Tag: Festive Friday

Star Guitar Filly Plays A Merry Tune At Meydan

3rd-Meydan, AED210,000, Cond., 12-22, 1400m, 1:24.64, ft.
MANAMA GOLD (f, 2, Star Guitar–Charged Cotton, by Dehere), who attracted plenty of hype prior to this first start, ran to her billing and emerged a 2 1/2 length winner at Meydan. Kept off the fence as Frost At Dawn (Frosted) made the running, the Louisiana-bred was keen to go on rounding the bend and Adrie de Vries had his hands full keeping her content. She tackled the leader at the head of the straight, and ground determinedly past her 250 metres from home, before going on to win a shade cozily. It was the second win on the card for de Vries. “This is a bit what I expected,” said the winning jockey. “She trialled really well; trained on from then, got more professional and she's a very clever filly. She was having a nice look at the winning post. I always like it when a horse is having a look around, it often means there's a bit left in the tank.” Originally sold for $100,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, the chestnut caught the eye of Oliver St Lawrence after breezing a furlong in :10 1/5, and was knocked down for $200,000 out of the OBS April Sale. Charged Cotton, who won the All Brandy S. at Laurel, has already foaled the stakes-placed Sethamee Street (Street Sense), and multiple stakes winner Ova Charged (Star Guitar), who was second in the GIII Victory Ride S. at Belmont Park. Her latest is a weanling filly by Not This Time. Sales history: $100,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; and $200,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, AED126,000. Click for the ERA chart & video.
O/T-Fawzi Abdulla Nass. B-Brittlyn, Inc. (LA). *1ST-TIME STARTER.

 

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Inaugural Festive Friday Draws International Cast At Meydan

Friday marks the first edition of the Festive Friday card at Meydan, featuring two group races, three listed races and AED4.5 million in prize-money across the nine-race stand.

Returning to the scene of his 2023 G2 Godolphin Mile victory is Isolate (Mark Valeski), who will step out in the AED1-million G2 Al Maktoum Mile for trainer Doug Watson. Tyler Gaffalione will fly in for the race from the States.

“That was a great day and he's moving better this year than he did last year,” said trainer Doug Watson, who also runs Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), winner of this race in 2022. “They do a nice job out at Sheikh Rashid [Bin Humaid, owner]'s farm and he had a good summer off and came back looking a million dollars.

“We've worked him a few times over at Meydan–he loves going over there. There might be Saudi [Cup meeting] plans but we'll see how he runs here first.”

Royal Mews (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is one of nine rivals signed on, and he will be ridden by Tadhg O'Shea.

“We're really looking forward to having Royal Mews back,” said Ryan Tongue, Racing Manager for owners Deva Racing of the three-time winner. “Isolate is the one to beat, but Tadhg O'Shea worked Royal Mews last week in blinkers for the first time and apparently he worked very well.”

Already in action this season is Road Bloc (Street Sense), who was third in a 1200-metre race at Sharjah on Nov. 26.

“He needed his first run and he's working very well at home,” said owner Sayed Hashish. “The draw is not ideal but we believe he will appreciate the distance.”

 

Godolphin & Shadwell Out In Force In Al Rashidiya

Seven of the 11 entrants of the G2 Al Rashidiya will bear either the royal blue of Godolphin or the blue with white epaulettes of Shadwell. Charlie Appleby sends out Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), and Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and he is gunning for his fourth title in five years in the 1800-metre grass affair.

Not to be outdone, is fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who is already a six-time winner of this race. His Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a multiple group winner who was placed twice at Group 1 level last year, will break from stall seven.

G1 Jebel Hatta hero Alfareeq (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is one of three in the race for Shadwell, and holds pride of place, as he is the chosen mount of retained jockey Jim Crowley. The duo will leave from stall two.

 

Friday's Supporting Card High On Class

A trio of listed races anchor the supporting card, among them the AED500,000 Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash over the minimum trip of 1000 metres on grass. The youthful Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), a winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in 2022, squares off with desert veterans Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), and Miqyaas (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Johnny Murtagh sends the progressive 4-year-old filly Ladies Church (GB) (Churchill {Ire}) into the fray, as well. She ran second ot Miqyaas in the G2 Blue Point Sprint in February.

“Miqyaas is doing well,” said Abo Bakr El Hefnawy, assistant trainer to Rashed Bouresly. “He raced once on dirt to be ready for this race.”

This season's G1 Al Quoz Sprint winner Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) makes his return on Friday in the 1400-metre Listed Business Bay Challenge on grass. His task is not the easiest, as among his 15 foes is GI Summer S. victor Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby.

Rounding out the listed races is the Entisar S., conducted over 1900m on dirt. Bhupat Seemar saddles a pair of horses, including Western Symphony (Ire) (Shamardal) and Walk Of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“Godolphin thought Walk Of Stars was good enough to run in the Epsom Derby as a 3-year-old so he is a very exciting horse to have,” said Seemar. “We're going to experiment with Western Symphony and try him over the 1900m. His pedigree suggests he has a chance of getting in, albeit he is a Shamardal, because there is a lot of stamina on the dam side.”

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Full Programme For The 2023-2024 Dubai Racing Season Unveiled

The full 2023-2024 programme for the Dubai racing season at Meydan Racecourse has been released.

Running from Nov. 10 until Mar. 8, the season includes 14 meetings and precedes the $30.5-million Dubai World Cup meeting on Mar. 30. In addition, the prize-money has been increased by 27%, with the minimum per race now AED165,000. The Festive Friday card will contain six stakes races, among them the G2 Al Maktoum Mile at Meydan on Dec. 22. There is also Fashion Friday on Jan. 26, with nine black-type races on tap led by the G1 Maktoum Challenge and the G1 Jebel Hatta. Super Saturday remains in its usual slot, and features the G2 Al Maktoum Classic, upgraded G3 Ras Al Khor, and the Listed Jumeirah Guineas. It is Mar. 2, 2024.

Major General Dr. Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club, said “We are delighted to unveil the full programme for our exciting new-look season here in Dubai. The programme is diverse and caters for a wide range of horses, both Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred. We hope that our excellent prize-money and world class facilities will continue to attract the best in the sport to race here in Dubai.”

For the full schedule and more information, please go to the Dubai Racing Club website.

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Purses Increased For 2023-2024 Meydan Racing Season As More Changes Announced

Purses will rise 27% during the 2023-2024 Dubai racing season at Meydan Racecourse, the Dubai Racing Club announced earlier this week.

The new minimum purse of AED165,000 will be for non-stakes races, while all Group 1 races will be increased to a purse of at least AED1 million. The prize-money of $30.5 million on Dubai World Cup night will remain unchanged. In addition, all Meydan cards will feature nine races except for the first two.

Other changes revealed by the DRC include two new feature race nights: Festive Friday on Dec. 22 and Fashion Friday on Jan. 26, while Super Saturday will be held on Mar. 2, and Dubai World Cup night is set for Mar. 30. Racing at Meydan begins on Friday, Nov. 10.

“The DRC management and board have decided to reshape racing in Dubai, to improve sustainability in line with what is happening in the region,” said Major General Dr. Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club. “Today, many countries are going along with Dubai and the UAE by using racing to showcase their development, a journey which Dubai started much earlier.

“The Dubai Racing Carnival has now become the whole season. Horses can now come to Dubai from the start of the season until the Dubai World Cup.”

Stephanie Cooley, International Manager for DRC, added, “From an international perspective, we still have our quarantine facilities, plus trainers also have the option of shifting over to a local stable. It's a more condensed season but we have retained all of the feature races and aligned them more with some of the bigger races in the region.”

British horses will also now have more travel options when visiting the Middle East.

“Horses trained in the UK have the option of 90 days temporary import, with the option of going in and out,” said Erwan Charpy, Advisor to the DRC. “They can also come on a permanent import and go back with a 30-day quarantine or go back as temporary import. There are discussions to get England to line up with the regulations in the European Union, as since Brexit there is almost no problem with horses going back to the EU without quarantine on a permanent import.

“The import certificate was previously just for the Dubai Racing Club, but now it is for the Middle East, which allows for more freedom of movement.”

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