Meydan Friday preview: read what connections say

A bumper nine-race Dubai Racing Carnival card gets the festive season started at Meydan Racecourse on Friday, a meeting you can watch live on Racing TV.

The feature race among the eight thoroughbred contests is the 1200metre Dubai Islands Handicap, race six, for which 12 have been declared.

They include Fawzi Nass’s Army Ethos, who makes his Dubai debut after winning twice in the UK and once in Bahrain.

“Army Ethos runs for the first time on the dirt,” said jockey Adrie de Vries. “He’s worked well on it and I think he’s feeling comfortable on it. We would have liked to run him over seven [1400metres] but there were no options so it might be a little bit sharp for him.”

Syndicate Deva Racing have a new recruit to Dubai in Dapper Valley, the four-year-old having won three times for them in the UK this season.

“Dapper Valley has been training well on the dirt since arriving in Dubai,” said Ryan Tongue, Director of Deva Racing. “It looks a higher grade to the race he won at Kempton last time, but he has a nice low weight and we are looking forward to seeing him make his debut for Bhupat [Seemar].”

Another interesting contender is the Michael Costa-trained Ma Yetal, who runs for the first time in a handicap. The four-year-old won his first two starts at Meydan, before contesting Group 3 company on his most recent two outings, and is the subject of a positive update from his trainer.

“If his work comes over to race day then he will be back in the thick of it,” said the Australian handler.

Costa, who has eight wins so far this season, also runs the unbeaten Manshod in the first division of the 1200metre turf Naya Residences Handicap, race seven.

“Manshod has come through his two Abu Dhabi wins well,” said the trainer of the Australian-bred son of Animal Kingdom. “This looks a suitable race to step into.”

Vespasian, a winner over this course for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, makes his return here, with Danny Tudhope booked to ride.

“Vespasian was successful here a couple of years ago, winning at Jebel Ali and Meydan,” said Ed Crisford. “He had a long time off but ran a super race on his return in the Shergar Cup at Ascot in August, then he may have just ‘bounced’ on soft ground a few weeks later.

“I think he will definitely improve, but a nice run should put him in good stead for a winter campaign.”

Devon Island was the impressive five length winner of his Meydan debut three weeks’ ago and Charlie Appleby’s colt faces runner-up Brotherly Love and eight others in the 1600metre two-year-old Como Residences Conditions event, race eight.

Devon Island receives weight from one of his rivals. Julio Olascoaga’s Don Pelicano carries 61kg because of his Uruguay win and the fact he is a Southern Hemisphere-bred three-year-old.

“Don Pelicano came from Uruguay just over a month ago,” said the trainer. “He is a really well-bred horse and I think he will run well, but it is a competitive race, plus he has to carry a penalty.”

British-based South African trainer Dylan Cunha runs Tailgunner Joe, winner of a 1400metre maiden among four UK starts.

“He was bought at the Breeze-Up Sales with Dubai in mind,” he said. “He’s done well as a two-year-old for us in England. He needs to improve on the dirt, which he has in his work, and he’s done two really good gallops with Gun Carriage.

“I’ve been impressed with him. He’s probably 90 per cent, fitness-wise, as I gave him a little break in England but I think he’s going to do really well in Dubai.”

Cunha runs the aforementioned Gun Carriage in race five, the 1600metre dirt Nakheel Handicap. The son of 2017 Dubai World Cup runner-up Gun Runner is the winner of one of his three starts for Aidan O’Brien in Ireland.

“We bought him at the Horses In Training Sale for Dubai and he’s done two really good bits of work here and has taken to the track well,” said Cunha. “We gelded him which has lightened him up a bit which I think is what needed.

“He’s got good Irish form and what I liked about him is that he won his race from the front and he’s got gate speed which you need for the dirt here.

“A mile will be on the short side for him, he wants a mile and a quarter or maybe more, but hopefully he can sit handy. We know he’ll stay, and the dirt should bring out some improvement.”

One of Gun Carriage’s more formidable rivals is Royal Favour, an eight-length winner here when last seen in March.

“Royal Favour is a really nice horse,” said co-trainer Ed Crisford. “He won well last year on the dirt and had some good form before then behind Heart Of Honor. He’s had the summer off, this is his first run back, so he’ll come forward for the run.

“He probably wants more like 2000metres, but this is a lovely starting point. I expect him to improve again physically and mentally.”

The final race is a competitive second division of the 1800metre Palm Jumeirah turf handicap, in which 14 run. Appleby sends out Newmarket winner Mothecombe, while Olascoaga sends out Don Vaccaro, fourth last time at Jebel Ali.

“I’m confident there’s more to come from Don Vaccaro,” he said. “He was a little bit slow at the start of the season last year, but this time he has been training really well. He has already had a prep run up the hill in a competitive race, and he has been working really well on the turf.”

The Madjani Stakes [Sponsored by Nakheel] for Purebred Arabians is the Group contest on the card.

Remarkably, 2020 winner RB Frynchh Dude returns to try and win this race again. Now back with trainers Helal and Tahnon Alalawi, the nine-year-old has been in excellent form this season, winning at Al Ain on his most recent outing. His seven career victories include the Group Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at Meydan in 2021, so he is a formidable opponent here for his 11 rivals.

“We’re truly delighted to see RB Frynchh Dude back in winning form,” said Alalawi. “He’s a special horse with a big heart, and the team has worked hard to bring him back to this level. His latest performance reflects his class, and we’re very excited about what’s ahead for him.”

Up against RB Frynchh Dude is AA Lahab, who has won all three starts, most recently the 2024 G3 Al Ain Mile. Tony Gammell’s charge warmed up for this with a trial victory at Jebel Ali in October and makes his Meydan debut here.

“AA Lahab is doing well,” said the Al Asayl handler. “He’s been to Meydan for a few gallops which have gone well. This race is to see where his fitness is at and then we can plan for the rest of the season.”

Unleashed won Group One Maktoum Challenge Round 2 last season under Richie Mullen, who retains the ride.

“He had a very good season last year, although it tailed off a little bit towards the back end,” said the jockey. “He always improves for his first start and this is good race for him to start in. The draw [12] hasn’t been very kind but it should set him up for a good season."