Saeed bin Suroor | Horse Racing Free Tips

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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Real World Targets Saudi Cup

Dual group winner Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) pleased trainer Saeed bin Suroor in his work on Thursday and is being pointed at the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup in February. Godolphin's 5-year-old son of Nafura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the Listed Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot on June 16, added the Aug. 21 Strensall S. prior to signing off last season with a narrow victory in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 2.

“He worked today and he worked really well, he's in good order and I'm very happy with him,” said Bin Suroor on Thursday. “The target with him is to take him to Saudi, but I would like to give him a race first at the end of this month.

“I will judge him when he works next week and see when I think he is ready for a race and then we'll make a plan. We don't need to run him on dirt before Saudi, I'll run him on turf, we'll go back on dirt in the Saudi Cup.”

He added, “When we took him back to Newmarket he grew and became a better horse, it's as simple as that. That is why I want to run him on turf first, to get him ready for the Saudi Cup.”

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Curtain Rises on Dubai World Cup Carnival

The 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival lasts from Jan. 14-Mar. 5, Super Saturday and begins on Friday. The 19th edition of the DWCC features enhanced purses and a new group of turf races, the Jumeirah Series. Anchoring the first seven-race card-six Thoroughbred and one Arabian race–is the $250,000 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 Presented by Nakheel, which attracted a field of 14.

Meydan veterans abound in the 1600-metre dirt contest, with 2021 G2 Godolphin Mile hero Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) signed on, one of five for trainer Bhupat Seemar. Breaking from stall five, the 9-year-old entire hasn't been seen in action since his Dubai World Cup night heroics.

“Secret Ambition has a good draw [stall five], is fit, healthy, and good to go,” said Seemar, who also saddles dual Meydan winner Imperial Empire (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), 2020 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 victor Kimbear (Temple City), the two-for-two Kafoo (Curlin) and 2021 Godolphin Mile third Avant Garde (Tonalist). “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.

“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.”

Others signed on are last year's G1 Dubai World Cup fourth-place finisher Hypothetical (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and the 2021 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 and G1 Al Matoum Challenge Round 3 scorer Salute the Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}). The 2019 G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 winner Capezzano (Bernardini) is also back for more, as is four-time Meydan dirt lover and Doug Watson trainee Thegreatcollection (Saint Anddan).

Said Watson, who also sends out Midnight Sands (Speightstown) and Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), “They're all doing well at home. We were a bit disappointed with Midnight Sands last time [when unplaced in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile on Dec. 16] 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.”

The Grass is Greener

Just after the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 is the G2 Cape Verdi, also over a mile, for fillies and mares on grass. The royal blue silks of Godolphin have been carried to victory in the race nine times already, and trainer Saeed bin Suroor has a pair entered, among them Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas victress of last year. Although off the board in a Riyadh after her Guineas win in January, she failed to see out the 1900 metres of the G2 UAE Derby on dirt in March. Returned to the UK, she ran out a 1 3/4-length winner in the Listed Rosemary S. at Newmarket in September going this trip, but gave way and finished ninth in the 2000-metre G3 Pride S. there on Oct. 8.

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

Bearing the second-string white cap is Stunning Beauty (Ire) (Shamardal), who was third after briefly leading in a Goodwood conditions race in August.

“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.

Fellow Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby also has a contender in the lightly raced Nov. 13 Wolverhampton synthetic conditions scorer Wedding Dance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Successful in the past three renewals, 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.”

Mnasek (Empire Maker) appears to be the main threat to shake up the Godolphin domination. Raced exclusively at Meydan for her five starts to date, she was a distant second to Soft Whisper after a slow break in the 1900m UAE 1000 Guineas, but thrived in the G3 UAE Oaks last February. Only ninth in the colts' equivalent on Dubai World Cup night, she returned on Nov. 18 to run second in a rated conditions heat, but this will be her turf bow.

Turf Classic Pointers

Billed as turf prep races for the new $300,000 1400-metre grassy Ras Al Khor on Super Saturday, Mar. 5, the Jumeirah Series also begins on Friday with the 1400-metre Jumeirah Classic Trial Presented by Palm Jumeirah. Saeed bin Suroor fields Home City (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) with Frankie Dettori in the irons with an eye to the European Classics. The colt ran second in a nursery handicap at Goodwod in October and is one of two in the race for Godolphin, with Charlie Appleby's Sovereign Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a winner over this trip at Epsom on Sept. 26. The highest rated horse in the eight-strong race is Alice Haynes's Mr Professor (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), who found soft going to his liking in the Listed Silver Tankard S. at Pontefract on Oct. 18.

Meydan also hosts the Listed Dubai Racing Club Classic Presented by the View at the Palm over 2410 metres on turf and Meydan's nightcap-the Listed Dubai Dash over the minimum trip, also on turf. Naturally, Godolphin holds a strong hand in the former, with bin Suroor's G1 Grosser Preis von Baden third Passion and Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Appleby's Listed Blue Riband Trial victor Wirko (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) subscribed among a quintet of royal blue representatives.

Leading on ratings in the turf sprint is Motafaawit (Ire) (Intikhab), one of five for the late Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell operation. The gelding was fifth most recently in the Mar. 27 G1 Al Quoz Sprint. He locks horns with Listed Dubai Sprint hero Man of Promise (Into Mischief) from the Appleby yard.

Click here to view the group fields.

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Benbatl Retired to Big Red Farm in Japan

Godolphin homebred Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}–Nahrain {GB}, by Selkirk), a multiple Group 1 winner in Dubai, Germany and Australia, has been retired from racing and will take up stallion duties at Big Red Farm in Japan. A fee for the 7-year-old, who is Dubawi's top earning, will be announced later.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said, “Benbatl was a great horse for Godolphin, winning many important races throughout the world including Group 1 contests in Dubai, Germany and Australia.

“He was the ultimate professional in everything he did, which made him an easy horse to train. Everyone at Godolphin Stables will miss him–but he has a very good pedigree, and we are looking forward to seeing how he performs in his new career.”

A winner on debut at Doncaster for trainer Saeed bin Suroor as a 3-year-old, the bay won the G3 Hampton Court S. that year and was placed twice at group level from seven starts. At four, he won the G3 Singspiel S. first up at Meydan, then added the G2 Al Rashidiya there, ran second in the G1 Jebel Hatta and swooped to victory in the G1 Dubai Turf in March of 2018, his first top-level win. In July, he captured the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Munich two starts later and eked out a nose victory in the Caulfield S. Down Under. His final start of the campaign was arguably his best effort-running second to the might Australian mare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Cox Plate that October.

Given 11 months on the sidelines, Benbatl returned in September of 2019 to win his first G2 Joel S. in England–he would run third in 2020. At six, he added the G2 Singspiel S. and the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 in January and early February, respectively, before completing the trifecta in the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup in Riyadh. Lightly raced at seven, Benbatl was a narrow second in the G2 Celebration Mile S. before winning his second Joel S. in his penultimate start. He retires with a mark of 25-11-4-3 and $7,853,165 in earnings.

A full-brother to the stakes-placed Fooraat (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Benbatl is a son of G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Nahrain, who also won the GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. and was runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. His fourth dam, La Mer (NZ) (Copenhagen II {GB}), was a New Zealand Horse of the Year.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Benbatl would be standing at Darley Japan. We regret the error.

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