Dubai racing heats up
EXTRAVAGANZA: INTERNATIONAL STARS CONVERGE FOR MEYDAN CARNIVAL
SA represented by multiple champ Mike de Kock.
The coronavirus has not deterred international racing campaigners from planning to raid the riches of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, which kicks off at Meydan tomorrow.
A remarkable 63 trainers from 12 countries have had 158 horses accepted to compete in the nine-meeting carnival, which culminates in the World Cup on 27 March.
The 2020 Cup meeting had to be scrapped as Covid-19 descended on the world. That and diminished racing and stakes throughout the world have sparked keener interest than usual in the mega prizes on offer in the desert.
Among the invading throng is South Africa’s Mike de Kock, who has less firepower than in previous years but could still pay to follow judiciously with a hardy and settled string in his Blue Stables.
De Kock saddles just one runner tomorrow, King Ragnar in the Dubai Dash. This four-year-old colt is a newcomer, having recently transferred from Roger Varian’s care in the UK, where he performed consistently in recording two wins from 10 runs.
This 1 000m sprint appears to be on the sharp side for the maturing King Ragnar and is probably a bit of a test run and pipe-opener.
Two visitors from the UK – Equilateral from Charlie Hills’ yard and Lazuli from that of Charlie Appleby – appear to be fit-andfiring sprinters who could dominate the betting. Dubai fixture Doug Watson sends out Ekhtiyaar to bother the raiders.
The headline event is Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge, a Group 2 race with a stake of $228 000 (about R3.4 million) over 1 600m on dirt.
The top-rated runner is locally trained Capezzano, who won two from four races last term before Covid-19 spoiled the party.
One to watch might be Gifts of Glory, a UK-Dubai shuttler, trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin.
Frankie Dettori continues to mend bridges with the “Boys in Blue” by taking the ride here – and elsewhere on the card for Bin Suroor.
In an interview with the British Racing Post this week, Dettori said he would be staying on in Dubai for the full season due to onerous quarantine regulations for travellers in Europe.
The world’s most famous rider said he hopes to link up with the John Gosden-trained Dubai Warrior, who was shipped out from the UK to Meydan last week. He also hopes to ride at the Saudi Cup meeting at Riyadh next month, for which Gosden has Dubai Warrior, Global Giant and Mishriff entered.
Dettori could also be reunited with speedy A’Ali, who has options at the carnival and is already at Meydan as part of Simon and Ed Crisford’s latest satellite operation. He has won four races on the son of Society Rock, including the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2019.
Crisford has the biggest Carnival team in terms of numbers, followed by Bahraini-based carnival regular Fawzi Nass.
The latter’s string is headed by Bahrain International winner Simsir and stablemate Port Lions, who scored on the Saudi Cup card in February.
Group 1 winners Oxted and Lord Glitters are named among the British contingent, which also features Melbourne Cup stalwart Prince of Arran and St Leger runner-up Berkshire Rocco, plus Certain Lad and Equilateral, who both won races at Meydan at the 2020 carnival.
Midnight Sands, who completed a five-timer last season in Dubai, is back with six-time Dubai champion Watson after a stint in America.
Dettori in the desert for the duration