Tuesday, March 09 2010
Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) Horses in Training Sale to be staged this Wednesday
The 2010 Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) Horses in Training Sale, to be staged at Meydan Racecourse at 5pm on Wednesday March 10th, has received in excess of 80 entries with several Dubai International Racing Carnival performers among them.
With a nice balance of Carnival and 'domestic' season horses, there should be something to appeal to all, whatever the budget as racing in the UAE gears up for a first full season at Meydan.
Saturday, March 06 2010
Hills breezes to masters crown
The final meeting before Dubai World Cup night featured the Meydan Masters, four 12-runner handicaps on the All Weather track contested by some of the world's top jockeys. On a night sponsored by Meydan, it was Richard Hills, retained jockey to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who won the prize after riding a winner, a second and a third.
Aaron Gryder, who won the final Nad Al Sheba Dubai World Cup on Well Armed last March, won the opening leg of the Meydan Masters on Alazeyab, trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe. Gryder said: "I do like it here in Dubai and last March was very special. It is great to get straight on the board and the Meydan Masters is a great addition."
Thursday, March 04 2010
Desirable result for third round of Al Maktoum Challenge
The Super Thursday card, the dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup meeting and sponsored by the Derrinstown Stud of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was highlighted by the concluding rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge.
The featured Thoroughbred Group 2 Maktoum Challenge III, over 2000m on the Tapeta, was won by Japanese challenger Red Desire who finished fast and late under Olivier Peslier to lead in the dying strides and deny the gallant Gloria De Campeao. Mike De Kock's Mr Brock was just behind in third in a thrilling finish.
Top jockeys go stride for stride in Meydan Masters tomorrow
The inaugural Meydan Masters meeting, the final fixture before the Dubai World Cup one on Saturday 27th March, takes place tomorrow and is a seven race, all Thoroughbred card, sponsored by Meydan. An international jockeys' challenge, the Meydan Masters features 12 of the world's top jockeys competing against one another in four handicaps with their mounts randomly selected.
The jockeys invited were selected on the basis of big races won around the world in 2009: e.g. Dubai World Cup winning jockey Aaron Gryder. Points are allocated as per finishing position with 75 for a win down to a solitary point for twelfth and the rider accruing the most points will be the winner.
Wednesday, March 03 2010
Derrinstown sponsors showpiece Super Thursday card
Dubai, UAE, 2 March 2010 – The Derrinstown Stud-sponsored Super Thursday racecard, highly regarded as the most important meeting outside of the Dubai World Cup, is set to take place this Thursday.
The meeting kicks off the final weekend of racing of the Dubai International Racing Carnival, and is highlighted by seven feature races: the 2000m Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round III and Listed Al Bastakiya, the 1600m Group 3 Burj Nahaar and 1200m Group 3 Mahaab Al Shimaal, along with the 2000m third round of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge for Purebred Arabians, all run on the All Weather surface.
Friday, February 26 2010
Meydan hosts a night at the races
Dubai, UAE, 25 February 2010 – Meydan sponsors today’s racemeeting which is the seventh racemeeting of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival, an eight race all Thoroughbred affair highlighted by the Group Three Balanchine Stakes, the Listed UAE Oaks and the second running of the DRC Gold Cup.
Dubai Racing Club Chief Executive Officer Mr Frank Gabriel Jr said: “The feature race has attracted a classy field, and it is great to welcome back regular participants in the Dubai International Racing Carnival from over the years, and to see their new recruits attempt to make their mark, which is what the Carnival is all about.
Deem grabs Balanchine victory
Mike de Kock and Saeed bin Suroor continued their excellent 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival campaigns at the seventh meeting on Thursday evening.
South African de Kock won the UAE Oaks, over 1900m, for the first time with Raihana who was given a confident ride by Christophe Soumillon to pass Kieren Fallon on Bikini Babe well inside the final 100m.
Friday, February 19 2010
Fahidi Fort Banked by Brown and Moore
Bankable, trained by South African Herman Brown and ridden by Ryan Moore, was the game winner of a thrilling Group Two Al Fahidi Fort, the feature and only turf race at Meydan’s sixth meeting of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival.
Sponsored by Commercial Bank of Dubai, the race produced a three way photo with Bankable defeating Imbongi and Ibn Battuta in a bob of heads.
Thursday, February 18 2010
Allybar makes all in second round of Al Maktoum Challenge
The Shadwell organisation of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum sponsored Thursday’s fifth Meydan Dubai International Racing Carnival meeting and it was the sponsor’s Nirwan who won the opening 2200m Group One Purebred Arabian version of the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge.
Tadhg O’Shea was in the saddle on the Doug Watson-trained Nirwan and the trainer said: “It is great to win these races and we have done well in this race in the past.”
Michael Kinane to be Ambassador for inaugural Meydan Masters jockey challenge
Dubai, UAE, 18 February 2010 – The Dubai Racing Club is pleased to announce the appointment of recently retired champion jockey Michael Kinane as Ambassador for the inaugural Meydan Masters, an international Jockeys Challenge to be held at Meydan Racecourse on Friday March 5.
The Meydan Masters is a unique international Jockeys Challenge bringing together riders who have won some of the world’s premier races during the previous year.
South Africans bid for Fahidi feat
Friday’s sixth card of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival at Meydan is another eight race card and kindly sponsored by the Commercial Bank of Dubai. The night’s feature is on turf and a field of 11 have been declared for the Group Two Al Fahidi Fort over 1600m.
South Africa have a great record in the race and both Mike De Kock and Herman Brown seek to win a race they have dominated between them – sharing five victories since 2003.
Wednesday, February 17 2010
Clash of class for second round of Al Maktoum Challenge
With the card generously sponsored by his own Shadwell Estate, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum would have every chance of winning the Purebred Arabian Group One Maktoum Challenge which opens Thursday’s fifth meeting of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival.
All eight races are on the Tapeta with the maximum 14 declared for the opener, over 2200m and the only non-Thoroughbred event on the eight race card. Sheikh Hamdan owns six of the runners and his retained jockey, Richard Hills, chooses to ride Santhal, runner-up in the opening round. Second jockey Tadhg O’Shea chooses Nirwan and Vire Volte may well prove the main danger after his excellent local debut at Abu Dhabi.
