Meydan | Horse Racing Free Tips

Friday Previews: 3-Year-Olds Lock Horns in Dubai

Undefeated Colts Square Off In UAE 2000 Guineas

If Mohammed Khaleel Ahmed's undefeated Bendoog (Gun Runner) takes Friday's 1600-metre G3 UAE 2000 Guineas, the bay colt will become his sire's 10th black-type winner and sixth at the graded/group level. Gun Runner–the Horse of the Year and Three Chimneys stallion who was champion first-season sire in America last year-ran second to Arrogate in the 2017 G1 Dubai World Cup.

One of two in the race for his owner along with Bhupat Seemar stablemate and winner Conglomerate (Ire) (Central Banker), Bendoog faces 13 rivals. One of several legitimate threats is the two-for-two Azure Coast (Street Sense). Trained by Pavel Vashchenko along with Suvorov (Creative Cause) in the colours of Vladimir Kazakov, the $65,000 Keeneland September yearling scored by six lengths in Moscow last September before another success over 1400 metres locally on Dec. 16.

Lord Glitters Looks For Singspiel Double

A frequent visitor to the UAE for the Dubai World Cup Carnival, the dual Group 1 winner Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) will be on hand to defend his title in the G2 Singspiel S. Third in the 2019 G1 Dubai Turf, the popular grey's greatest victory at Meydan was in the 2021 G1 Jebel Hatta on the Super Saturday card last March. Geoff and Sandra Turnbull's 9-year-old was fourth in the G2 Al Rashidiya on Jan. 21 after having to steady at the break. “We're happy with his training and we thought he ran well enough the other night in his first run at Meydan this season,” said trainer David O'Meara of the 2019 G1 Queen Anne S. hero.

The Singspiel has drawn plenty of rivals and the Godolphin homebred Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal) from Charlie Appleby's yard is aiming for his third Group 2 ring. Runner-up to Lord Glitters in last year's affair, the 2020 G2 Zabeel Mile victor also won the 2021 G2 Al Rashidiya, but he was a one-paced ninth to Lord Glitters in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy most recently. “We think he'll be better down in trip in the Singspiel as he ran really well in the race last year,” said Appleby.

Can Rebel's Romance Get Back On Track?

The 2000-metre Listed Curlin S. is usually a springboard toward both Super Saturday's G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 and the G1 Dubai World Cup at the end of March. For the sparingly raced Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), however, it is a recovery mission. A winner of four of his six starts including last year's G2 UAE Derby, the 4-year-old gelding has only raced once since when a flat eighth in a rated conditions test at Meydan on Jan. 8.

Even if that race knocked some rust off Rebel's Romance, his quest is made more difficult by the presence of Victorious's Salute The Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}). A horse that has thrived in the desert since arriving in January of 2020, the Fawzi Nass-trained gelding is capable of winning at the highest level with a win in the 2021 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on his ledger. He was fifth in the Jan. 14 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round, and Nass said, “He's in good shape. Hopefully that race [on Jan. 14] has brought him on and he's ready to rock and roll this week in the Curlin S.”

Four On The Bounce For Modern News?

A winner in three starts as a juvenile in 2020, Modern News (GB), was on the sidelines for a year thereafter, during which he was gelded. A winner of three in a row since returning to the track last July, Modern News will be contesting his pet distance of 1400 metres on Friday in the Listed Business Bay Challenge S. His trio of wins at Newmarket (July 31), Doncaster (Sept. 9) and Lingfield (Oct. 28) were by a combined 3 1/2 lengths and he leaves from the inside post.

Another horse trying for four-straight victories is Bet Law (Brz) (Universal Law {Brz}) in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint over 1200 metres for Antonio Cintra Pereira and owner Stud Crespi. The 3-year-old colt soared to a pair of wins in Uruguay and won a track-and-trip conditions stakes by 4 1/4 lengths switched to Meydan on Jan. 14.

Click here for the group fields.

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Lord Glitters Returns Friday At Meydan To Attempt Back-To-Back Singspiel Victories

There are plenty of Dubai World Cup pointers at Meydan Racecourse on Friday, when the track stages four Group races. The official feature is the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes over nine furlongs on turf, which sees popular grey Lord Glitters try to become the first horse to win back to back renewals.

“We're happy with his training and we thought he ran well enough the other night in his first run at Meydan this season,” said UK-based trainer David O'Meara. “He had a little break after Bahrain [G3 International Trophy, Nov. 19] and might have needed his first run back.”

It won't be easy for O'Meara's star as Charlie Appleby saddles Zakouski, who boasts an impressive track record, having won three of his four starts here. His only local defeat came at the hands of Lord Glitters in last year's Singspiel.

“He didn't see out the 1 1/4-mile trip when ninth in the Bahrain International Trophy last time,” said the UK Champion Trainer. “We think he'll be better down in trip in the Singspiel as he ran really well in the race last year.”

The strong field also includes Sir Busker, who makes his UAE debut for trainer William Knight, who experienced Carnival success back in 2007 when Illustrious Blue won at Nad Al Sheba. Third in the G1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in June, the 6-year-old represents Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds and will use this race as a prep for the G1 Emirates Airline Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday.

“We're excited to see Sir Busker line up in Friday's Singspiel Stakes,” said Sam Hoskins, Syndicate Manager for Kennet Valley.

“He travelled over well last weekend and has settled in nicely to life at Meydan. He has been working nicely at home in Newmarket and while he will improve a bit for the run (Super Saturday being the main aim), hopefully he will run a nice race here.”

There are two Group 3s on the card, including the UAE 2000 Guineas, which sees a rematch between the first three home in the Guineas Trial; Rawy, Quality Boone and Kiefer.

Rawy is owned by RRR Racing and trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer, who said: “He ran well in the Guineas Trial and came back from the race well; very sound.

“It's pretty much a similar field in the Guineas and the two extra furlongs will not be an issue for the horse. He's in good form and has handled his preparation very well. I believe that he is going to run a big race on Friday.”

The other Group 3 is the Al Shindagha Sprint over six furlongs, in which Doug Watson's Al Tariq will defend his title. He has a kilo penalty for his G3 Dubawi Stakes win last time out, in which Freedom Fighter and Canvassed were behind him.

Canvassed, winner of the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal over course and distance last March, will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, who said: “he was a bit rusty last time and just got very tired. Doug Watson and the team have done a great job with him and Sam Hitchcott breezed him the other day and he did a nice piece of work, so hopefully he will have come on for that run.”

The Listed Curlin Stakes [Presented by Race of Ambition], run over the same 2000metres as the G1 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup, will see Group 1 winner Salute The Soldier make his second start of the year. Trained by Fawzi Nass, the 7-year-old won G1 Maktoum Challenge R3 last season and was fifth in Round 1 last month.

“He's in good shape. He's had his first run now, over a mile, because we thought he would be gassy and fresh and needing the run,” said the Bahraini handler. “Hopefully that race has brought him on and he's ready to rock and roll this week in the Curlin Stakes.”

The formidable line-up includes Dubai Icon, an 8 1/2-length winner last time out when the re-opposing G2 UAE Derby winner Rebel's Romance was among his victims.

The card also stages a new race, the Listed Business Bay Challenge over seven furlongs on turf. It sees the return of three-time course winner D'Bai, who won the Group 2 Zabeel Mile here last season.

The evening's action gets underway with the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah, for Purebred Arabians, in which RB Money To Burn defends her title, but faces stiff opposition from Namrood, a near nine-length winner here 11 days ago.

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Creative Flair Builds On Promise

Creative Flair (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had always looked like a promising filly for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby last year at three, and she built on that promise on Friday at Meydan with a first pattern-race win in the G2 Balanchine S.

A winner in her second of two starts at two, Creative Flair won on Royal Ascot Trials day before finishing second in the one-mile Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. at York. Creative Flair stepped up to 2000 metres to earn a first black-type victory in the Listed Abingdon S. at Newbury before traveling to France to finish third in the G3 Prix Chloe in July. Her travels then took her to America, where she was third in the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. and fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. six weeks apart.

Making her first start since, Creative Flair and William Buick broke on top from their wide post but were soon overtaken by Stunning Beauty (Ire) (Shamardal). Keeping that rival within a length while racing wide down the backstretch, Creative Flair moved in closer and began to close the gap approaching the turn. Creative Flair took the lead from Stunning Beauty at the top of the stretch but had to call on her reserves as Saeed bin Suroor's Dubai Love (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and last-out G2 Cape Verdi winner Pevensey Bay (Ger) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) commenced their runs. Creative Flair re-broke inside the final furlong, however, hitting the wire three-quarters of a length the good.

Pedigree Notes

Creative Flair is the second foal and first stakes winner out of Hidden Gold (Ire) (Shamardal), who has a 2-year-old full-sister to Creative Flair. Hidden Gold is a daughter of the Listed Pretty Polly S. winner and dual Oaks-placed Melikah (Ire) (Lammtarra), a daughter of the great Urban Sea and therefore a half-sister to Galileo (Ire) and Sea The Stars (Ire) and five other stakes winners including the Group 1-winning Black Sam Bellamy (Ire) and My Typhoon (Ire). Melikah is the second dam of Khawlah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who was another star of the Dubai carnival for Godolphin, winning the G2 UAE Derby and G3 UAE Oaks before going on to foal Godolphin's Derby winner Masar (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Other Group 1 winners on the page include the Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Belmont Oaks winner Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Irish Oaks victress Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).

BALANCHINE PRESENTED BY LONGINES EVIDENZA-G2, $180,000, Meydan, 2-4, 3yo/up, f/m, 9fT, 1:47.99, gd.
1–CREATIVE FLAIR (IRE), 126, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
                1st Dam: Hidden Gold (Ire) (SW & MGSP-Eng,
                                $211,207, by Shamardal
                2nd Dam: Melikah (Ire), by Lammtarra
                3rd Dam: Urban Sea, by Miswaki
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby;
J-William Buick. $108,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 9-4-1-2,
$305,154. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2–Pevensey Bay (Ger), 130, m, 6, Footstepsinthesand (GB)–
Pachelbelle (Fr), by Anabaa. O/B-Julia & Jonathan Aisbitt (FR);
T-Hiroo Shimizu. $36,000.
3–Dubai Love (GB), 126, m, 5, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Devotion
(Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire). (120,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA).
O-Godolphin; B-Petches Farm Ltd (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor.
$18,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 2. Also Ran: Last Look (Ire), Soft Whisper (Ire), Silent Night (Swe), Dalanijujo (Ire), Wedding Dance (Ire), Mnasek, Stunning Beauty (Ire).
Click for the Emirates Racing chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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Hot Rod Charlie Wins In Dubai

The G1 Dubai World Cup was nominated late last season as the next major goal for the Grade I-winning and dual Classic-placed Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), and the 4-year-old will head to that $12-million contest on Mar. 26 a key contender after a five-length victory in Friday's G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at Meydan.

Hot Rod Charlie was caught on the wire last out in the GII San Antonio S. going 1700 metres at Santa Anita, but he had no such trouble in the Al Maktoum Challenge over a furlong further.

Away well, Hot Rod Charlie's was one of four heads bobbing for the lead as the field passed the finish line for the first time, and his rail trip gave him the advantage as they rounded the first turn. Al Nefud (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the winner of his last two starts over the course, was not keen to allow the American raider an easy lead, and he came wide to put his head in front as they straightened for the run down the backstretch. It was Hot Rod Charlie's red noseband that was once again in front, however, as they cornered for the second time, and though Al Nefud gave it a valiant try, Hot Rod Charlie shook him off with a few reminders from William Buick's stick and eventually drew clear to win by a comfortable 5 1/4 lengths. Al Nefud stuck on for second, while the 2019 GI Preakness S. second Everfast (Take Charge Indy), who won his local debut on Dec. 2, was third.

California-based trainer Doug O'Neill has sent a string over for the carnival, and he got off to a winning start earlier on the card with Get Back Goldie (Goldencents) winning the second race. O'Neill, who made the trip over for the card, said before the race he thought Hot Rod Charlie was at about 70%.

“I think I had probably overtrained him going into his last race, and for this race, purposely with the travel, we undertrained him a bit,” he said. “He ran super and now we have a big gap before the next one so we're super excited and flying high.

“The plan is that we'll keep him here and we'll have nice spacing until the World Cup, so now we just have to keep him injury-free. We're super excited.”

A $17,000 short yearling purchase in 2019 who was pinhooked for $110,000 when bought by Doug O'Neill's brother Dennis eight months later, Hot Rod Charlie broke his maiden at fourth asking at two and blew up the tote board when a 100-1 second to Essential Quality (Tapit) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in 2020. Beaten a neck when third behind eventual GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. back at Santa Anita to kick off his 3-year-old campaign, Hot Rod Charlie won the GII Louisiana Derby en route to Churchill Downs. He finished third behind Medina Spirit and Mandaloun (Into Mischief) in the Kentucky Derby, and was second to Essential Quality in the GI Belmont S. after setting a hot pace that he only surrendered late on. Hot Rod Charlie's run of hard luck continued in the GI Haskell S. when he hit the wire first, but was disqualified and placed last for crossing over too closely in front of Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) in the lane, causing that rival to stumble badly and lose his rider. Hot Rod Charlie at last got his Grade I next out in the GI Pennsylvania Derby, but not before his connections had to sweat out an inquiry after he floated Midnight Bourbon wide coming off the turn. Hot Rod Charlie was fourth behind Knicks Go (Paynter) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

Pedigree Notes

Hot Rod Charlie is the fifth foal out of Indian Miss (Indian Charlie), and is a half-brother to champion sprinter and four-time Grade I winner and young sire Mitole (Eskendereya). Indian Miss, who was bought by Larry Best's OXO Equine for $1.9-million at Keeneland November in 2020, has an as-yet unraced 3-year-old filly by Into Mischief named Indigo Miss, a yearling colt also by Into Mischief and she has already foaled a colt by Instagrand this season. Indian Miss is out of the listed-winning Glacken's Gal (Smoke Glacken) and is a half-sister to the GII Davona Dale S. winner Live Lively (Medaglia d'Oro).

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R2 PRESENTED BY THE LONGINES RECORD-G2, $350,000, Meydan, 2-4, 3yo/up, 9 1/2f, 1:57.41, fs.
1–HOT ROD CHARLIE, 125, c, 4, by Oxbow
                1st Dam: Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Glacken's Gal, by Smoke Glacken
                3rd Dam: Lady Diplomat, by Silver Deputy
($17,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT). O-Boat
Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Roadrunner
Racing & William Strauss; B-Edward A. Cox (KY); T-Doug F.
O'Neill; J-William Buick. $210,000. Lifetime Record: GISW-US,
14-4-3-3, $2,721,633. *1/2 to Mitole (Eskendereya),
Ch. Sprinter & MGISW-US, $3,104,910. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Al Nefud (GB), 125, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Albasharah, by Arch.
(UAE425,000 HRA '21 RACINGINDUBAI). O-Al Rashid Stables
LLC; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Bhupat Seemar. $70,000.
3–Everfast, 126, g, 6, Take Charge Indy–Awesome Surprise, by
Awesome Again. ($47,000 Ylg '17 KEEJAN). O-Kildare Stud –
Frankie O'Connor; B-Extern Developments (KY); T-Doug
Watson. $35,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, 7HF, 3/4.
Also Ran: For The Top (Arg), Thegreatcollection, Go On, New Trails, Eastern World (Ire), Roman Rosso (Arg), Fire Group, Quip, Kafoo. Click for the Emirates Racing chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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