the capital

    Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club stages a six-race card on Monday with the finale and only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 2400m handicap, arguably the best race on the card.

    With the Bhupat Seemar team at Zabeel Stables in flying form, his Al Watan has to be of great interest under Tadhg O’Shea. A 4yo Dubawi gelding, he arrives here a maiden after seven starts, three locally and will be having his first turf outing after three dirt appearances in the UAE.

  • 14 January 2022
    Opening round of Marathon Series highlights Al Ain’s Sunday card

    Racing in Al Ain on Sunday is highlighted by the First Leg of the Al Ain Marathon Series, a 3200m handicap for which eight have been declared including a quartet for Abdallah Al Hammadi and Al Ajban Stables.

    Of the four, Pat Cosgrave rides top weight and 11yo Balad Al Reef, a regular in these contests but without a win since landing the 4100m in the second round of the series in February 2020.

    He did appear in good heart though on his one appearance this season, staying on well over an inadequate 1700m at Sharjah at the beginning of December.

  • 13 January 2022
    Carnival aspirants contest feature as Jebel Ali prepare for anniversary celebrations

    With the racecourse’s Pearl (30th) anniversary approaching, Jebel Ali stage a seven-race card on Saturday, highlighted by a handicap over 1800m in which those at the head of the weights will be hoping to advertise their Dubai World Cup Carnival claims.

    Top weight Tenbury Wells is actually already qualified for the carnival and is one of two in the race due to be saddled by Salem bin Ghadayer for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

  • 13 January 2022
    Quality and competitive card to kick off 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan

    The eagerly awaited 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival gets underway at Meydan on Friday with a quality seven race card, highlighted by the 1600m dirt opening rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

    The fixture kicks off with the Purebred Arabian Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 for which eight have been declared, including the two most recent winner, RB Money To Burn and Brraq.

    Ridden last year by Adrie de Vries for Jean-Claude Pecout and Yas Racing, after winning this, Brraq was then runner-up in the 1900m second round before winning the 2000m third leg.

  • 10 January 2022
    Doubles for O’Shea, Oertel & Al Nabooda before Seemar lands Abu Dhabi highlight

    Monday’s meeting at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club was arguably highlighted by the finale and only Thoroughbred contest, a 1400m handicap which went to Bhupat Seemar’s Ranchero, the mount of Pat Cosgrave for Diarmuid Clohessy.

    A first UAE winner for the owner, at just the second attempt with the only horse to have raced for him locally, the 4yo Kodiac colt was doubling his career tally, on his sixth start, having won a 1700m novice stakes in the Godolphin silks, for John & Thady Gosden ay Nottingham last May.

  • 09 January 2022
    Dawson celebrates UAE return with Sharjah feature race victory

    Sunday’s fixture at Sharjah Longines Racecourse was officially highlighted by the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup, a 1200m handicap with Prestige status and restricted to horses foaled in the UAE, won by JAP Aneed.

    Ray Dawson, returning to the saddle for the first time this year on the card, was aboard for Irfan Ellahi and Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum who also bred the 6yo entire.