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Latest News

  • 15 December 2021
    Carnival horses out in force on quality Meydan card

    Racing at Meydan on Thursday features a Stakes race apiece for both the Purebred Arabians and the Thoroughbreds, the latter, the Listed Dubai Creek Mile the most valuable race on the card and attracting a field of 11, including last year’s winner, Thegreatcollection.

    Trained by Doug Watson, who also saddled Stunned to land this prize in 2018, Thegreatcollection will be ridden by Pat Cosgrave, as he was 12 months ago, when his victory in this kickstarted a season in which he performed with distinction throughout the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

  • 12 December 2021
    Abu Dhabi double for Fresu but Classic winners share limelight in the capital

    A pair of 1400m Classics with Prestige status, for 3yos, were the official co-highlights in the capital on Sunday, beginning with the Abu Dhabi Fillies’ Classic which was won stylishly by Mahmouda under Pat Cosgrave, continuing the great season being shared by Al Ajban Stables and trainer Abdallah Al Hammadi.

    Third on debut, over this 1400m here in Abu Dhabi, she was then second to Wadheha over 1200m at Sharjah and she fought out the finish here with that same rival, the pair two of only three runners in the capacity field of 16 who were ever really in contention.

  • 11 December 2021
    Previous course winners dominate best of Saturday’s Al Ain action

    A competitive seven race card in Al Ain on Saturday included a solitary Thoroughbred contest, a 1400m handicap which provided Miniaturist the perfect opportunity to further demonstrate his liking for the track, landing the spoils cosily under Bernardo Pinheiro.

    Content to stalk the early gallop, which appeared frantic, Pinheiro’s mount was almost left in front by default with 450m remaining but they kicked clear after another 150m and had the race in safekeeping entering the final 200m.

  • 10 December 2021
    Friday Jebel Ali doubles for Shadwell, Dawson & Bin Harmash

    Friday’s penultimate meeting of 2021 at Jebel Ali featured a pair of quality handicaps, contested by Dubai World Cup Carnival hopefuls and aspirants, the first, over 1400m, was dominated by Shadwell whose six runners provided the first three home, Almoreb coming out on top under Antonio Fresu.

    He is trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, as is runner-up Shajjy who led throughout most of the race with Doug Watson’s Fanaar taking third.

  • 10 December 2021
    Shadwell and Watson Meydan doubles highlighted by feature race success of classy Mubakker

    Racing at Meydan on Thursday evening was officially highlighted by a 1200m rated condition stakes which was won impressively by Mubakker, Dane O’Neill in the saddle for Doug Watson, celebrating a double, and Shadwell.

    A 5yo gelded son of Speightstown, he was having just his second local outing and since joining Watson, the first having been an excellent third on his dirt debut in a 1400m Meydan handicap in April.

  • 08 December 2021
    Grade 1 winner Hot Rod Charlie features among Carnival invitees from 17 countries

    Returning hero Lord Glitters also among stellar list of horses

    Grade I winner Hot Rod Charlie is among horses from 17 countries who have been invited to compete at the 18th edition of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, which gets underway on Thursday, January 13th.

  • 08 December 2021
    Two Classics and Thoroughbred carnival clues among Abu Dhabi highlights on Sunday

    Sunday’s six race card in Abu Dhabi may lack the panache of last week’s Jewel Crown fixture but does include both the Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic and the equivalent race for colts and geldings, both over 1400m, for 3yos, and afforded Prestige status.

    The ‘ladies go first’ with a capacity field of 16 declared for the Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic, including six debutantes and Wadheha, the only previous winner and most experienced runner in the field.

  • 08 December 2021
    Competitive Thoroughbred handicap among Saturday’s Al Ain attractions

    Seven races at Al Ain on Saturday, all offering AED70,000 in prize money so no obvious feature, including one Thoroughbred race, a 1400m handicap which has attracted a capacity field of 15 and looks wide open.

    Trained locally by Helal Alalawi, Iftitah will be having his third start for the trainer, having spent last season with Musabbeh Al Mheiri, but has not really fired in either outing this season.

  • 08 December 2021
    Quality over quantity in Friday’s Jebel Ali feature

    Racing up the famous Jebel Ali hill on Friday afternoon is highlighted by a good quality handicap over 1800m which has attracted a select field of just six, headed by Al Qaqaa, to be ridden by Dane O’Neill for Shadwell and Doug Watson.

    A 4yo gelded son of War Front, Watson’s charge arrived in the UAE with a solitary success to his name in the UK for William Haggas, in a 2400m Newmarket handicap in June 2020.

  • 08 December 2021
    Sprinters to take centre stage at Meydan on Thursday with three trainers targeting 1200m feature

    Racing at Meydan on Thursday evening is highlighted by a 1200m rated conditions stakes for which eight have been declared, the octet, unusually, actually representing just three trainers.

    Reigning champion Doug Watson saddles two perhaps headed by Shadwell’s Mubakker, the mount of Dane O’Neill and having just his second start since leaving the UK where he won thrice for Sir Michael Stoute.

  • 05 December 2021
    Lady Princess takes Jewel Crown with France dominating Sunday’s Abu Dhabi feature

    Arguably the biggest meeting of the whole season on the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club’s acclaimed turf surface, Sunday’s seven race fixture was highlighted by the 2200m AED5 million Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, totally dominated by challengers from France, Lady Princess claiming the spoils.

  • 04 December 2021
    Al Nabooda and Oertel enjoy Sharjah trebles before Omani raider lands featured GCC Cup

    Racing at Sharjah on Saturday was highlighted by the fourth edition of the GCC Cup, a 1700m conditions contest afforded Prestige status, carrying a prize fund of AED150,000 and won in a thrilling finish by Al Mustafiz, the race going to Oman as it had last season when it was staged in January.

  • 03 December 2021
    Brraq lands Al Ain feature to keep the prize at home on card Al Hammdi & Cosgrave celebrate trebles

    Racing at Al Ain on Friday, an all Purebred Arabian card, was highlighted by a trio of AED150,000 conditions races, the best of which was arguably over 1800m and in which class prevailed, Brraq landing the spoils under Adrie de Vries, the pair successfully conceding weight to all their 11 rivals.

    Trained on the Al Ain track by Jean-Claude Pecout, the 8yo was always travelling well just behind the early pace and sauntered into contention at the top of the straight, finally hitting the front passing the 200m pole and always seemingly holding the renewed challenge of Kerless Del Roc.

  • 02 December 2021
    Third Entisar for Al Mheiri after For The Top storms clear under Fresu

    Racing at Meydan on Thursday evening was highlighted by the biggest Thoroughbred race of the season to date at the UAE’s flagship racecourse, The Entisar, won impressively by For The Top, committed for home fully 700m out and staying on strongly for Antonio Fresu.

    Inaugurated in 2013, the 2000m Listed feature was won by subsequent Group One winner Special Fighter in 2015, the first of what is now three victories in the race for Musabbeh Al Mheiri who also saddled Military Law to claim the prize in 2018, also under Fresu.

  • 01 December 2021
    Messi’s absence means a new name guaranteed to land Jewel Crown riches

    Arguably the biggest meeting of the whole season on the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club’s acclaimed turf surface, Sunday’s seven race fixture is highlighted by the 2200m AED5 million Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, won last year by Belgium’s Messi who sadly misses a planned attempt to become the first dual winner of a race inaugurated in 2015 after being confirmed a non-runner on Thursday due to lameness.