G3 Dubawi S. | Horse Racing Free Tips

Where The Real World Begins, As Baker’s Dozen Clash In Zabeel Mile

The Dubai Racing Carnival continues at Meydan on Friday, with a pair of group races on tap for the turf milers and main-track sprinters, with the G2 Zabeel Mile the highlight of the nine-race card.

Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is the clear standout on ratings, and won this contest in 2022 before placing second in both the G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Queen Anne S. back on UK soil for trainer Saeed bin Suroor. Now seven, the gelding is aiming at a return to form after running a too-keen fifth in the G2 Al Rashidiya to fellow royal blue colourbearer Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) locally on Dec. 22.

“Real World won this contest a couple of years ago and ran two excellent races over a mile in Europe the same season,” trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said. “He has been running over further since but should appreciate the drop back in trip. It looks as though he has improved for his run in the Al Rashidiya.”

A former steady fixture in Italian group company, G3 Premio Ambrosiano hero Sean (Ger) (Excelebration {Ire}) now races in the Barratt Racing silks and will make the Godolphin runner's task more difficult.

“It's his first run for us so this is a bit of a fact-finding mission,” said Jamie Osborne, whose multiple Dubai successes include Toast Of New York in the G2 UAE Derby. “It's possible he will need further on this track.”

American ex-pat Doug Watson will saddle the Classic-placed San Donato (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and he has drawn widest in stall 13. The multiple listed winner ran second in the Listed Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup at Abu Dhabi on Dec. 3.

“It's a bit tough from out there but it's a great race for him, albeit Real World is in there and Marbaan for Michael Costa,” said Watson. “I'm looking forward to seeing how he finishes. Hopefully he can get some nice splits from off the pace.”

The race is further enhanced by the presence of G2 Vintage S. hero Marbaan (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and trainer Charlie Fellowes.

Sprinters Primed For Dubawi Stakes

In the G3 Dubawi S., one race earlier on the card, Watson will saddle both Sound Money (Flatter) and Colour Up (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). The former won the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Saturday last March and was unplaced in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night, while the latter, a dirt-loving son of Mehmas, earned his first listed badge in the Al Garhoud Sprint last out on Dec. 8.

“Both Sound Money and Colour Up are in really good shape,” said Watson. “The draws are good for both of them; they're horses who don't need to go to the lead; they can settle off it. Colour Up has to step up a bit, with Mouheeb (Flatter) and Tuz (Oxbow) and Sound Money in there, so it will be interesting to see how he goes. I'm really happy with Sound Money and looking forward to getting him started.”

Successful in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas at three and the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint over Group 3 winner Tuz at four in 2022, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Mouheeb went winless in 2023.

“He's had a kind first half of season with the aim of heading towards 8f [1600metres] later on,” said trainer Michael Costa of Mouheeb. “He's a much more relaxed horse this year.”

Another Mahab Al Shimaal hero alongside Sound Money, Eastern World (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will attempt to bounce back to form after making just one start in 2023–a 12th place to Tuz in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint in February.

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‘Golden’ Start To Dubai World Cup Carnival For Watson?

by Heather Anderson and J.N. Campbell

With New Year's celebrations firmly in the rearview, racing eyes turn to Dubai, as the $7.5-million Dubai World Cup Carnival kicks off at Meydan Racecourse. The DWCC culminates on Super Saturday, Mar. 4, the warmup for the $30.5-million Dubai World Cup card slated for Mar. 26. Of the seven races carded, five are black-type level and there are a quartet of stakes contests set to be decided in the desert on Friday.

Anchoring the action is the $250,000 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 Presented by Zabeel Feed, where Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), one of five in the race for American ex-pat trainer Doug Watson, attempts to become the second owner of consecutive victories in the 1,600-metre affair after Le Bernardin (Bernardini) in 2016/17.

Also rated 105 is Watson's Everfast (Take Charge Indy), who was third in both the 2022 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 and G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3. G3 Burj Nahaar hero Midnight Sands (Speightstown), rated 107, will take part as is Thegreatcollection (Saint Anddan), who won a listed and two other events in Dubai over the years.

Watson, who is aiming for his fourth victory in the race, said, “We have a cast of characters for the mile races. We're still hopeful with Midnight Sands and Golden Goal ran a great race last time. He only got beaten by four lengths and he always needs his first run for us. He's having a really nice season training and he'll be tough on the night.”

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Prince Eiji (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another entry who appears poised for a big year for Watson, and he ran out a 1 1/4-length victor in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile over track and trip on December 1.

“What we liked about it most was that he was vying for the lead with Danyah, took back a little bit and then really grabbed the bit,” said Watson of Prince Eiji. “So we know he can come from off the pace and we learned a lot that night, plus he's strengthened up a lot this year.”

The quintet will not have an easy time of it, however, with Bhupat Seemar sending out Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) to build on his 2021 G2 Godolphin Mile heroics among others.

Sire Dubawi On Global Stakes Cusp In Al Fahidi Fort

The internationally successful Charlie Appleby comes into the Dubai World Cup Carnival looking to win his fifth Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort S. in six years. He enters Godolphin's Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) and Al Suhail (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a well-bred four-year-old and six-year-old, respectively.

Both members of the home team are coming off of lay-offs with the former last seen winning impressively at Royal Ascot in the G3 Jersey S., while the latter ended up seventh at Ascot in the G3 Bengough S. in October. Darley's Dubawi, also represented in this race by Dubai Mirage (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), is one shy of 250 individual global stakes winners.

Not to be outdone, Shadwell looks to make its presence known with six-year-old Alfareeq (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). This experienced turf specialist knows Meydan well, especially since he won last year's G1 Jebel Hatta S. in fine style. He prepped for this spot with a second place finish in Abu Dhabi in a listed race December 4.

Other notable runners include French trainer Yann Barberot's Bouttemont (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) and Fast Raaj (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}). The latter will be making the surface switch from the Polytrack to the turf after he won his second consecutive race in Deauville on December 10, after being gelded earlier in the month.

Classy Switzerland Begins Shaheen Title Defense

Taking to the dirt for the G3 Dubawi S., the prep that offers automatic entry into the G1 Golden Shaheen on World Cup night, we find nine-year-old stalwart sprinter Switzerland (Speightstown) poised to turn back time in his search for more Dubai World Cup night glory as the defending champion. “Hopefully he's still got the spark; I think I can see it on the track in the mornings,” said his trainer Bhupat Seemar. “We got to know him better last season, we'd had him for a year by then, so we got to know his habits and his quirks which really helped.”

Ready to face him are a number of worthy challengers which includes Shadwell Stable's Mubakker (Speightstown), who has not been seen since last year's G2 Godolphin Mile, a race in which he finished fifth. His dam, Ready To Act, produced Prouver in 2020, a filly that sold for $310,000 as a Keeneland September yearling one year later; and a filly by Omaha Beach that brought $250,000 at the same sale in 2022.

A couple of local runners have been drawn in for this Group 3 opportunity, among them Mouheeb (Flatter), who won the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint on December 9 and he returns for Michael Costa. “He's quite a strong, robust horse and he showed he was quite sharp in his trackwork,” the trainer said about the five-year-old, who won G3 UAE 2000 Guineas in 2021. “It was so good to see him at Meydan; he really put his ears back and was determined to win.”

Listed Races Dot Carnival Card on Friday

The 2,410-metre Dubai Racing Club Classic, a turf handicap with $100,000 on the line, includes a trio of Charlie Appleby runners, namely, the group-placed Walk Of Stars (GB), who is another striving to give his sire Dubawi (Ire) 250 individual black-type winners.

Rounding out the Friday card is the 1,000-metre Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash on the turf, that brings together a strong group of sprinters, including Godolphin's Man Of Promise (Into Mischief), who was third behind A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) in last year's G1 Al Quoz Sprint.

The post ‘Golden’ Start To Dubai World Cup Carnival For Watson? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Carnival Action Heats Up in Dubai

Friday marks the second week of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan in Dubai, and three group races are slated to go ahead, as well as two G2 UAE Derby preps on the seven-race card.

Godolphin fields a typically strong hand in the 1800-metre G2 Al Rashidiya Presented By Riviera Beachfront By Azizi on grass, which is an early pointer to the G1 Dubai Turf at the end of March. Aiming for a sixth consecutive renewal, the royal blue silks will be carried by a quintet from trainers-Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor. Appleby's listed winner Art du Val (GB) (No Nay Never) has been rubbing shoulders near the top table in his last three starts. Fourth in the G2 Singspiel S. last January, he added a third in the Feb. 18 G2 Zabeel Mile and in his latest outing ran a solid fourth to the re-opposing Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) in the G1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday. Stablemate and listed winner Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), will be making his first start since a gelding operation in the autumn, as will the four-for-five Royal Fleet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“Art Du Val proved a consistent horse in Dubai last year and we gave him the summer off with another season at the Carnival in mind,” said Appleby. “He goes into this race in good order and will be very competitive if he brings his 'A-game.”

Last year's G3 Dubai Millennium S. second Bedouin's Story (GB) (Farhh {GB}) ran second in his most recent outing–the Oct. 9 G3 Darley S. after dwelling at the start.

Bin Suroor said, “He has been doing well out in Dubai and this looks like a good starting point for him this year.”

Charismatic grey battler Lord Glitters appears ageless, and his Jebel Hatta victory was accomplished at the age of eight. Now nine, the Geoff and Sandra Turnbull silksbearer scored a win in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy in late November for trainer David O'Meara.

The trainer said, “He's in good form and has obviously had a good winter so far after winning over in Bahrain. He seemed to get on very well in Dubai last year. He won the Singspiel and was third in this race under a penalty and then won the Jebel Hatta. Hopefully he can do something similar this year.”

Storming the 'Fort'ress

The 1400-metre G2 Al Fahidi Fort Presented By Mina By Azizi, also takes place on the grass. Saeed bin Suroor saddles the 2021 scorer, Land Of Legends (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), who ran out a handy winner exactly a year ago. Only fifth in the 1351 Turf Sprint on Feb. 20, the gelding has been benched since another fifth-place run in the G1 Dubai Turf on Mar. 27. The three-for-four Storm Damage (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) enters this test on the back of consecutive Newmarket wins in July and August.

“Land Of Legends has been improving with every piece of work,” said bin Suroor. “He won this race on his first start of the year last season and we are hoping for another good effort. Storm Damage ran well in the UK last season and I have been pleased with him in Dubai.”

Charlie Appleby's listed winner Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was fourth in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on May 1 and just failed to last in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot on June 19. The colt is aiming to improve off of an eighth-place finish in the July 11 G1 Prix Jean Prat. He is joined by the group placed La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who was gelded prior to running third in a Meydan conditions race on Jan. 7.

Appleby said, “Naval Crown showed good, solid form as a 3-year-old and has enjoyed a nice break ahead of the Carnival. He looks great and will obviously be very competitive if he runs up to his best form.”

Septet Signed on For Dubawi S.

The Doug Watson-trained duo of Group 3 winners Canvassed (Ire) (Shamardal) and Al Tariq (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) loom large in the G3 Dubawi S. sprinting 1200 metres over the Meydan main track. Victorious in the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal last March, Canvassed returned on Dubai World Cup night to take third after making a late run in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. His stablemate was first past the post in the Feb. 18 G3 Al Shindagha Sprint over this track and trip and, after running sixth in the Golden Shaheen, already sports a win this season. He eked out a win in a conditions race at Jebel Ali on Nov. 26.

Watson commented, “They're both in really good form. Obviously, Al Tariq has run already this year and Canvassed is having his first start since World Cup night, but has gotten stronger overall.”

Bhupat Seemar's Freedom Fighter (Violence) makes his desert debut on Friday. The 4-year-old was second in the GII San Vicente S. at Santa Anita last term and was most recently fifth in an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar on July 17.

UAE Classic Pointers

The 1400-metre UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Presented by Al Furjan By Azizi marks the 3-year-old return of Grade I victor Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Gelded after winning a Haydock novice last June, he rattled off another Haydock win in July and battled his way to a score in the Listed Stonehenge S. a month later. The Charlie Appleby-trained 3-year-old triumphed in the GI Summer S. at Woodbine on Sept. 19, but was scratched at the gate of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in November.

It will not necessarily be a cakewalk for Albahr, as he faces the unbeaten winners Kiefer (Brz) (Drosselmeyer), who is three-for-three in Uruguay including at the listed level, and the once-raced Mujeer (Violence), who won at Meydan on Dec. 2.

Second in the lineup on Friday is the Jumeirah Derby Trial Presented By Park Avenue By Azizi. Conducted over 1800 metres on turf, this new race attracted Listed Silver Tankard S. winner Mr Professor (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), the stable star of trainer Alice Haynes. Since that victory, the 3-year-old gelding finished with interest to take third when debuting at Meydan just seven days ago on Jan. 14, one spot behind Sed Maarib (American Pharoah). A trio of Godolphin winners are also slated to take part–Nader (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), Island Falcon (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and New Kingdom (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Click here to view the group fields.

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