THE feature on Thursday’s card at Meydan was a six-furlong conditions race, won impressively by Mubakker with Dane O’Neill in the saddle for Doug Watson, celebrating a double, and Shadwell.

The five-year-old Speightstown gelding was having just his second UAE outing since joining Watson, the first having been an excellent third on his dirt debut in a seven-furling handicap in April at the same venue. Mubakker won three times for Sir Michael Stoute, all on the all-weather, and looks an exciting recruit for his new handler.

O’Neill said: “Doug and his team have always liked him and I actually won twice on him in England. He had some very good form there and really handles this dirt well. He stays seven furlongs and has only had one turf outing, so I would not rule out trying him on the grass at some stage.”

Quick double

The better of two handicaps was over seven furlongs, the race after the feature, and Shadwell completed a quick double thanks to Antonio Fresu aboard Moqarrab for Musabbeh Al Mheiri, the six-year-old gelded son of Speightstown finally putting his head in front locally after 18 attempts.

Previously trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin, he won twice from just five starts for them, both times on an all-weather surface.

The mile handicap was won by Sendeed who, once sent clear early in the straight by Pat Dobbs, soon had the race in safekeeping. Saddled by Doug Watson, the five-year-old Shamardal gelding was a first UAE winner for the ownership partnership of Musab Al Rais and Ali Khalfan Al Shawi. It was a third success for the horse, adding to a pair for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor in Britain. This was his fourth run for new connections.

Potential star

A seven-furlong maiden for juvenile fillies kicked off proceedings and was turned into a procession by debutante Shahama who could hardly have made a better start to her career, storming clear over the final furlong and a half under Adrie de Vries, sporting the silks of KHK Racing. A daughter of Munnings, she was purchased in April by her trainer, Fawzi Nass, for $425,000 at Ocala. A half-sister to triple Grade 1 winner Lookin At Lucky, whose victories included the 2010 Preakness Stakes, she was a first UAE winner for the owners.

Nass said: “She had shown some ability at home but I was certainly not expecting her to win like that, so it was a nice surprise.

“She has been a pleasure to deal with since she arrived and has been very professional throughout. She has learned very quickly and is hopefully a Guineas filly. Now she has done that we may go straight there and not take in the trial.”

Al Maroom, the only filly among the eight runners, then opened her account in the mile maiden that followed, battling past stable companion Lake Causeway entering the final furlong or so and always doing enough to deny Emdakam, who was closing fast having scuppered his chance with a slow start.

Kirrane win

Partnered by apprentice Sean Kirrane for Bhupat Seemar and Al Rashid Stables, the three-year-old daughter of Awesome Again had finished runner-up on three occasions, including both starts this season. This was the first time she had taken on her elders.

Kirrane said: “That is third time lucky for me on this filly and the visor has helped. I am delighted she has won for all involved.”

The concluding six-furlong maiden also went to Seemar, Tadhg O’Shea enjoying a smooth success aboard dirt debutant Discovery Island in the colours of Mohammed Khaleel Ahmed. A gelded son of Dubawi, the four-year-old was opening his winning account on just his second outing since joining Zabeel Stables after five British runs for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin.

Kingman’s son takes valuable listed prize

ARGUABLY the biggest meeting of the whole season on the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club’s turf track on Sunday featured a strong card for purebred Arabians, the highlight being the Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown.

The sole race for thoroughbreds was a mile listed race and Jim Crowley kept up his good run, delivering Shadwell’s Moqtarreb to snatch the prize in the final strides, denying stable companion Spirit Of Light in the process. Both are trained by Erwan Charpy with Crowley’s mount, a homebred five-year-old gelding by Kingman, registering just a second career success on his first start for the trainer.

Formerly with Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, this was actually his first UAE win, his only other trip to the winner’s enclosure coming back in June 2019 when he was victorious at Newmarket for Roger Varian.

The winning trainer said: “I am over the moon with that and I could see both horses were always travelling well so I was happy. It is always great to win the National Day Cup, especially in its 50th year. I have been here for 27 of them and it is very nice to win this prestigious prize again.”

Strong Irish team ready for Dubai

IRELAND is among 17 countries to have received invitations to compete at the 18th Dubai World Cup Carnival, and a number of Group 1 horses are included.

Dermot Weld has nominated dual Group 1 Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song, while Melbourne Cup winner Joseph O’Brien has a pair of Group 1 winners among his six invitees, Cox Plate hero State Of Rest and 2020 National Stakes winner Thunder Moon.

Joining them on the journey from Ireland could be A Case Of You, winner of the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp for trainer Ado McGuinness, who has five nominations, including Group 2 winner Pierre Lapin.

Jessica Harrington has two horses accepted, Michael Browne has Logo Hunter nominated, while Denis Hogan and Darren Bunyan have one each. The Carnival gets underway on Thursday, January 13th at Meydan.

Winner of the $1 million Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Hot Rod Charlie is among 11 nominations for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill. The California-based trainer enjoyed a successful Carnival in 2020, winning three races including the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas with Fore Left, who is among the trainer’s nominations again.

Lord Glitters

David O’Meara also enjoyed a successful 2020 Carnival, with Lord Glitters’ two wins including the Group 1 Jebel Hatta. The popular grey, a winner of the Group 3 Bahrain International Trophy last time out, has been nominated again.

William Haggas does well on his overseas raids and has nominated Group 1 Champion Stakes runner-up Dubai Honour, as well as Alenquer, second to Mishriff in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York and Mohaafeth, winner of the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.

With entries also received from Sweden, Norway, Singapore, Greece, Turkey, Australia, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, as well as Carnival regulars France and Bahrain, a great mix of horses will compete for $7.5 million across the eight weeks of racing.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival runs until ‘Super Saturday’ on March 5th. The $30.5 million Dubai World Cup meeting takes place on Saturday, March 26th.