Much More to Come from Meydan Racecourse

What a great opening night we witnessed from Meydan. Everything you could have wanted was there. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was present to see his vision come to life, and with a host of international winners on the card, the seventh Dubai International Racing Carnival looks sure to exceed the success of its predecessors.

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Published: Fri 5 Feb 2010, 12:06 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 5:21 AM

But one thought struck me during Thursday night’s mammoth feast of racing; this year’s Carnival is going to be over before we know it. Very soon the Dubai World Cup will be upon us, and Gloria De Campeao’s victory in the opening round of the Maktoum Challenge will seem a very long time ago.

All the more important, then, that we enjoy it while we can and savour this week’s feature races, the Group 3 Al Rashidiya and Cape Verdi.

Thursday’s Group 3 Al Rashidiya, now run over the new Dubai Duty Free trip of 1,800 metres, is one of the strongest renewals in recent memory and it is hard to rule out any of the nine contenders. French import Oiseau De Feu was only beaten a head in the Group I Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly last year and is one to watch on his first start for Erwan Charpy, while Crowded House and Frozen Fire both have Group I wins to their name and the former, in particular, looks to have a live chance on his first start since finishing sixth behind Sea The Stars in the Epsom Derby back in June.

Friday’s feature, the Group 3 Cape Verdi, has attracted an international field. Ahla Wasahl, a Listed winner at Ascot under Ahmed Ajtebi is sure to attract support, but I am keen on Soveva, trained by up and coming handler Marco Botti, who takes a step down in Grade having last been seen in the Group I Prix Foret in France.

It pays to take note of what happens this weekend as two years ago the Cape Verdi produced a World Cup night winner in Sun Classique and it would be no surprise were World Cup clues to emerge this weekend.

That is especially the case in the USA, where Gulfstream Park hosts the Grade I Donn Handicap — traditionally the best American trial for the World Cup — on Saturday. With Gulfstream racing on dirt and Meydan Tapeta, it remains to be seen if the Donn is as good a guide as it was, but nevertheless it has attracted a strong field, including Grade 3 winner Duke Of Mischief and Quality Road – now notorious for refusing to start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Nevertheless, he is a very good horse and could emerge as a live contender for the World Cup if winning at Gulfstream this weekend.


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