The Godolphin Mile

Fourteen runners go to post in the Godolphin Mile sponsored by Etisalat. As the name suggests this is a Group 2 contest over a Mile or 1600m and it has attracted a very high class entry with representatives from six nations.

Mufarrh is the representative of Champion UAE trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe and this four year old has progressed so far this season to become a genuine contender tonight. Having only made his debut at the Carnival in February the son of Marju was far from disgraced in his last run behind leading Dubai World Cup fancy Twice Over last time and is sure to go close.

We have only seen Conveyance once in the UAE following his move from the US to Satish Seemar’s Zabeel Stables and he showed he was in great form chasing home Bankable over 1200m. In the US he showed the trip should be no problem winning a Group 3 over this distance so this four year old is certainly one for the short list.

Premio Loco is having his first run in the UAE and is trained in Newmarket in the UK by Chris Wall. He is the second highest rated horse in the race and will be bidding to give his trainer his first win in the UAE.  Another trainer bidding for his first winner in the UAE is Mauricio Delcher, the Spanish trainer, with As De Trebol who was placed third in both his Carnival starts chasing home Barbecue Eddie and Mendip. In the Mendip race Zafeen Speed was second and this improving son of Zafeen will certainly give Musabah Al Muhairi a good chance of hitting the target.

Mike de Kock is represented by Imbongi who was third to another of the Godolphin Mile runners in Skysurfers on his previous run.  Skysurfers is wearing the first colours of Godolphin and represents Saedd Bin Suroor. He was devastating on his only run this year and always runs well fresh so he is the one to beat in this contest. Godolphin also are represented by Rileyskeepingfaith who is trained by Mahmoud Al Zarooni. He showed his wellbeing and position as a contender for this race when seeing off Fareer over course and distance at the last Carnival Meeting in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile.

The highest rated horse in the race is Red Clubs  who is trained in Lambourn, UK by Barry Hills. He was last seen winning a Group 2 at Newmarket over 1400m in October. He is a talented performer and having been a close third in a Group 1 at Ascot behind Poets Voice will be another of the front runners.

There are two interesting runners from the USA are Make Music For Me and I Want Revenge. They both have decent form and it will be interesting to see how they get on against the horses we know more about. Crowded House is the third USA representative and he will have to improve a bit on his Carnival form to figure in the frame.

Hearts of Fire and Le Drakkar were both behind Wigmore Hall in the Jebel Hatta and are sure to make a good impression. These two complete the field and have shown themselves to be in good form.

Having looked at the race it is immensely difficult to predict the result. I have gone with Skysurfers to win as he will be running after a break which suits him. I thought Conveyence ran a promising trial for this so will plump for him in second and feel that Red Clubs could run a big race to finish third.

British Challenge looks strong at Meydan

On Saturday it is the worlds richest race in the Dubai World Cup and we are very privileged to have a stellar UK challenge. The Dubai World Cup is on the worlds biggest racecourse at Meydan where the stand is a staggering 1.6km long. It should be a great night with lots of group 1 races and fields of the highest quality.

People in the UK are interested in the weather and the forecast is for an unseasonably warm  37 degrees which will be alien to many horses from the British yards but we have lots of chances. Although I can confirm I am not by the pool now…..

In the $10 million Dubai World Cup the home charge is led by Henry Cecil and his Prince Khaled Abdulla owned Twice Over. The dual champion stakes winner is now 2-1 favourite over Aidan O’Briens’ Cape Blanco. Interestingly Twice Over has taken a different route from last year. Last year he flew out for the World Cup only arriving five days prior to the race and finished tenth. This year he has been out here since mid February and has had a run already to acclimatise and he won that run in the Maktoum Challenge Round 1. He was very impressive that night overcoming an outside draw to see off his talented rivals that night.

One horse he beat in his trial was Gitano Hernando who finished third. The five year old trained by Marco Botti was 6^th in the race last year and is having his last run for the Newmarket Trainer. He has just been bought by the Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov in a deal thought to be worth $4m. He will join South African trainer Herman Brown after the race so will be hoping to have his last run

Another World cup contender who has changed hands is Cape Blanco the second favourite who was recently part purchased for an undisclosed fee by Jim Hay the Dubai based British businessman.  Cape Blanco flew out on Tuesday. He is to be ridden by Jamie Spencer who rides all Jim Hay’s horses when available.

There are challenges from other countries with the Japanese supermare Buena Vista ridden by English jockey Ryan Moore and Godolphin are to be represented by three horses including Poets Voice who won the Group 1  QE2 Stakes at Ascot and is ridden by Frankie Dettori. Mike de Kock from South Africa who is a big force here has Musir and Golden Sword in the race.

In the $5million Sheema Classic Brian Meehan runs Dangerous Midge, Barry Hills has Redwood and Franke Dettori is riding Rewilding.

Other British interest is in the $500,000 Dubai Duty Free over 1900m or 1m1f includes Luca Cumani’s Presvis, Michael Bell’s Wigmore Hall and Tazeez for John Gosden.

JJ the Jet Plane seen at Royal Ascot last year should win the Group 2 Al Quoz Sprint back on his favoured grass surface after an unsuccessful trial on the Tapeta AW surface.  Red Clubs will go close for Barry Hills in the Godolphin Mile and Premio Loco should give Chris Wall a thrill as well in this mile contest.

There are bound to be plenty of celebrities around the course. We have already seen Lee Westwood, Harry Redknapp, Carlton Palmer and Jermaine Jackson amongst the celebrities at the Carnival and Joey Barton has owned a winner. It should be a cracking night and lets hope Twice Over wins it for the brits.

Rupert Bell will be live at the track tomorrow night commentating on the big race for Talk Sport so do not miss it.

Rochdale Bids to thwart de Kock duo

Saturday sees the last of the Spring Meetings at Meydan and we are to be treated to a fiercely competitive card. The Spring Meetings are a great way to spend an evening and they have a lovely relaxed feel after the hype and excitement of the Dubai International Racing Carnival. Zabeel Feed Mill sponsor all the races on the card.

The feature race on the card is the sixth race the AED 110,000 Dubai Millennium Stakes and we are treated here to a race of Carnival Standard. Mike de Kock has two runners in Frosty Secret and Solid Choice and they are the two top weights and sure to make a good impression. Frosty Secret has become a real favourite of racing fans in the UAE having run here seventeen times but Solid Choice is the choice of stable jockey Kevin Shea and he looks in better form at present. Rochdale was in super form earlier in the season and Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s charge is expected to make a bold bid to thwart the de Kock pair after several encouraging runs at the Carnival.

Qamar looks to be the one to beat in the fifth race, the Spindrift, after an excellent effort last week at Jebel Ali where he was a close second behind Sailorman although Kaiss and Il Grand Maurizzio will certainly give him something to worry about from higher up the handicap.

In the last race Lando Junior has had his campaign planned out meticulously by Stephane Chevalier and he looks the horse to beat now back at Meydan which was the scene of his last victory. Tinaar is an interesting runner for Bahrainian trainer Fawzi Nass and should really appreciate the step down in grade from the Group Races he has been running in of late.

The evening opens with a particularly open Maiden and regular runner Dahes is sure to be in the shake up but I fully expect Fieriness to strike as he has been second in his last two starts and really looked to have got the hang of things when chasing home Penthouse Reader on his last start.

The in form Doug Watson yard has four runners in the second race and Mark to Market could be the best of his four, but I expect Strecker  and Wadi Warrior to be the main challenges to the Watson quartet.

Dan Chillingworth  has been very consistent all season but has yet to win a race and the third race could be the race where he breaks that duck. Serhaal has good form and looks to be the main danger in this handicap puzzle. If you ignore his last run at Sharjah he has been running well in maidens and looks to be a horse than can certainly win again soon.

Paschendale will be bidding for a hat trick in the fourth race but Trust N Dustan must be coming down to a weight where he will win a race soon and that will be his first UAE success having fallen some 20lbs in the ratings over the last two years.

Ninety Five Horses are declared to run on Saturday night of which forty two come from the three yards of Ali Rashid Al Raihe (13), Doug Watson (17) and Satish Seemar (12).  These yards will certainly be hoping for a big night. It looks like a great evening’s entertainment and just a reminder the first race is at 6.15pm. See you there.

Godolphin Masterplan Ensures Victory

With two rounds of the Dubai International Racing Carnival to go Saeed Bin Suroor closed the gap on Mike de Kock to be Leading Trainer to two last Thursday with a glorious treble. The highlight was undoubtedly the victory of Khawlah in the UAE Oaks sponsored by Al Tayer motors. This was a perfectly prepared filly making her UAE debut under a Godolphin masterclass in tactics undertaken by Ted Durcan and Frankie Dettori. Durcan on the pacemaker Abtasammah made the race a searching pace and set it up for Dettori on the three year old daughter of Cape Cross who the trainer felt: “would definitely get the trip comfortably”.

Had we seen the 2011 Epsom Oaks winner? Well I think so and interestingly bin Surour certainly had this in mind as he said: “you will next see her in the Musidora at York”. Traditionally a stepping stone for Epsom we will see her test her Oaks credentials in the UK there.  Exciting times and a great feather in the cap for Meydan and the Dubai International Racing Carnival to become such a part of the world racing season its races can be used as springboards for big races round the world as well as hosting the big races. The Carnivals position in the world racing Calendar is now vital.

"Mike de Kock is running one of his Dubai World Cup hopefuls tonight and  Musir will take on Twice Over in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge where amongst others he will face the dual Champions Stakes winner from the United Kingdom in Twice Over for Henry Cecil, and the exciting new recruit to the UAE in Richard's Kid, trained by Satish Seemar, amongst others in a very competitive field. Mendip who won the first Round will also be a hrd nut to crack with bin Surour saying: "he is a much improved performer now he has learned to settle."

International Stables is now bristling with even more talent than was previously there as many of the stars for Dubai World Cup night are starting to arrive. A morning on the gallops is now like a who’s who of world racing and definitely worth a trip and setting the alarm clock for.

A special mention from last weeks Carnival and congratulations must go to crack apprentice jockey Harry Bentley. He has had a terrific first season in the UAE and deserved this win. He rode Navajo Chief for Alan Jarvis and showed great style, strength and determination to get the horse home despite being headed more than once in the straight. This is a young jockey going places and he should get some great rides when he returns home to the UK for the summer there.

Super Thursday is definitely the jewel in the crown of the carnival and I cannot wait to see this years’ edition tonight. After the racing there is a concert and it will be interesting to see the talents of Tinchy Stryder, Sander van Doorn and Eddie Halliwell perform a one-hour set each. Tinchy Stryder is best known for his hit “Number 1” and he is known to be a real crowd pleaser. It is a bit of a departure from previous artists such as Sting who performed last year and these performers will help showcase racing to a new younger audience. So if you are coming to the concert can I please encourage you to come and enjoy the racing first. It is top class and will be very exciting and if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.

Racing enthusiasts who have purchased tickets to watch the Super Thursday races will be able to upgrade their tickets for access to the concert area for an additional AED 100.

It was great to see some more stars at the Carnival last week with football leading the way. Tottenham Hotspur Manager Harry Redknapp. Redknapp had arrived early to enjoy a few days before his team enjoyed a mid season break out here. With no fixture for ten days he felt: “Dubai is the perfect place for my players to train and recuperate”. His team followed him out, including the injured players, and returned to get ready to face Wolves on Saturday followed by the second leg of their Champions League tie against Inter Milan. Carlton Palmer was also present.

Football and racing are often closely tied. Michael Owen, the Manchester United & England goalscorer, has a racing stables and racehorses in the care of Tom Dascombe. This week when speaking of his travel dreams he said: “I’ve been lucky enough to attend the Dubai World Cup race - I would love to go again.” Lets hope they find a horse for the 2012 Dubai International Racing Carnival and he could attend the meeting as an owner.

It never ceases to amaze me the level of interest in racing round Dubai. I had a taxi driver named Morad the other day who knew the formbook inside out and does not miss a meeting if he can avoid it. He told me “Curlin was the best horse I had ever seen”. As for this years’ Dubai World Cup he is undecided until after tonights racing but veering towards a tick for Bold Silvano on his Pick 7 entry.

UAE Oaks - looks to be a stroll for Mahbooba?

My race of the week this week is the UAE Oaks sponsored by Al Tayer Motors at Meydan on Thursday. It is the sixth race on the card and a 1900m Group 3 contest. Seven runners go to post for this competitive contest.

Mahbooba is the stand out entry for the de Kock yard who won this event in 2010 with Raihana. The UAE  1000 Guineas winner has looked in great form and with her eventual aim being the UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night she will certainly be the one to beat.  De Kock is the leading trainer at the Carnival and the Galileo filly is rated 116 some 6 lbs clear of her nearest rival in the weights. De Kock also saddles Empire Rose who finished fourth to Mahbooba in the UAE  1000 Guineas at Meydan on 3^rd February and  I do not expect her to reverse that form.

The Saudi Arabian entry Electric Waves is the second highest filly in the race and she is having her first run for trainer Naif Altawi. With four wins in the UK for Ed McMahon she showed she is not a filly to ignore and on her last start she won the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot in good style.  She also won a listed contest so this was no flash in the pan. Richard Mullen was her regular jockey in the UK and keeps the ride.

The Godolphin Team have won this race six times since it’s inception in 2001 with Saeed bin Suroor training all these winners. He is double handed this evening and Frankie Dettori has chosen to ride Khawlah who is having her first start in the UAE. She is relatively lightly raced and the daughter of Cape Cross’s, from the family of Sea the Stars, best form was a third in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes. The other Godolhpin contender is Abtasaamah who has made two appearances on the Tapeta at Meydan and was last seen when fifth in the UAE 1,000 Guineas behind Mahbooba and Empire Rose.

Quick Val for Herman Brown and Amica for Gay Kelleway complete this small but competitive field. Kelleway said: “we are hopeful our filly may run a big race”.

Having looked at the race I fully expect Mahbooba to gain back to back victories in the UAE Oaks and Electric Waves and Khawlah to make her work for the victory hard.

Dubai 24 Hour Race

Today I went to my first ever 24 hour motor race. It was a treat for all those there at the Dubai Autodrome in Motor City. The track is seriously impressive with large stands and excellent viewing. It was an amazing feat that the organising committee managed to do combining state of the art motor racing with traditional arabic history.

Behind the pits was the most amazing example of bedouin tents laid on by the Dubai Tourism Authority. There were hawks, free tea and food laid on. Many of the tents had exhibitions in and several team members were taking advantage of the comfortable traditional seating to catch up on a bit of sleep to get over all the excitement.

As the winners drove in to celebrate they were greeted by traditional emirati dancers singing and dancing, and then once they had disembarked from their cars and started celebrations a representative from each of the first 3 teams rode back on a camel to rapturous applause before  receiving their trophies.

The noise was loud and the teams were weary when the chequered flag finally came down on what had been a thrilling race with the leads in all clasees hotly contested from start to finish. With open access to the pits there was a carnival atmosphere and certainly worth the efforts of the teams and race organisers.

I interviewed a young Emirati Driver Humaid Massoud of the HMR team. He said "I have been racing for two years and I am hugely ambitious. The race has gone well and we were second in our class which is excllent". He aims to progress further and hopefully one day get a F1 drive. Despite hailing from Abu Dhabi, the son of an Emirati father and an English mother is a product of the training and facilities at Motorcity in Dubai. With the UAE desperate to have a F1 driver as soon as possible could I have met him?

The official results are on http://live.24hseries.com/