Meydan on Friday: Burke hopes Flight Plan goes smoothly

Horses trained in eight different countries will clash on a bumper nine-race card at Meydan on Friday, a meeting you can enjoy on Racing TV.

The feature race is the $350,000 Lord North Handicap, sponsored by DP World, named in honour of the  three-time Dubai Turf winner, has attracted a field of 12.

As a Group Twowinner, Flight Plan deserves top billing. Karl Burke’s five-year-old  makes his Dubai debut off the back of a fifth to stablemate Holloway Boy at Kempton in December.

“Flight Plan looks great, I’m really happy with his condition since he arrived in Dubai,” said Burke. “He looks really well, has worked really well, got a good draw [1] and we’re looking forward to seeing him run.

“He’s run over nine furlongs before when he finished third in the [2023] Strensall at York, so the trip holds no fears although he’s just as effective at a mile.”

Flight Plan’s 11 rivals include a fellow British raider in Fort George, who makes his Meydan debut for trainer Ed Walker and jockey Kieran Shoemark, who will sport the silks of owner Fitri Hay.

“Fort George worked well with Kieran [Shoemark] on him,” reported Walker, who celebrated his first Dubai win last week with Northern Champion. “We’re very happy with him as he didn’t blow and his recovery has made a step forward from last week. His weight is good, and he looks great.”

Also in the field is last time out winner Native American, one of two in the line-up for owners Wathnan Racing who also run Jeff Koons, while Charlie Appleby sends out Mothecome, a narrow third to Native American a month ago. Saeed bin Suroor runs Britannia Stakes winner Arabian Story, making his first start since July.

The Al Wasl Stakes [sponsored by DP World], race five, looks a fascinating contest with 11 just-turned three-year-olds thundering down the Meydan straight turf track.

Godolphin run three, with Appleby’s Mill Reef Stakes winner Words Of Truth looking the pick of them. William Buick rides the colt, with Richie Mullen on Maximised and Oisin Orr on Sword Maker for bin Suroor.

“Words Of Truth proved a solid campaigner last season and has wintered well so far,” said Appleby. “He looks the one they all have to beat on the form book, and we are confident that conditions here will suit.

“Maximized showed a decent level of form heading into the first part of the summer but lost his way slightly afterwards. He has been gelded and his preparation going into this has been faultless. If he can get back to his early two-year-old form, he will be a big player."

Bin Suroor said: “Sword Maker improved throughout last season and has been working well out in Dubai. He is ready to get going and this looks the right race for him.”

Swedish trainer Oscar Berneklint enjoyed family success at Meydan a few years ago when his mother Susanne won with I Kirk and Plata O Plomo. He’s now back with his own license and saddles two here, Nocutsnobuts and Supreme Shine, the only filly in the race.

“Both of them look really well and have adapted well to the climate,” said the trainer, whose wife Rebecca Stålhandskerides Supreme Shine.“We think Friday will be a bit too sharp, especially going over the straight track for the first time. Both are going to need the run but hopefully they will get good experience out of the race.

“We’re hopeful for a good run but their opponents – not least Words Of Truth – will be tough horses to go up against.”

Multiple Spanish Champion Trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta has enjoyed notable success at Dubai Racing Carnival with four winners so far. He sends out his first runners of the season on Friday, including Gold Index, who goes in race three, the Jebel Ali Port Handicap.

“We bought Gold Index in July and he won very well in Madrid in October and after that we kept him for Dubai,” he said. “He’s a nice horse with good form in France and now we know him a bit better.

“Probably he will stay a bit further, but we’ll see how he gets on in his first race.”

Gold Index’s 15 opponents include Hallasan, winner of the Jumeirah Guineas Trial here last season, and Argentine Group one winner Giustino.

Arizkorreta also runs ten-year-old veteran Furioso in the following We One Handicap, over 1600metres on dirt.

“Furioso is a lovely horse, a bit older, and he’s been everywhere, including winning the big race on the snow in St Moritz three years ago,” he said. “He loves the dirt track in Madrid so we will see how he adapts to Dubai.”

Furioso is drawn three in a capacity field of 16, which includes Gun Carriage, a promising second to the re-opposing Zandvoort on his dirt debut a month ago.

“It was a rush to get him there last time,” said Gun Carriage’s trainer Dylan Cunha. “He’s improved with a bit more time and sun on his back. I think he’s smart and exciting, going forward, for us.”

The concluding Mina Hamriya Handicap, over 1900metres on turf, features two greys in the 16-strong line up: San Sebastian for Arizkorreta and Silver Sword for Cunha.

“We’ve had Meydan in mind for San Sebastian all year and he’s a nice horse but I’m afraid nine and a half [furlongs,1900metres] might be a bit long for him, as he can be a bit keen in his races,” said Arizkorreta of the three-time winner.

“Probably in the future we’ll run him over a bit shorter and hopefully he can win a race there this season.”

Of Silver Sword, who picked up his second Meydan win a month ago, Cunha said: “He’s in great form but drawn badly in 16. If he can overcome that, he’s improved again and I feel he will go close.”