Domestic trainers ruled Meydan Racecourse on the opening week of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, but their supremacy could receive a tougher test tonight after the arrival of a shipment of international horses five days ago.
Last week at Meydan, only Hototo for trainer Fawzi Nass struck for the internationals as Godolphin secured three winners in addition to successes for Doug Watson and Satish Seemar.
Training at Meydan in the mornings has taken on a slightly different complexion this week with the new arrivals, and Irish trainers Michael Halford and David Marnane are looking to keep the pedal to the metal after last season’s performance.
Both trainers cut a swathe through the Carnival last season, with Halford registering five winners from 25 runners, while Marnane secured three from 15.
Halford relies on Russian Soul tonight in the featured Dubawi Stakes, while the County Kildare trainer also saddles Castle Guest in the 2,000-metre dirt handicap and Slipper Orchid in the concluding handicap. All three will be partnered by Shane Foley.
Marnane is seeking a third victory at Meydan in as many seasons with Elleval, who lines up under apprentice Connor King in the turf handicap race over 2,000 metres.
Halford also brought to Dubai Eastern Rules, who will make his Carnival bow in the Al Fahidi Fort next week.
He says the secret to last season’s success was the pain of previous campaigns, where he sent out 49 runners for only one winner at Meydan.
“We obviously brought the right horse and had them in the right races last season, but it was definitely a product of experience from previous years,” Halford said.
“Our Dubai Gold Cup winner Certerach, who has had a setback and won’t race in Dubai, was just a baby when he first came to Dubai two seasons ago, and Eastern Rules has progressed a lot since he first started in Ireland a few years back.
“It all just seemed to go to plan. Russian Soul really liked the turning six furlongs at Meydan – there is only one turning six furlongs in Ireland, so it has helped him a lot.”
Russian Soul failed by a neck to reel in United Color in the Dubawi Stakes 12 months ago, when the Listed race was staged on Tapeta. Both Halford and United Color’s handler Dhruba Selvaratnam are hardly confident the dirt surface will suit.
“Obviously it is a new surface, but he handles the Jebel Ali dirt well so hopefully he will cope with the Meydan one,” Selvaratnam said of his charge, who has been placed four times at Jebel Ali. “Basically, I would be hopeful rather than confident of him successfully defending his crown.”
United Color went on to finish third in the Dubai Golden Shaheen last season, finishing one place ahead of Reynaldothewizard, who two seasons ago won on this card before going on to win on World Cup night.
Reynaldothewizard had the benefit of a prep run two years ago, however, and he may be undercooked for jockey Richard Mullen.
“Reynaldothewizard is fit, well and ready for a run,” assistant trainer Bhupat Seemar said. “He tends to improve from his first run, but we are looking forward to getting him back on the track.”
Satish Seemar was fined Dh15,000 yesterday after the Emirates Racing Authority found that Latkhaf had traces of meloxicam, furosemide and phenylbutazone in his system after veterinary examination revealed the horse had an irregular heartbeat.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR AT MEYDAN
1. William Buick makes his return
Buick was appointed stable jockey to Charlie Appleby in November but missed the opening round of the Carnival due to a suspension. He makes his debut as a primary Godolphin rider tonight aboard Comedy Queen in the UAE 1,000 Guineas Trial and has four rides in all.
2. Maftool and dirt
Godolphin’s highly rated Maftool finally has an opportunity to try a surface for which he appears to have been bred. Maftool won the Group 3 Somerville Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket, England, in September. He is by Hard Spun, the American sire, and could relish the dirt in the UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial.
3. Fazza racing
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed has set up the fledgling Fazza Racing operation and installed Salem bin Ghadayer, an endurance rider, as his trainer. It appears Mickael Barzalona is the stable jockey. Bin Ghadayer had a second and a third last week. Watch out for Mr Pommeroy, Almargo and Machete Mark tonight.
4. Scandinavian invasion
Rune Haugen made the Carnival breakthrough for Scandinavia last season when Avon Pearl won a mile handicap on Tapeta. Avon Pearl is back in the concluding race of the night, while Sweden’s Fredrik Reuterskiold runs Secret Admirer in the same race. Norwegian trainer Niels Petersen runs four across the seven-race card.
5. Mike de Kock’s dirt runners
The South African trainer has clarified his comments made last week on his website that he would not have many further dirt runners at Meydan. The Blue Stables handler is well represented in both of the UAE Guineas Trials on dirt tonight.
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