Dubai: Another cracking night's racing is on the cards today when Nad Al Sheba racecourse stages its much anticipated Super Thursday fixture — the dress rehearsal for the $21million Dubai World Cup meeting.
A sign of the times is how much the event, which features eight races that mirror those of the World Cup meeting, has grown into a major race day.
Perhaps, a few years ago not many would have believed that it was possible of putting on such a high quality race day outside the world's richest race meeting.
However, six years since the Dubai International Racing Carnival was first launched, Super Thursday is once again poised to capture the imagination of racing fans as some of the world's best horses put their 'big race' credentials on the line in eight distinguishing races.
Perhaps none more unique than tonight's showcase race, the third and final round of the Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr 2), which is run over the same course and distance as the 2,000 metre $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 29.
The $300,000 race has attracted a field of 13 runners led by Argentina's champion Latency, and South Africa's Lucky Find, who has received an invitation to run in the Dubai World Cup.
Two wins
Trainer Saeed Bin Surour has already won the race seven times and is today represented by Jalil, who is unbeaten on his two starts in his first season at Nad Al Sheba, and ex-Italian horse Igor Protti, a winner of his first start this year since joining the Godolphin stable.
Commenting on the chances of his two runners, the Godolphin handler said: "Jalil has improved greatly this year and deserves to take his chance at Group level. He has come out of his last race really well and we need to see how good he is.
"Igor Protti has also been working well since his latest appearance and I am looking forward to a good performance from him as well."
Master South African trainer Mike De Kock, who won the third round of the Maktoum Challenge in 2004 with Victory Moon, is hoping to repeat the feat with Lucky Find, winner of the second round last month.
De Kock said yesterday: "He has come out of that win in great shape and has hopefully improved. This looks a tougher race with a few interesting challengers but I would not swap mine."
Latency's owner, Dardo Fernandez Aramburu, said he was 'very excited' as this is the first time an Argentine-owned horse has ever raced in Dubai.
"He is a true champion in Argentina, and we really hope he can win," said Aramburu.
Other runners include Britain's Kandidate, Gloria De Campeao from Brazil and the UAE hopefuls, Dynamic Saint and Mutasallil.
REST OF THE CARD
Race 1. Maktoum Challenge - Rd 3 (Gr 1)
Purebred Arabians 2000m:
Three-time Dubai Kahayla Classic (Gr 1) winner Madjani looks the one to beat here. His defeat by UAE-bred Dynamite at Abu Dhabi four weeks ago is best forgotten. The Gillian Duffield trained seven-year-old is a different proposition on the Nad Al Sheba dirt and can be expected to bounce back in style. He faces 11 rivals including two prepared by leading UAE trainer Doug Watson — Kandar Du Falgas and Paris Gagner. Both have the ability, and form to run Madjani close. Former champion trainer Satish Seemar has strength in numbers and his four runners — Kerbel Lotois, Royal Epic, Al Moutawakel and Wayne Rooney are worth a closer look.
Race 2. Shadweel Estate
Thoroughbreds 1,400m:
South African trainer Mike de Kock can kick-start his bid to dominate today's Super Thursday meeting by taking this 1,400m event with Ablaan, who scored back-to-back wins at Nad Al Sheba before finishing last-but-one in the UAE 2,000 Guineas won by stable companion Honour Devil. He looks too good a horse to ignore and should have a big say in this rated conditions event. Locally trained Palm Court and Beetuna should be there at the finish while Brazilian trainer Antonio Cintra Pereira will be hoping that Select Reason can deliver on the fourth attempt.
Race 3. Al Bastakiya
Thoroughbreds, Listed 1,800m:
The best three-year-olds in training in Dubai line up to contest the Al Bastakiya, the second leg of the UAE Triple Crown, which sees UAE 2,000 Guineas first and second, Honour Devil and Royal Vintage, reoppose. Honour Devil came out on top when the De Kock pair last met. Always travelling within himself, he was nicely placed throughout the race. And when pushed all the way by his stablemate, Royal Vintage, he was forced to work hard to deny his stable companion. Royal Vintage, a Grade 2 winner in his native South Africa, produced a fine effort to finish second and will have come on a lot for that effort. De Kock won this race last year with Asiatic Boy and looks unlikely to have the trophy taken away as the rest of the field appear to lack the ability to take the fight to the UAE 2,000 Guineas stars.
Race 4. Mahab Al Shimaal (Gr 3)
Thoroughbreds 1,200m:
Last year's Dubai Golden Shaheen third Salaam Dubai and Brazilian-bred New Freedom, who was purchased for Dhs2.3m at the Emirates Racing Authority Horse in Training Sale on Wednesday, contest this fire-cracker of a race run over a straight six furlongs. A maximum full field of 16 runners will line-up to face the starter and the traffic problems that are likely to occur in the ensuing dash could pose a worry to most. However, French hope Sarissa, who finished a noteworthy head second to Frost Secret on his last start and Saeed Bin Surour's former US-based speedball Afrashad, will be hoping to make their mark en route to securing a ticket to the $2million Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup Day. Surour also runs Diabolical, who ran a good race behind Asiatic Boy over course and distance, last January.
Race 5. Burj Nahaar (Gr 3)
Thoroughbreds 1,600m:
De Kock's Asiatic Boy puts his Dubai World Cup credentials on the line when he defends his unbeaten record at Nad Al Sheba. The only horse to have won the UAE Triple Crown, the four-year-old will be hard to beat, despite facing Godolphin's improving Blackat Blackitten, 2006 winner Marbush and 2007 victor Boston Lodge. De Kock explained: "We decided on this trip to keep his build-up gradual. Three weeks time is when we need to go 2000m, not tonight." Blackat Blackitten's rider Frankie Dettori knows that everyone is up against it taking on Asiatic Boy, adding: "I think the race would have to start now for us to have a chance against the big horse!"
Race 6. Dubai City of Gold
Thoroughbreds 2,400m (Turf):
John Oxx's Mourilyan steps up in class in the Group 3 Dubai City of Gold. His rivals include Quijano and Oracle West, first and second last year with the latter having won the race in 2006 for good measure. Already a Carnival course and distance winner twice, top Irish jockey Mick Kinane said: "Being out here in Dubai, has really brought him on physically and mentally, and he could make into a Group 1 horse." Globetrotting German star Quijano returns to defend his title in the 2,400 m contest. The German-bred gelding was making it three from three at the Carnival, and nine wins on the bounce when triumphing 12 months ago where he saw off 2006 winner, Oracle West, who also returns to contest today's renewal.
Race 8. Jebel Hatta
Thoroughbreds 1,777m (Turf):
Racing concludes with the Group 2 Jebel Hatta with a maximum field of 16 set to face the starter. New Zealand's Seachange has been done no favours by the draw in 16, and, like South Africa's Jay Peg, has a Group 1 penalty. John Gosden's Royal Oath could be one to follow. Hong Kong is represented by Viva Macau, and trainer John Moore said: "We're going here pretty hopeful. It's our first runner in Dubai, and I always said we'd only come here, if we had a chance of a winner." Other noteworthy runners include Herman Brown's Alpacco, who finished a close second in both his previous outings at Nad Al Sheba, when beaten by high quality runners Engrupido and With Interest, can be expected to run a big race provided he has trained on like his trainer reports.
