Marbaan and Mysterious Night Ras Al Khor Re-match
Mdmar – Dubai Racing
The Group 3 Ras Al Khor (sponsored by Azizi) was only established in 2022 but it has quickly become an important spot on the calendar for 1400metre specialists, 10 of whom line up in pursuit of the AED510,000 first prize on Friday.
The race features an intriguing re-match between Marbaan and Mysterious Night, first and second in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort on 24 January, while fourth home Andreas Vasalius also joins the party.
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“Marbaan is all good, he looks a picture,” said trainer Michael Costa. “Almost a carbon copy of his last start; weight’s the same, bloods are perfect, everything’s good. This has always been his second target race.”
Godolphin’s Mysterious Night had an international 2024, running in Dubai, Saudi and the USA, so his Al Fahidi Fort run was his first in more than six months.
“We were pleased with Mysterious Night in the Al Fahidi Fort, when he got a little tired on his return from a layoff, and he goes into this in great order,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “We are taking on Marbaan again, although I feel that our horse will be the one to beat if he brings his A game.”
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The second most valuable race is the Burj Azizi Handicap, race seven, over 1600metres on turf. A full field of 16 includes dual Group 1 winner Alfareeq, for Musabbeh Al Mheiri and Jim Crowley, who takes a big drop in grade after finishing sixth to Romantic Warrior in the G1 Jebel Hatta last time out.
His rivals include the popular Silver Sword, who has his fifth run of the Carnival. The quirky grey finished fourth in the Lord Glitters Handicap two starts ago, before struggling when last seen.
“Last time out he lost a shoe and he’s a horse who has sensitive feet,” said trainer Dylan Cunha. “The plan is to run this week on the turf before maybe trying him on dirt next week, as he works really well on it.”
The race also features an intriguing rematch between Magnum Opus, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, and Folk Festival, who were separated by half a length last time over 1800metres. Bernardo Pinheiro, onboard Folk Festival for all his UAE runs, including wins at Abu Dhabi and Meydan, is hopeful of a form reversal.
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“Folk Festival is a horse that I really like,” he said. “He has a great attitude and he’s a versatile horse. Salem [bin Ghadayer, trainer] has kept him in excellent form and he’s climbed very fast up the handicap.
“We face a strong field again and the outside barrier [16] makes it even more challenging, but we go for it with the same confidence and I’m sure if things go right he will definitely be fighting for the win.”
Popular veterans Military Law, Everfast and First Constitution are among the field for the Azizi Venice Handicap, race four, over 1600metres on dirt.
Taking them on is Costa’s Saleymm, who finished a creditable fourth last time out on turf, on his first start since December 2023.
“Saleymm really needed his first up run,” said the trainer. “It’s a bit of an unknown going to the mile on the dirt. He handled the dirt last year over six [furlongs, 1200metres] and was sort of looking for further, so this looks suitable for him.
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Spanish Champions out to Complete Super Carnival
The final race of eight is the highly competitive Azizi Riviera Handicap, over 1200metres on turf, in which another full field of 16 line up.
Among them are two for Spanish Champion Trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta, who is hoping to cap a successful Carnival with El Bosnia, the mount of retained rider Vaclac Janacek and Sky Hawk, ridden by Connor Beasley.
“El Bosnia ran well last time and six furlongs [1200metres] is OK for him” said Arizkorreta. “If he repeats his last race, he should be thereabouts.
Sky Hawk ran OK on the dirt. He has dropped in the handicap and looks fantastic. I hope he will run well.”
Also in the field is Costa’s Matloob, who finished third last time out over a furlong shorter.
“Matloob has been knocking at the door,” said the trainer. “Five [furlongs, 1000metres] was probably a bit sharp for him, six [furlongs, 1200metres] looks like it will be more suitable.”
The potential of G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic qualification is a tempting prospect for the connections of the 16 Arabians who line up in the opening race, the G2 Mazrat Al Ruwayyah (sponsored by Azizi).
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Three-time UAE Champion Trainer Ernst Oertel would love to be represented in that race again and he runs two here, AF Ghayyar, the mount of Marcelino Rodrigues, and AF Layth, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea.
“Both are nice improving horses,” he said. “It’s a shame about the draw [15] for AF Ghayyar, but we are hopeful of a good run.”
The second race, the Azizi Creek Views, for three-year-olds over 1900metres on dirt, has in the past afforded the winner entry into the G2 UAE Derby. 16 line up, including Moon Blade and Poet Orten, first and second over 1600metres here last month.
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The “Mdmar” website for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
