Meydan | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dubawi Filly Soft Whisper Screams Promise In UAE 1000 Guineas Trial

The UAE 1000 Guineas Trial is usually a first look at stakes-level sophomore fillies in Dubai and has often been an unveiling of possible future stars. Such was the case once again on Thursday night at Meydan Racecourse when Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor-trained Soft Whisper let the secret out with a 2 1/2-length win in the seven-furlong conditions affair.

Stalking comfortably in mid-pack throughout the first three furlongs, the daughter of Dubawi from the family of European Horse of the Year Peintre Celebre tipped out under confident Pat Cosgrave handling, gobbled up ground on front-running Jumeirah Beach and then put away that foe, while holding off a pair of stablemates who filled out the trifecta, Last Sunset and Final Thought. Satish Seemar-trained first-time starter Al Maroom ran on respectably for fourth.

Expected favorite Super Chianti was scratched earlier in the day, but will likely line up against the winner in the UAE 1000 Guineas (Listed) in three weeks or the UAE Oaks (G3) thereafter.

The final time was 1:26.72, and the victory improved her record to three wins and two seconds from five starts.

“She just took a little time to sort of get her act together,” Cosgrave said. “She's improved race by race. I really thought she'd win today. I didn't think so after 50 yards for a stride or two–things weren't going to plan–but those good horses usually get out of trouble. I was trying to find the right horse to take me into the race and luckily enough it worked out nicely.

“The good thing about her is she got a little bit of sand in her face and she faced it,” Cosgrave continued. “She had to work hard, which isn't always ideal. She'll improve plenty. I think going a mile she'll be better. She's a nice filly. It took me until the 800m to pull her up. She's by Dubawi and they get better with racing and she's a nice, big, scopey filly.”

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Quip Takes On Defending Secret Ambition In Thursday’s Listed Dubai Creek Mile

Racing at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday evening, the track's final meeting of 2020, is presented by pillar partner Longines and features the Group 2 Madjani Stakes, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card, as well as the Listed Dubai Creek Mile, the Thoroughbred highlight.

Nine have been declared for the Listed Dubai Creek Mile presented by Longines, including last year's winner Secret Ambition, one of two in the field for Satish Seemar. The trainer landed the first two editions of this race, inaugurated in 2013, with Surfer, the only dual winner of the contest to date. As was the case 12 months ago, Tadhg O'Shea is in the saddle aboard the 7-year-old Exceed And Excel entire who was able to defy a penalty last year, an impost earned for his victory in the 2019 Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile.

“He does not have that extra burden here, though does have a smaller penalty, and O'Shea said: “We know conditions suit him and he showed last year that he can run well fresh, so the fact it is his first run of the season is not a great concern.

“It looks a strong renewal though, but I am hoping for a big run.”

Richard Mullen rides stable companion Quip, having his first start for the yard and just third in the UAE after two outings for Doug Watson last season. A dual G2 winner in the US, he obviously has plenty of ability and now has the advantage of a summer on his back to help his acclimatization

Assistant trainer, Bhupat Seemar, said: “He is a nice new horse for us who has been working well. He should improve for the run, but we are hoping for a good effort in a strong race.”

Second to Secret Ambition in this 12 months ago, Kimbear is one of three in this year's field set to be saddled by Doug Watson. The mount of Pat Dobbs, the 6-year-old Temple City entire then gained revenge on that rival, beating him by a short-head in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1. Watson's charge's previous victory, on Super Saturday 2018, was also achieved at the expense of Secret Ambition, in the G3 Burj Nahaar.

Penalized for his Al Maktoum Challenge victory, he will be attempting to concede weight to all eight rivals and is joined in the field by stable companions Thegreatcollection and local debutant Mount Pelion. The former, the mount of Pat Cosgrave, is one of just three runners with the benefit of an outing already this season and was, arguably, a bit unlucky when fifth in this race last season.

Mount Pelion, a dual winner in France for Godolphin and Andre Fabre, has the assistance of Sam Hitchcott in the saddle for his dirt debut. He did win his only appearance on an all-weather surface, on debut as a 2-year-old, at Chantilly in November 2017.

Watson said: “Kimbear is a horse we have always really liked, but have had a few issues with. He is in great shape, but does have a penalty and will improve from the run.

“We have not been able to find a race for Mount Pelion, so this is a good spot to get him going and try him on the dirt surface.

“Thegreatcollection ran well on his return and like Kimbear is proven under these conditions. Hopefully they can all run well.”

With an official rating of 117, Capezzano should be a massive danger to all over the course and distance he won last year's G3 Firebreak Stakes, chased home by Secret Ambition. Salem bin Ghadayer's charge took the scalp of dual Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow when beating the Godolphin horse ahead of his historic second victory in the UAE's major horse race in the 2019 G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 over the same 2000m on Super Saturday. He also beat Thegreatcollection in a pair of Dubai World Cup Carnival handicaps over this 1600m in January 2019.

This is his first start since finishing stone last in the ultra-valuable Saudi Cup on the last day of February and Bin Ghadayer said: “The horses are starting to run very well and hopefully Capezzano can do the same as he has been working nicely at home.”

Casey Jones beat the aforementioned Thegreatcollection in a conditions race over this course and distance on their seasonal returns and was then third, over 2000m, in the Listed The Entisar, a fortnight ago. He is trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, as is Alkaamel, third in the race won by Casey Jones a month ago and again the mount of Dane O'Neill.

Al Mheiri said: “Casey Jones has already produced two good runs this season and we think is still improving.

“Alkaamel is also a course and distance winner and has benefitted from his run behind Casey Jones a month ago.”

For Fawzi Nass and Adrie de Vries, Salute The Soldier made a winning dirt debut on Super Saturday earlier this year with a smooth success in the G3 Burj Nahaar, over track and trip, on Super Saturday.

The 1900m G2 Madjani Stakes presented by Longines has attracted a capacity field of 16 and looks wide open. Riding for his main employer, UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, O'Shea partners AF Al Sajanjle for Ernst Oertel. The 7-year-old has not really fired in either start so far this season, but was a good third in the 1600m Al Maktoum Challenge R1 here at Meydan on dirt back in January.

O'Shea said: “He should be spot on for this after two runs and the 1900m should suit him.”

Watson saddles both Sauternes Al Maury, runner-up to stable companion Bon Baiser De Faust in the inaugural running of this race in 2016, and RB Texas Hold Em, a Grade One winner in his native US.

Watson said: “Sauternes Al Maury is always capable of a big run and has proved conditions suit him, but he is drawn very wide in a big field.

“We tried RB Texas Hold Em on turf which he seemed not to enjoy. He will be much happier back on dirt and has a nice draw.”

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Ruled Off In Hong Kong, Multiple G1 Winner Pakistan Star Makes Dubai Debut Thursday

One of the world's most famous racehorses makes a somewhat surprising resurfacing on Thursday when Kerm Din's Pakistan Star contests Meydan Racecourse's 10-furlong The Entisar (Listed), the first in a series of local races pointing toward the 25th Dubai World Cup (G1) in March. A multiple G1 winner in Hong Kong before being ruled off the jurisdiction for various infractions, including refusing to race, he was transferred from trainer Tony Cruz to multiple UAE champion conditioner Doug Watson at the beginning of the year.

“We got him in January and we were going to try to point to a race at the beginning of April, but obviously with COVID(-19), that was nixed,” Watson recalled. “His coat really came on during the summer. Since he started back, he's been no problem and has done everything right at home. His work has been exceptional and it's hard to find anything to really go with him. He's a pretty good work horse and looks like he gets across the (dirt) surface really well. We're just going to have to see how he takes it and if he gets kickback. He's a bit quirky, sure, because he looks at everything, but he hasn't stopped in his training, which is great.”

The 7-year-old German-bred son of Shamardal has been working steadily toward his first engagement, which will be on the dirt—a surface he has trialed on in Hong Kong, but never raced upon. Most of said trials were at shorter distances than the 1 1/4 miles he will travel Thursday evening, but he was remarkably consistent, beating a pair of Hong Kong Cup winners—Time Warp and Glorious Forever—in those runs. Three weeks ago, he went to Meydan to get a taste of the surroundings with a seven-furlong trial from the gate and was accompanied by a pair of stablemates, including recent HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup winner Galvanize.

“We took him over to do a trial in front of the stewards and make sure he would do everything correctly, which he did,” Watson continued. “He broke great and worked with Galvanize and Dehbashi and basically pulled about seven lengths clear of Galvanize at the end of it, which is a pretty good gauge. He took a little kickback under Pat (Dobbs, jockey) and seemed to handle it alright. He trains right-handed at home, but he had no trouble turning left in the work. He didn't hang and Pat really was impressed with him.

“He came back (to Red Stables) and did his last two pieces of work—so I know he's fit enough,” he continued. “It's just a matter of if he wants to do it. We'll see on Thursday night. He moves really well across the dirt, so it will be good to get a race in him to see how he does on it, because turf races don't start until January here. If he really likes it, it does open other doors.”

From 27 starts, Pakistan Star has a 5-5-1 record. In addition to his long-winded G1 wins in the 10-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Cup and 12-furlong Champions & Chater Cup, he has shown ample speed, including a seven-furlong handicap win in which he ran the second-fastest final 400m (1/4 mile) in Hong Kong history (at the time), 21.44 seconds.

While he is not expected to show such foot early on Thursday, it would not be a surprise if stablemate Just a Penny took the initiative. Owned by Mohd Khalifa Al Basti, the 8-year-old nine-time winner has already raced twice this season, including a fifth over seven furlongs and an open-length win over nine furlongs—both at Jebel Ali Racecourse.

Watson said: “The first year we had him, we took him to Meydan and we didn't think he would get beat, but then he ran up the track. Since then, we've kept him mostly at Jebel Ali and he returned there (this season). He always needs that first race—we can't do enough with him at home—and then he won well in his second start. (The Entisar) is an opportunity to give him a start back at Meydan and see how he handles it now. He has plenty of pace, too.”

South American G1 winners Saltarin Dubai and For the Top, Listed winners Montsarrat and Zaman, and local handicap winners Firnas, Casey Jones and George Villiers complete the field. All carry 57kgs (126lbs) in what will be the fifth race of the card, slated for 8:50 p.m. local time (11:50 a.m. USA EST; 4:50 p.m. UK).

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Dubai World Cup Carnival Program Announced For 2021; Applications Close Nov. 23

Dubai Racing Club has announced the program for the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival, as racing returns to the iconic Meydan Racecourse. While the Carnival opens in January, the first race meeting of the 2020-21 racing season is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2020. Racing will be conducted under guidelines from the UAE government; further details will follow closer to the date.

Slated to run over six consecutive Thursdays from Jan. 21 to Feb. 25, 2021, the Dubai World Cup Carnival program will culminate on March the 6 with the Super Saturday race meeting. Better known as a dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup race meet, racing on Super Saturday alone is worth $1.7 million.

Total purses are slightly reduced from the previous year, but given the challenging events over the past few months on account of Covid-19, Dubai Racing Club has made every effort to ensure the return of racing in safe and secure conditions.

The opening Carnival race meeting on Jan. 21 promises to be an action-packed evening with six out of seven races falling in the Group and Listed categories. Topping the racecard on the night is the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (G2), run over a mile, which serves as a prep, for both the Godolphin Mile (G2) and Dubai World Cup (G1). The remaining six nights of racing during the Dubai World Cup Carnival also offer similarly high quality races, sure to attract the finest international trainers, horses and jockeys.

Horses from Denmark, USA, Ireland, UK, Sweden and Norway as well as the UAE were represented at the 2020 running of Super Saturday. Among the impressive international winners on the night was USA's Doug O'Neill-trained Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint-winner Wildman Jack, exemplifying the top quality of runners on the night. Post-Meydan the 4-year-old went on to win the G3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita, while being placed in the Group 2 Eddie D Stakes, and is a strong contender in the prestigious 2020 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. A similar international participation is anticipated in 2021.

The Closing date for Horse Connections to file in their Dubai World Cup Carnival applications is Nov. 23, 2020.

All races will be contested and regulated in standard fashion and results will be recorded in an official capacity. In line with the UAE Government regulations, Dubai Racing Club will follow the strict health and safety measures, including comprehensive sanitation, thermal screening of attendees and social distancing.

Dubai Racing Club is also pleased to welcome back our sponsors, Emirates Airline, Longines, DP World, Gulf News, Emirates NBD, Azizi Developments, Al Tayer Motors, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City – District One and Mubadala.

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