Meydan preview: quotes from connections of the leading players

A pulsating Dubai Racing Carnival meeting at Meydan Racecourse on Friday has horses vying for qualification for Dubai World Cup day and the Kentucky Derby – two of the biggest race meetings on the planet.

The card’s official feature is the G2 Balanchine Stakes [sponsored by Al Tayer Motors], for fillies and mares over 1800metres on turf. Godolphin have a strong hand, fielding three of the seven runners, including Dubai Beach (pictured), who beat three of today’s rivals in the 1600metre G2 Cape Verdi five weeks’ ago. Those facing her again include her Saeed bin Suroor stablemate, Dubai Treasure, third last time.

“Dubai Beach and Dubai Treasure came out of the Cape Verdi in good shape and have been working well,” said bin Suroor, who has won this race four times. “It is a slightly different field compared to last time, and nine furlongs will be a new experience for both of my fillies. I am hoping that they can get nice and relaxed in the race again, which will give them the best chance of getting the trip.”

Charlie Appleby, who holds the record in this race with five wins, sends out a new shooter in Blue Nazare, a five and a half length winner on debut at Great Yarmouth in October.

 “Blue Nazare was impressive on her only start to date,” said the trainer. “She took her time to acclimatise to conditions out in Dubai but has come into herself recently. I don’t foresee any issues with the step up in trip, although she is taking on some good fillies who have already run this winter.”

The Listed Road to the Kentucky Derby [formerly Al Bastakiya], race seven, carries Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the first time, with 20 available to the winner, 10 to the second and six for the third.

Trainer Bhupat Seemar experienced Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May with Summer Is Tomorrow back in 2022. He runs five here, including Salloom who made amends for being withdrawn at the start on his intended debut in December with a facile win over 1600metres three weeks’ ago.

“Salloom is doing great and I think he came out of the last race really well,” said Seemar. “He’s ready to go again and take his chance, but I hope he behaves in the gate – that’s the biggest thing.”

There are two Europeans in the field of 13, including the David Menuisier-trained Knight Of Glory, a creditable sixth behind eventual UAE 2000 Guineas winner Six Speed last time out in January.

“Knight Of Glory broke his maiden over a mile at Lingfield, and I was eager to run him in the Guineas Trial to teach him how to handle kickback,” said the UK-based handler. “The trip was far too short for him, but despite this he finished off his race really well, having been outpaced most of the way.

“He showed a little bit of greenness/temperament behind the stalls and that’s why I bypassed the Guineas, to give him time to digest the trip and the race and everything else.

“He’s been doing a lot of stalls work and has been absolutely grand. The trip will definitely suit him and I think he has a lot more to offer if he behaves himself. He’s definitely a horse to keep on the right side of.”

The G3 UAE Oaks [sponsored by DEEPAL], race three, offers qualifying points for the G1 Kentucky Oaks in May and a field of seven go here. They include Labwah, Tjareed, Dozalla and Yuno, first to fourth in the 1600metre Cocoa Beach Stakes a month ago.

“Labwah is super, there are only positives between her last run and Friday,” said trainer Salem bin Ghadayer. “She has a nice draw [1] and from there she can follow the pace, or lead, and I’m confident the extra 300metres will be a plus too.”

The G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy [sponsored by DEEPAL G318] was won last year by eventual G2 Dubai Gold Cup winner Dubai Future and eight horses will try to emulate him in Friday’s 2810metre staying contest.

Sunway comes here in excellent form, having won the G3 Al Khail Trophy over course and distance in January, and his trainer Menuisier is hopeful.

“Sunway seems in really good form,” he said. “We’ll see how the race pans out but I would expect a good run. Obviously, there’s one or two unexposed types in the race, but he couldn’t be in better form.”

One of the unexposed runners is Surabad, who has just his second run in the UAE having previously been trained by Francis Graffard in France.

“Surabad came late, in November, and with a little bit of condition, so everything was a rush with him,” said trainer bin Ghadayer. “We gave him a race in the Emirates Championship which he needed and he will take something from that.

“I think he will be better over this distance than in his last race.”

Godolphin have won this race nine times in a row and Appleby will try to uphold that record with By The Book, a winner here two starts ago.

“By The Book won nicely on his first start at Meydan but disappointed in the Dubai Millennium Stakes, when nothing came to light afterwards apart from possibly the drop back to a mile and a quarter,” he said. “He came out of the race fine and we have been toying about stepping him up to this sort of distance at some point. We are taking the plunge now and will be slightly wiser afterwards.”

The eight-race card features some competitive handicap action, notably race two, the DEEPAL S07 Handicap, over 1000metres on turf. Fast filly Miss Yechance drops in trip here, having been passed close home when fifth in the Mawj Stakes over 1400metres last time out.

“Last time out we gave her the chance to perform at 1400metres and against fillies, which we thought could open opportunities for her future, as at that time there wasn’t any other suitable race for her,” explained Julio Olascoaga, co-trainer. “It didn’t quite work out as planned, so this time she returns to her specialty.

“She has continued training well, although we haven’t touched any buttons, just maintenance work, to have her fresh and happy.”

Olascoaga also runs Donde Firmo, sixth last time out over 1200metres, who switches to the turf for the first time.”

“His penultimate race at Jebel Ali was quite interesting,” he said. “Overall this season he has shown ability that might evolve into him being a good sprinter for the future.”

Subito, a maiden winner at Churchill Downs for Jaime Torres, makes his local debut in the same race for Seemar.

“Subito is doing great,” he said. “Our plan was to run in the six furlong race [1200metres] on the same day but the conditions changed to seven furlongs, which could be a little bit too far for him.

“We’ve decided to try him on the turf over five furlongs and see how he handles it.”

Race four, the Touch The Future Handicap, over 1900metres on turf, also looks open. Norway-based trainer Niels Petersen is hopeful his War Socks can get a Dubai breakthrough at the seventh attempt, having finished third over a mile last time out.

“He is in great, great form and the increase distance is a big help,” he said. “We have a bad draw again [13] but Silvestre [de Sousa, jockey] fancies him and I guess that’s got to be a good sign.”

Racing begins at 5:30pm UAE with a 1400metre maiden in which 12 go to post.