Inside international horse racing paddocks with form expert Susan Trevelyan-Syke
News, horse form and race analysis, breeding, tips and racing industry trends.
Generous Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Farm Sponsored Dubai Carnival Opening at the New Meydan Racecourse.
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Generous Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Farm Sponsored Dubai Carnival Opening at the New Meydan Racecourse.
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Cheltenham
Twish Magic at Ascot
Other Favourites
Denman for Newbury's Aon
Females Dominate
For the first time in North American history, two females are the leading thoroughbred earners, according to Equibase Company LLC (official database for racing information).
Zenyatta topped the list with $3,330,000 and Rachel Alexandra was second with $2,746,914.
Rachel Alexandra's trainer Steve Asmussen won a single-season record 650 races out of 2,944 starts and earned $21,876,405.
Garrett Gomez was leading jockey with $18,571,171 winnings for 210 out of 967 mounts for the fourth consecutive year.
Michael Gill won 370 races from 2,247 starts and earned $6,669,950 to lead all owners.
Juddmonte Farms Inc was second with 27 wins out of 116 starts and earnings of $6,525,818.
Cheltenham
Twish Magic at Ascot
Other Favourites
Denman for Newbury's Aon
Females Dominate
For the first time in North American history, two females are the leading thoroughbred earners, according to Equibase Company LLC (official database for racing information).
Zenyatta topped the list with $3,330,000 and Rachel Alexandra was second with $2,746,914.
Rachel Alexandra's trainer Steve Asmussen won a single-season record 650 races out of 2,944 starts and earned $21,876,405.
Garrett Gomez was leading jockey with $18,571,171 winnings for 210 out of 967 mounts for the fourth consecutive year.
Michael Gill won 370 races from 2,247 starts and earned $6,669,950 to lead all owners.
Juddmonte Farms Inc was second with 27 wins out of 116 starts and earnings of $6,525,818.
Dubai Carnival Opens at Meydan Racecourse
Architect's design of the future aerial view of Dubai's new Maydan Racecourse which opened January 28 for the Dubai Carnival and will host the Dubai World Cup March 27.
The future design, in the aerial view above, of Dubai's new US$2 billion hotel and Meydan Racecourse complex not only shows the vast ambition of the project, but the artistic integrity of its exquisite Arabic design.
The racecourse's 1,750m Tapeta synthetic surface will replace Nad al Sheba's 2,200m dirt course and will become the new home of the US$10 million Dubai World Cup on March 27 and many other major races.
In fact, there is speculation that the Dubai Racing Club might stage world-class races later in the year which would bridge the seasons between Europe and both the Near and Far East.
They could be staged at the beginning of the Dubai racing season in November and could compete with the Breeders' Cup.
Meydan's racecourse and one floor of the grandstand's corporate section were ready in time for opening day of the Dubai Carnival January 28 and the first leg of the Maktoum Challenge sponsored by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell Farm.
The eight-race card was worth US$930,000.
It was only fitting that the first race would be a US$55,000 Group 1 for Anglo Arabs at 1,600m. It is the UAE Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 sponsored by Jazil of Shadwell Farm on Dirt.
The Anglo and Pure Bred Arabian races and Challenge are very popular with local residents and the horses regularly compete in Europe.
Sheikh Hamdan's gorgeous colt No Risk Al Maury FR (Kesberoy) trained by Britain's Gill Duffield, won the event by 3/4 length with his Santhal FR (Djebbel) second and Kandar Du Falgas FR (Kesberoy) ridden by Tadhg O'Shea fourth. Vite Royal USA (Monarch AH) was third.
British jockey Richard Hills made history as the first winning rider on the Meydan Racecourse and earned his 450th victory in the UAE. It certainly pays to be Sheikh Hamdan's retained jockey.
The mile thoroughbred US$200,000 Maktoum Challenge Group 3 sponsored by Invasor ARG, Shadwell Farm, was the highlight of the day as it is a Trial for the Dubai World Cup and Godolphin Mile.
Last-year's runner-up in the DWC and winner of the 1-1/4 mile Group 1 Turf Singapore Airlines International Cup, 6yo Gloria De Campeao BRZ (Impression ARG) won by 1/2 length and is entered in the DWC by his French trainer Pascal Bary.
There is symmetry in the ultra-tough Brazilian horse by an Argentinian sire winning the Trial race sponsored by the great DWC winner from Argentina--Invasor.
Godolphin's favoured twosome My Indy ARG (Indygo) and Midshipman USA (Unbridled's Song USA). Midshipman faded and only managed fourth.
Compensating for the loss, the inimitable Frankie Dettori dictated tactics from the front on Godolphin's Whispering Gallery (Daylami IRE) in the Mustanfar sponsored by Shadwell Farm 1m2f (Handicap) on Tapeta and won by 3-1/2 lengths.
Whispering Gallery was British bred. Four British-based trainers were victorious: Gill Duffield, Luca Cumani, John Best and Jeremy Noseda.
Kieren Fallon won his first-ever Dubai Carnival race on Cumani's Drunken Sailor Ire (Tendulkar USA) in the Dumaani sponsored by Shadwell Farm (Handicap) 1m3f on Tapeta.
Cumani's Monte Alto IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE) was second by 2-1/4 lengths. Lindner GER (Golan IRE) was third by 7-1/4 lengths.
Multiple-UAE Champion Jockey Ted Durcan brought his 25.1 Sir Gerry USA (Carson City USA) to a half-length victory in the 6f (Handicap) Kayrawan sponsored by Shadwell Farm on Tapeta for trainer Best.
UAE jockey Ahmed Ajtebi had a crashing fall and has just been released from hospital.
South African trainer Mike De Kock and jockey Christophe Soumillon teamed for two impressive victories in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial sponsored by Dayjur of Shadwell Farm (Conditions Race for Fillies), 7f, and the Intadab sponsored by Shadwell Farm (Handicap), 1m1-1/2f on Tapeta.
Four-year-old Raihana AUS (Elusive Quality USA) won the first and 5yo Lizard's Desire SAF (Lizard Island AUS) the second race for owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
The final race was won by British Jeremy Noseda's Leahurst IRE (Verglas IRE) for owner Mrs Susan Roy in the 7f (Handicap) Daaher sponsored by Shadwell Farm on Tapeta.
These races were the groundbreaking tests for jockeys who must deal with a new surface, a sharp bend, high camber at the bends and a short home straight of only a furlong-and-a-half.
Horses unfamiliar with All Weather surfaces take time to learn action changes and to use different muscles.
The surfaces favour Turf horses over Dirt which is why Rachel Alexandra's owner Jess Jackson will not enter her in the Dubai World Cup.
Jockeys believe speed is essential in the first furlong to gain a good position in the first five and any horse coming from behind is at a disadvantage.
That leaves a serious question of Zenyatta's chances to win on this racecourse as she likes to run last despite having the speed others do not.
Frank Gabriel, CEO of the Dubai Racing Club, is courting Zenyatta as a prime candidate for the Dubai World Cup. Her connections have tentative US racing plans arranged to defend her Breeders' Cup Classic 2009 victory.
Without her presence, Gloria De Campeao has been installed as favourite for the Dubai World Cup after his Trial victory opening night.
Architect's preview of Meydan's grandstand at the DWC March 27.
Zenyatta Invited to Race in the DWC
Zenyatta wearing her winner's garland at the Breeders' Cup Classic 2009
with jockey Mike Smith and groom Mario Espinoza. Racingfotos
Despite 6yo Zenyatta's connections announcing plans for an exclusive American campaign, they will be invited to compete in the Dubai World Cup.
Frank Gabriel, CEO of the Dubai Racing Club, said it is his aim to "secure a line-up of the highest quality for the Dubai World Cup" and "a horse of the calibre of Zenyatta will be of paramount importance".
Should Zenyatta accept the Club's invitation, she could compete against the outstanding mare Vodka JPN (Tamino Gimlet JPN), winner of the Japan Cup and Japan's Horse of the Year for the second year, in the $10 Million Dubai World Cup.
Other invitees will be Hong Kong winners Vision D'Etat FR (Chichicastenango FR) and Presvis (Sakhee USA) along with US Grade 1 winner Gitano Hernando FR (Hernando FR).
Jess Jackson, owner of Rachel Alexandra USA (Megdaglia D'Oro USA), has already ruled out racing his Dirt specialist on the new DWC Tapeta surface.
Rachel could meet Zenyatta in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas, on April 3 which would temporarily settle their fans' feud over which female is better.
On the other hand, what a fabulous international race it would be if all three great fillies raced each other in the DWC!
And Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) competed in the mile.
Architect's design of the future aerial view of Dubai's new Maydan Racecourse which opened January 28 for the Dubai Carnival and will host the Dubai World Cup March 27.
The future design, in the aerial view above, of Dubai's new US$2 billion hotel and Meydan Racecourse complex not only shows the vast ambition of the project, but the artistic integrity of its exquisite Arabic design.
The racecourse's 1,750m Tapeta synthetic surface will replace Nad al Sheba's 2,200m dirt course and will become the new home of the US$10 million Dubai World Cup on March 27 and many other major races.
In fact, there is speculation that the Dubai Racing Club might stage world-class races later in the year which would bridge the seasons between Europe and both the Near and Far East.
They could be staged at the beginning of the Dubai racing season in November and could compete with the Breeders' Cup.
Meydan's racecourse and one floor of the grandstand's corporate section were ready in time for opening day of the Dubai Carnival January 28 and the first leg of the Maktoum Challenge sponsored by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell Farm.
The eight-race card was worth US$930,000.
It was only fitting that the first race would be a US$55,000 Group 1 for Anglo Arabs at 1,600m. It is the UAE Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 sponsored by Jazil of Shadwell Farm on Dirt.
The Anglo and Pure Bred Arabian races and Challenge are very popular with local residents and the horses regularly compete in Europe.
Sheikh Hamdan's gorgeous colt No Risk Al Maury FR (Kesberoy) trained by Britain's Gill Duffield, won the event by 3/4 length with his Santhal FR (Djebbel) second and Kandar Du Falgas FR (Kesberoy) ridden by Tadhg O'Shea fourth. Vite Royal USA (Monarch AH) was third.
British jockey Richard Hills made history as the first winning rider on the Meydan Racecourse and earned his 450th victory in the UAE. It certainly pays to be Sheikh Hamdan's retained jockey.
The mile thoroughbred US$200,000 Maktoum Challenge Group 3 sponsored by Invasor ARG, Shadwell Farm, was the highlight of the day as it is a Trial for the Dubai World Cup and Godolphin Mile.
Last-year's runner-up in the DWC and winner of the 1-1/4 mile Group 1 Turf Singapore Airlines International Cup, 6yo Gloria De Campeao BRZ (Impression ARG) won by 1/2 length and is entered in the DWC by his French trainer Pascal Bary.
There is symmetry in the ultra-tough Brazilian horse by an Argentinian sire winning the Trial race sponsored by the great DWC winner from Argentina--Invasor.
Godolphin's favoured twosome My Indy ARG (Indygo) and Midshipman USA (Unbridled's Song USA). Midshipman faded and only managed fourth.
Compensating for the loss, the inimitable Frankie Dettori dictated tactics from the front on Godolphin's Whispering Gallery (Daylami IRE) in the Mustanfar sponsored by Shadwell Farm 1m2f (Handicap) on Tapeta and won by 3-1/2 lengths.
Whispering Gallery was British bred. Four British-based trainers were victorious: Gill Duffield, Luca Cumani, John Best and Jeremy Noseda.
Kieren Fallon won his first-ever Dubai Carnival race on Cumani's Drunken Sailor Ire (Tendulkar USA) in the Dumaani sponsored by Shadwell Farm (Handicap) 1m3f on Tapeta.
Cumani's Monte Alto IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE) was second by 2-1/4 lengths. Lindner GER (Golan IRE) was third by 7-1/4 lengths.
Multiple-UAE Champion Jockey Ted Durcan brought his 25.1 Sir Gerry USA (Carson City USA) to a half-length victory in the 6f (Handicap) Kayrawan sponsored by Shadwell Farm on Tapeta for trainer Best.
UAE jockey Ahmed Ajtebi had a crashing fall and has just been released from hospital.
South African trainer Mike De Kock and jockey Christophe Soumillon teamed for two impressive victories in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial sponsored by Dayjur of Shadwell Farm (Conditions Race for Fillies), 7f, and the Intadab sponsored by Shadwell Farm (Handicap), 1m1-1/2f on Tapeta.
Four-year-old Raihana AUS (Elusive Quality USA) won the first and 5yo Lizard's Desire SAF (Lizard Island AUS) the second race for owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
The final race was won by British Jeremy Noseda's Leahurst IRE (Verglas IRE) for owner Mrs Susan Roy in the 7f (Handicap) Daaher sponsored by Shadwell Farm on Tapeta.
These races were the groundbreaking tests for jockeys who must deal with a new surface, a sharp bend, high camber at the bends and a short home straight of only a furlong-and-a-half.
Horses unfamiliar with All Weather surfaces take time to learn action changes and to use different muscles.
The surfaces favour Turf horses over Dirt which is why Rachel Alexandra's owner Jess Jackson will not enter her in the Dubai World Cup.
Jockeys believe speed is essential in the first furlong to gain a good position in the first five and any horse coming from behind is at a disadvantage.
That leaves a serious question of Zenyatta's chances to win on this racecourse as she likes to run last despite having the speed others do not.
Frank Gabriel, CEO of the Dubai Racing Club, is courting Zenyatta as a prime candidate for the Dubai World Cup. Her connections have tentative US racing plans arranged to defend her Breeders' Cup Classic 2009 victory.
Without her presence, Gloria De Campeao has been installed as favourite for the Dubai World Cup after his Trial victory opening night.
Architect's preview of Meydan's grandstand at the DWC March 27.
Zenyatta Invited to Race in the DWC
Zenyatta wearing her winner's garland at the Breeders' Cup Classic 2009
with jockey Mike Smith and groom Mario Espinoza. Racingfotos
Despite 6yo Zenyatta's connections announcing plans for an exclusive American campaign, they will be invited to compete in the Dubai World Cup.
Frank Gabriel, CEO of the Dubai Racing Club, said it is his aim to "secure a line-up of the highest quality for the Dubai World Cup" and "a horse of the calibre of Zenyatta will be of paramount importance".
Should Zenyatta accept the Club's invitation, she could compete against the outstanding mare Vodka JPN (Tamino Gimlet JPN), winner of the Japan Cup and Japan's Horse of the Year for the second year, in the $10 Million Dubai World Cup.
Other invitees will be Hong Kong winners Vision D'Etat FR (Chichicastenango FR) and Presvis (Sakhee USA) along with US Grade 1 winner Gitano Hernando FR (Hernando FR).
Jess Jackson, owner of Rachel Alexandra USA (Megdaglia D'Oro USA), has already ruled out racing his Dirt specialist on the new DWC Tapeta surface.
Rachel could meet Zenyatta in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas, on April 3 which would temporarily settle their fans' feud over which female is better.
On the other hand, what a fabulous international race it would be if all three great fillies raced each other in the DWC!
And Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) competed in the mile.
