Carnival action steps up a gear with cracking Friday offering
Meydan Racecourse hosts arguably the best fixture of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival to date on Friday evening, a quality seven-race card highlighted by the second, thus middle, legs of the Maktoum Challenge, as well as a pair of Group Two features.
The official highlight, over 1900m on dirt, is the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 for which nine have been declared and landed in the past by subsequent Dubai World Cup winners Moon Ballad (2003) and Thunder Snow (2018).
Among those hoping to emulate that illustrious pair is Algiers, already successful in the 1600m Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1, as well as last year’s Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile. The 6yo Shamardal gelding was far too good for 15 rivals in the first leg a month ago, storming clear under James Doyle who is again in the saddle.
He is trained in partnership by Simon and Ed Crisford. The later said: “We were delighted with his win in the first round and the way he did it so comfortably. He has adapted really well to dirt racing and is so versatile having also won on turf and been placed on the all-weather. He has won as far as 2400m so the step up in trip is not likely to be an issue. “He is drawn wider than ideal but he was in the first round and overcame it then so hopefully he can again.”
There is no shortage of quality opposition, including three Group One winners, Salute The Soldier, Atletico De Curano and First Constitution.
The first named is seeking to become the third dual winner of the contest but, unlike Best Of The Bests and Jack Sullivan, he is trying to regain the crown, as opposed to retain it, as he missed the race last year. Regular pilot Adrie de Vries is again aboard for Victorious and Fawzi Nass.
Nass’ charge made a successful return to action this season, three weeks ago, with a smooth 2000m dirt victory from Atletico De Curano who was having his third local outing, all this season. The extra distance should suit the later though as he won at the highest level over 2400m in South America just over two years ago.
On his penultimate start, he was well held in sixth behind Remorse, a revelation last season in a campaign that ended with an excellent sixth in the Dubai World Cup. Tadhg O’shea again rides for Bhupat Seemar.
In a race trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer has yet to taste success, First Constitution will bid to rectify that statistic under Pat Dobbs who picks up the choice spare ride with Mickael Barzalona suspended.
Third to Remorse on his local debut, the 5yo full horse then failed to beat any of ten rivals behind Salute The Soldier but he did win at Group One level, in Chile, in October 2020. He is owned by RRR Racing whose spokesman/