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Dubai Carnival: Secret Ambition Tops Round 1 Of Al Maktoum Challenge

The 19th edition of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, the Dubai Racing Club's annual showpiece event, gets underway with an attractive seven-race card at Meydan Racecourse on Friday, Jan. 14.

With a range of new incentives in place, the eight-week extravaganza, which will culminate in the $30.5 million Dubai World Cup meeting on 26 March, has the potential to be one of the best in its history.

The Carnival gets underway with the opening rounds of the 1600 meter (one-mile) (Dirt) Al Maktoum Challenge series, for Thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians and its main support race, the 1600m (Turf) Group 2 Cape Verdi for fillies and mares.

The card also features the first running of the Jumeirah Classic Trial; the first event in the exciting four-race Jumeirah Series which is dedicated to the Classic generation.

A full field of 14 thoroughbreds, many of them boasting big-race aspirations, will contest Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge, a race of major significance and potential Dubai World Cup implications.

Arguably one of the best renewals of a race that was first run in 1994, the Group 2 contest has attracted the likes of 2021 Godolphin Mile (G2) winner Secret Ambition, Dubai World Cup fourth Hypothetical and Salute The Soldier, the Bahrain-owned gelding who won the second and third rounds of the series last season.

The full depth of the contest is driven home by the presence of two veteran former Al Maktoum Challenge winners, Kimbear (Round 1 2020) and Capezzano (Round 3, 2019), and four-time Meydan dirt scorer Thegreatcollection.

Former Godolphin-trained Imperial Empire is unbeaten in two starts this season for in-form handler Bhupat Seemar and will have the services of three-time Dubai World Cup-winning rider Frankie Dettori, who makes his highly anticipated seasonal debut in the UAE on Friday.

Seemar, who warmed up for the Carnival by saddling five winners on last week's card, is mob-handed with five contenders in Secret Ambition (Tadhg O'Shea), Imperial Empire, Kimbear (Antonio Fresu), Kafoo (William Buick) and Avant Garde (Richard Mullen).

Assessing the chances of his quintet, the trainer said: “This is the best Al Maktoum Challenge we've had in years. All five are in good form and ready to run. We have a nice mix of old pros and newer horses.

“Secret Ambition has a good draw (Stall 5), is fit, healthy, and good to go.

“Kafoo is drawn 10 but is unbeaten this season. He's doing everything right. I only hope inexperience doesn't catch him because he's definitely got the talent to be up there to compete against this class of horses,” he added.

“Imperial Empire is a Dubawi and is a half-brother to a Group 1 winner, so hopefully he should show up.

“Kimbear ran a good race on his debut for us but unfortunately he's drawn a bit on the outside (Stall 11), while Avant Garde is doing really well. This is his minimum trip, he would rather go over a mile and quarter, but it's a good place to start him.”

O'Shea backs Secret Ambition

UAE champion jockey Tadhg O'Shea has already ridden 30 winners this season, with half of them coming at Meydan, and the popular Irish rider said that he was looking forward to mixing it up with the best jockeys in the Al Maktoum Challenge when he rides the international favorite, Secret Ambition.

“His form speaks for itself and though he runs after a lengthy layoff he should run a very good race,” said the rider. “Whatever he does he will improve for it.”

Champion UAE handler Doug Watson sampled success in the 2020 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 with Kimbear and is set to saddle three contenders – Midnight Sands,, Golden Goal and Thegreatcollection.

He commented: “They're all doing well at home. We were a bit disappointed with Midnight Sands last time but it was his first run after a long lay-off. He's been training well since.

“Thegreatcollection and Golden Goal are both in great shape. They both ran well recently after being off for the track for eight to nine months. It looks like they've come on so we're hoping they all run well.”

Emirati handler Ahmad bin Harmash sends out Listed Dubai Creek Mile runner-up and former Godolphin galloper Eastern World.

“He had his first start on dirt recently and he ran very well, so it looks like can handle the surface,” said Bin Harmash. “He's a new horse who we got at the September sale, but he is well bred and is a half-brother to Thunder Snow. I think he will run well.”

Godolphin seek to extend dominance

The 1600m Cape Verdi (G2), a race named after Godolphin's 1998 1000 Guineas heroine, has been won by the stable on no less than nine occasions and Soft Whisper looks primed to continue that trend on Friday.

Trainer by Saeed Bin Suroor, who has collected five Cape Verdi trophies over the years, Soft Whisper was an impressive winner of the UAE 1000 Guineas last season before having two starts at Newmarket in the UK. She won well over a mile but perhaps did not stay over an extended 2,000 metres in her subsequent outing in October.

Bin Suroor, an eight-time champion trainer at the Carnival, is looking for his first win of the year and believes that Soft Whisper (Frankie Dettori) can get him off the mark by taking out the Cape Verdi.

“She ran well last year, here in Dubai and also when we took her back to England. She won Listed races on both dirt and turf,” he said. “This looks like it is the right race to start her four-year-old campaign as she has been pleasing us at home.”

Bin Suroor also saddles three-time UK scorer Stunning Beauty under young English rider Hector Crouch, who is seeking a first Pattern race success for the Emirati handler.

“Stunning Beauty showed better form in the UK last season and has been going well at home, so I'm hoping for a nice performance over a trip that suits,” said Bin Suroor.

Watson's Mnasek a threat

The main threat to the Bin Suroor pair appears to be the Doug Watson-trainer Mnasek, winner of the 2021 UAE Oaks (G3) on dirt. She makes her turf debut with stable jockey Pat Dobbs in the saddle.

The last three renewals of the Cape Verdi have been taken out by two-time Epsom Derby-winning handler Charlie Appleby who relies on Wedding Dance (William Buick). She won her most recent start on the all-weather at Wolverhampton in November.

Appleby said: “Wedding Dance improved from her first to second run last season, winning nicely at Wolverhampton on the latter occasion.

“The plan was always to bring her out to Dubai afterwards and we have been pleased with the way she has been training out here. She will potentially come forward for this, but we feel that she is ready to have a run and should be competitive.”

The Carnival kicks off at 6.00 pm (UAE time) with the eight-runner Purebred Arabian Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R1, Presented By The Pointe. The line-up includes the last two winners of this, RB Money To Burn and Brraq, as well as exciting G2 Bani Yas winner RB Rich Lyke Me.

Exciting series for Classic generation

Elsewhere on the card, the Jumeirah Classic Trial, Presented By Palm Jumeirah, has drawn eight promising three-year-olds, led by Bin Suroor's Home City (Frankie Dettori). He comes into the race off the back of a promising second in a 1400 metre nursery at Goodwood last October.

Appleby is represented by Sovereign Prince, who was also successful in the UK last season, winning at Epsom on his most recent start in September.

Another interesting contest is the Listed Dubai Racing Club Classic, Presented By The View At The Palm, over 2,400 metres on turf.

Appleby's Wilko, winner of the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom in April last year, and Bin Suroor's Passion And Glory, third in the G1 Grosser Preis Von Baden in September, look the pick of the 16 runners.

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Classy Indian Peak Headlines Saturday’s Unusual Heat Turf Classic

Classy and plenty versatile, Indian Peak heads a field of eight older horses going a mile and one eighth over the Santa Anita turf in Saturday's $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, presented by City National Bank.

A winner of last year's Cal Cup Derby on the Santa Anita main track, Legacy Ranch's Big Fish gets back with statebreds on Saturday and appears a good fit as he tries the Classic distance for the first time.

Owned and bred by Alfred Pais, Margot's Boy, although winless in nine starts last year, had four seconds and a proven affinity for the local lawn as he seeks his first stakes win.

Originally scheduled for turf, the Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes was moved to the main track due to recent rain on Dec. 26 and although he was attentive to the early pace, Indian Peak simply didn't fire, finishing a distant fourth at 5-1.

Trained by Ruben Alvarado, Indian Peak, a 5-year-old gelding by Comic Strip, out of the Roar mare Ms. Booty, was a big third, beaten three quarters of a length two starts back going 1 1/16 miles on turf in the G2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar Nov. 27.

A winner of the mile and one eighth turf Snow Chief Stakes here at age three in June, 2020, Indian Peak is 5-2-1-0 over the course and he comes off his best year in terms of money-won, banking $170,932 from an 11-2-1-1 mark in 2021.

Owned by Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber, Indian Peak, who won the California Flag Handicap three starts back going down the hillside turf at about 6 ½ furlongs on Oct. 17, will likely attend the early pace as he seeks his seventh win from 23 overall starts.

Trained by David Hofmans, Big Fish, a 4-year-old gelding by hot sire Mr. Big, comes off a fourth place run going a mile and one sixteenth on synthetic Tapeta in the G3 Berkeley Handicap Nov. 27 at Golden Gate Fields.

Although winless in three tries over the Santa Anita turf, Big Fish has two wins from six turf tries, including an ungraded stakes win going a mile on turf at Del Mar as a juvenile. With an overall mark of 12-3-2-1, Big Fish has the credentials to be a major factor in the Classic.

A sharp second, beaten a neck in a one mile allowance on the main track here Dec. 4, the Craig Lewis-trained Margot's Boy, who was ninth the Classic a year ago, has three wins from eight tries over the course and rates a fighting chance with Juan Hernandez back aboard. A 5-year-old gelding by top California-based sire Clubhouse Ride, Margot's Boy is 21-3-5-3 with earnings of $260,946.

THE UNUSUAL HEAT TURF CLASSIC WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 10 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

Whooping Jay—Joe Bravo–120
Margot's Boy—Juan Hernandez—122
Aligato—Flavien Prat—120
Luvluv—Tyler Baze—120
Camino Del Paraiso—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
Big Fish—Umberto Rispoli—124
Ferrariano—Abel Cedillo–120
Indian Peak—John Velazquez—124

First post time for a 10-race card on Cal Cup Day, Saturday, is at 12 noon. Admission gates open at 10 a.m. The Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank, is on of five California-bred or sired stakes on Saturday.

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Unbeaten Professors’ Pride Transitions To Turf For Saturday’s California Cup Oaks

In one of the most competitive races on a 10-race California Cup Day program, veteran trainer Eddie Truman's Professors' Pride will try to transfer her scintillating dirt form to turf as she heads a field of 12 sophomore fillies bred or sired in California in Saturday's $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks at a flat mile.

Proven at one mile on turf, Vivacious Vanessa rates a huge chance as well for trainer Gary Mandella as she transitions back to the grass following a disappointing effort sprinting on the main track.

With John Velazquez taking over, John Sadler's Big Novel, a consistent performer on dirt, will try turf for the first time in what will be her sixth career start.

A first-out Cal Bred maiden special winner going six furlongs on Nov. 14 at Del Mar, Professors' Pride, who is owned by longtime Truman client Academic Farms, then stretched out to run her competition off their feet going a flat mile in the statebred Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10. Off as the 9-5 favorite, the daughter of 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern toyed with her competition and defeated Big Novel, who she'll face again on Saturday, by three lengths.

Bred in California by Glen Hill Farm, Professors' Pride, unbeaten in two starts, is out of the Twirling Candy mare Last Resort and has banked $102,000.

A first-out winner from far off the pace versus statebreds in a one mile turf maiden special here on Oct. 16, Vivacious Vanessa came back to run a better than looked third, beaten 9 ¼ lengths, in the seven furlong (dirt) Golden State Juvenile Fillies Nov. 5 at Del Mar. Hemmed in around the far turn, she finished well under Juan Hernandez, who will ride her back on Saturday.

A California-bred daughter of Not This Time, out of the Mizzen Mast mare Masterful Lass, Vivacious Vanessa, who sold for $95,000 as a yearling, is owned by Thomas Nichols. She need only run back to her maiden win to be a serious contender in the Oaks.

By hot sire Mr. Big, Big Novel is owned by her breeder, George Krikorian. A six furlong winner versus statebreds in her third start on Oct. 2, she was second, beaten three lengths by Professors' Pride in the one mile Soviet Problem Stakes Dec. 10 at Los Alamitos and will be ridden for the fifth consecutive time by Joe Bravo.

Never off the board in five starts, with a win, three seconds and a third, Big Novel will likely stalk the early pace in her first turf assignment. Out of the Heatseeker mare Steamy Novel, Big Novel has earnings of $115,850.

THE $200,000 CAL CUP OAKS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 10 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

Big Novel—John Velazquez—124
Ellamira—Tyler Baze–124
Vivacious Vanessa—Juan Hernandez—124
Munny Penny—Abel Cedillo—124
Madiha—Kyle Frey—124
Eleuthera—Mario Gutierrez–124
Professors' Pride—Umberto Rispoli—124
Dendera—Ryan Curatolo—124
Precious Insight—Victor Espinoza—124
La Deuxieme Etoile—Joe Bravo—124
Rose Dawson—Flavien Prat—124
Vaping Angel—Mike Smith–124

First post time for a 10-race Cal Cup Day card on Saturday is at 12 noon. Admission gates open at 10 a.m.

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Rome Homebred Straight Up G Towers Over California Cup Derby Foes

A lights-out winner of his last two starts, Jungle Racing LLC's homebred Straight Up G appears a standout versus five sophomores going 1 1/16 miles in Saturday's $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

One of five California Cup Day races on a 10-race program, the Cal Cup Derby will be center stage as Straight Up G and his rivals attempt to follow in the footsteps of the Art Sherman-trained California Chrome, who used the 2014 Cal Cup Derby as a springboard to glory in the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies as well as the 2014 Preakness Stakes.

Like California Chrome, the Richard Baltas-trained Straight Up G, a bay colt by red hot sire Straight Fire, out of the Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl, comes off a big win versus statebreds in the one mile King Glorious Stakes run at Los Alamitos on Dec. 12.

Owned and bred by sports talk icon Jim Rome and his wife Janet's Jungle Racing, Straight Up G debuted as an even money favorite going 5 ½ furlongs here on Oct. 9, but finished a disappointing fourth. Subsequently off at 4-5 in a six furlong maiden special versus Cal-breds on Nov. 21 at Del Mar, he aired by 5 ¼ lengths, earning a lofty 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

Off at 2-1 in the King Glorious, he led throughout in a thoroughly dominant performance, winning by 3 ½ lengths over Finneus, who he will again face on Saturday while earning a 75 Beyer.

With Ricky Gonzalez back to ride for a third consecutive time, Straight Up G appears headed for the deep waters of the Kentucky Derby Trail should he replicate his performance in the King Glorious on Saturday.

A gutty half length winner of the seven furlong Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar Nov. 5, Finneus, a California-bred colt by Stay Thirsty, was off as the 9-5 favorite in the King Glorious, but he could never threaten Straight Up G, finishing second by 3 ½ lengths. Well beaten three starts back in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes here on Oct. 1, Finneus, who will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez, will be trying two turns for the third time. Devoid of early speed, his chances would be enhanced should there be a fast pace.

Bred by Terry Lovinger, trained by Walther Solis and owned by Lovingier, Mohammed Naseer Fasihuddin and Amanda Navarro, Finneus, who is out of the Ghostzapper mare My Fiona, is the leading money earner in the field with $266,366 from an overall mark of 7-2-3-1.

A sharp two length allowance winner going 5 ½ furlongs on synthetic Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields Dec. 31, the O. J. Jauregui-trained Highland Ghost will face statebred company and go two turns for the second time in what will be his eighth career start. Quick from the blocks, this chestnut colt by 2017 Santa Anita Handicap winner Shaman Ghost could prove bothersome early to Straight Up G.

With a solid last-out Beyer of 74 to his credit, Highland Ghost is owned by his breeder, Highland Yard, LLC and is 7-2-2-1 overall with earnings of $69,506.

THE $200,000 CAL CUP DERBY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 3 of 10 Approximate post time 1 p.m. PT

Highland Ghost—Flavien Prat—124
Sippin N Kissin—Abel Cedillo—124
Fast Draw Munnings—Drayden Van Dyke–124
Finneus—John Velazquez—124
Straight Up G—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
Agador Spartacus—Tyler Baze–124

First post time for a 10-race card, which will include a total of five California-bred or sired stakes on California Cup Day, Saturday is at 12 noon. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m.

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