International Cast Converge on Emirates Super Saturday
Mdmar
Dubai World Cup places are up for grabs as the stars converge on a superb Emirates Super Saturday at Meydan Racecourse on 1 March.
Six of the day’s nine races offer automatic entry to corresponding races on the big day on 5 April, including the featured G2 Al Maktoum Classic (sponsored by Emirates Airline), over the Dubai World Cup course of 2000metres on dirt.
A full field of 16 line up, including G1 winner Kabirkhan (pictured), who aims to bounce back from seventh in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge last time out.
“We thought we had him in good shape for his last race, off a ten-month layoff,” said trainer Doug Watson. “I think that he just got in the kickback and then he lost his action. I like the draw [9], a little wide, to keep out of the kickback. I think he will run a nice race.”
Bhupat Seemar runs Imperial Emperor, who finished in front of Kabirkhan when second to Walk Of Stars in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge.
“He’s done nothing wrong,” said the Champion Trainer. “He’s won two races and he was second in the Group 1. There’s no Walk Of Stars this time, but Kabirkhan is a good horse.”
Seemar also runs Artorius, fourth in the G3 Firebreak Stakes last time, the mount of Pat Cosgrave.
“He’s doing great and he ran a very good race last time,” he said. “He looks like he’s crying out for more distance, so a mile and a quarter should suit him well. He gets blinkers for the first time and if they go hard and fast he could be the one closing.”
The third Seemar runner is recent course winner Guns And Glory, who will be ridden by Richie Mullen for owner Fitri Hay.
“He is being thrown a bit in the deep end here having broken the track record last time out,” said Alex Cole, Racing Manager to the Hay family. “I feel he’s earned a shot at this level and on Saturday night we’ll find out if he’s good enough or not.”
Nations to Uphold Godolphin Pride
The G2 Singspiel Stakes (sponsored by Emirates Airline) offers guaranteed entry to the G1 Dubai Turf for the winner and nine take their chance.
The favourite is likely to be four-time Group 1 winner Nations Pride, who arrives here off a ninth place in the G1 Pegasus Turf in Florida in January.
“Nations Pride put up a strong performance over this course and trip in the Dubai Turf two years ago and enjoyed a productive campaign in the United States last season,” said trainer Charlie Appleby, who has won this race twice.
“The Pegasus World Cup Turf proved a bit of a non-event for him, although he came out of the race well. He is a multiple G1 winner and looks a leading contender if he runs to his best.”
Appleby also runs First Conquest, two from two at Meydan, the mount of Mickael Barzalona.
“First Conquest has done nothing wrong so far this winter and came out of the Dubai Millennium Stakes in good order,” he added. “He deserves to take another step up the ladder and will have no problem with the return to nine furlongs.”
Cairo, trained in the UK by Alice Haynes, has enjoyed a profitable Carnival, finishing second in both the G2 Al Rashidiya and the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes.
“We’re thrilled with what he’s done out there,” said Haynes. “First Conquest beat him last time, but coming back in distance, you never know what will happen.
“Silvestre [de Sousa, jockey] gets on with him great and a bit of extra headgear helps him concentrate. We’ve ridden him differently and he’s really thrived out there – he’s full of confidence.”
History Beckons for Tuz
Tuz will make UAE racing history if adding the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal (sponsored by Emirates.com) to his haul on Saturday – becoming the first horse to sweep the UAE’s Group dirt sprints in one season.
Seemar’s charge, who will break from stall five in the field of 12, has been flawless in his last four starts including the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen last March – his target once again.
“He’s full of himself so he might as well come out and get rid of that energy,” said Seemar, remarking on the gelding’s busy campaign. “I don’t think anyone has won the Garhoud Sprint, Dubawi Stakes, Al Shindagha Sprint and the Mahab Al Shimaal in one season before.”
Colour Up has seen the back of Tuz three times this season already, but Watson hasn’t lost faith in Sayed Hashish’s star sprinter, despite a below-par fifth in the Listed Jebel Ali Sprint two weeks ago.
“He won the Jebel Ali Sprint last year and that was in between the two races here,” he said. “He kind of lost the plot in the paddock and didn’t run his race when he was fifth the other day. He’s in good shape now and has come out of that really well, so we’re going to call that a five furlong [1000metre] work up the hill.
“I think he can run well again but it’s a tougher field. Drew’s Gold has the run under his belt and there’s the Japanese horse [American Stage] in there too.”
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, American Stage is an intriguing runner who brings a three from six win record with him from Japan, although none of his runs have come at Group level.
“He traveled and settled well, didn’t lose much weight,” said Yukihiko Araki, Yahagi Stable representative. “Everything is going as we planned so far and his reaction was good when he galloped at Meydan.
We believe American Stage has a huge potential. It is a big ask to travel a three-year-old in March but I think he can overcome it.”
Japanese Raiding Party
Japan, who were last successful on Super Saturday back in 2010 with Red Desire in the then Maktoum Challenge R3, are also represented in the G3 Burj Nahar (sponsored by Emirates Airline) with T O Saint Denis.
Daisuke Takayanagi’s six-year-old had an international campaign last year, finishing ninth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile when last seen in November.
“He is used to traveling and settled well,” said Takayanagi. “His appetite hasn’t been reduced. I hope he will get a good result and head to Dubai World Cup day. I believe he will be competitive.”
Another bringing top level form into the race is the Charlie Hills-trained Ancient Rome, third to Nations Pride in the G1 Arlington Million in August, who tries the dirt for the first time.
“I think Ancient Rome will go well if he handles the dirt,” said Alex Cole, Racing Manager Fitri Hay. “He has been worked on it and the signs are good from Callum Shepherd [jockey] who rode him, but of course you never know until you try.”
The G2 Dubai City of Gold (sponsored by Emirates Airline) is a proven path to the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic and seven run for that entry ticket on Saturday.
Godolphin hold a strong hand, with three runners including multiple Group race winner Silver Knott, the mount of stable jockey William Buick, and G3 Sandown Classic Trial winner Arabian Crown, who makes his Meydan debut for Appleby.
“Silver Knott produced a string of good efforts in the United States last year and doesn’t know how to run a bad race,” said the trainer. “A mile and a half is his best trip these days and he should be very competitive in this field.
“Arabian Crown had a setback, which ruled him out of the summer, and we decided to give him plenty of time. He has done nothing wrong at home, but this will be his first start in a while and we expect him to improve on whatever he does here.”
Three British raiders line up, including Highway Robber, an intriguing recruit from the US for Charlie Hills, and Onesmoothoperator, who drops in trip for Brian Ellison having finished third in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy last week.
The day’s shortest turf contest is the 1000metre G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (sponsored by Emirates SkyCargo) in which defending champion Frost At Dawn runs for trainer William Knight.
Among her rivals is fellow Brit West Acre, so impressive in the G2 Blue Point Sprint last time out for trainer George Scott.
“I’ve been very pleased with his preparation,” said the Newmarket-based trainer. “It’s a race we’re all looking forward to. Hopefully he can continue on a similar trajectory.”
A strong British contingent is further bolstered by Kylian, who makes his Dubai debut for trainer Archie Watson, and Jakajaro, trained by Robert Cowell for the Hay family.
“Jakajaro was too keen last time,” said Racing Manager Cole. He’s going to be ridden differently this time. He seems a very genuine little horse. We still don’t know much about him but we expect a good run.”
Spain v Godolphin in Jumeirah 1000 Guineas
There are two three-year-old turf races, the first of which is the Listed Jumeirah 1000 Guineas (sponsored by Emirates Skywards), over 1600metres on turf. Mountain Breeze and Octans, the first two home from the Mawj Stakes, renew rivalry and Guillermo Arizkorreta, trainer of Octans, recognises the scale of the task.
“I was very pleased with her first run in Dubai,” said the Spanish Champion Trainer. “She looks in good condition and she should run well, but it looks very hard to beat Mountain Breeze.”
“We were very pleased with Mountain Breeze in the Mawj Stakes,” said Appleby of the Lope De Vega filly. “It was always the plan to come here before possibly looking at a Guineas trial in Europe. She has come forward for her seasonal return and looks the one to beat.”
Appleby also holds a strong hand in the colts’ race, the Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas (sponsored by Emirates Holidays) with Ruling Court and Hallasan.
“Ruling Court won impressively on his debut and put up another strong effort in the Acomb Stakes, when he finished third behind two nice colts,” he said. “The plan is to give him one run out here before heading back to Europe for a Classic trial, and this will hopefully guide us whether we go down the Guineas or Derby route.
On Hallasan, he added: “Hallasan progressed from his first start of the season to win the trial for this, with Al Qudra going on to frank the form by winning out in Qatar. He’s a tough, honest horse who should be competitive again.”
The Godolphin pair face eight rivals, including the well-regarded Daamiss, winner on debut at Abu Dhabi last time out for trainer Michael Costa.
Emirates Super Saturday gets underway at 5:30pm UAE with the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (sponsored by Arabian Adventures) for Purebred Arabians. Unleashed, winner of Round 2 last time out, will be hard to catch in a field of 11.
