Eleven Group 1 winners will battle for riches at Meydan’s superb ‘Fashion Friday’ meeting this weekend.
The Longines-sponsored nine-race card stages two Thoroughbred Group 1 races, including the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge, worth AED3,680,000, offering guaranteed entry to the winner for the $12million Dubai World Cup on 28 March. It features the last two winners Walk Of Stars and Kabirkhan, both trained by Bhupat Seemar, who has six of the nine runners.
“Walk Of Stars had a lot of weight to give away first time out, against horses who were race fit,” Seemar said of the gelding’s fourth in the Listed Entisar in December. “He’s fit and off level weights so hopefully he’s going to give a good showing.”
“Kabirkhan kind of fluffed the start on his first run for us,” he continued. “He was drawn on the inside, broke slow and got a lot of kickback. We’ve got blinkers on him now as he’s an older horse so he’s getting a bit clever, but he’s still got a world of talent.”
Seemar also trains Artorius for owners Juddmonte, who finished second to Heart Of Honor in the Listed Entisar last time out.
“Artorius was a very good horse in the States, but then his form sort of tapered off a little bit,” he said. “He came over last year and kept on improving. Ten furlongs [2000metres] is his true distance and last time he carried a kilo extra than the winner. I think he’ll improve again and I’m hoping for a very good run.”
Imperial Emperor was the impressive winner of the G2 Al Maktoum Mile last time out and steps back up in trip here.
“Imperial Emperor was second in this race last year but I think he’s a better horse now,” said Seemar. Of 2024 Listed Al Bastakiya winner Killer Collect, he added: “Killer Collect missed the break last time and got kickback which he didn’t like at all. He’s got blinkers this time and hopefully the jockey will be aggressive out of the gate and get him up there.”
Taking on the Seemar team is Heart Of Honor, who beat four of Friday’s rivals last time with a late run to secure victory in the Entisar.
“We know the style in which he’s going to race, it’s ‘win ugly’,” said trainer Jamie Osborne. “He certainly conserves energy on the way round, but that’s probably one of the factors which makes him such a strong stayer.
“As long as they go hard and turn it into a proper end to end, stamina-requiring race, then he’ll be coming into his own.”
Exciting Opera Ballo goes for Jebel Hatta Glory
The G1 Jebel Hatta [presented by Longines], race seven, looks to revolve around Opera Ballo, who was hugely taking when winning the G2 Rashidiya in December. Taking him on is stablemate Nations Pride, a four-time G1 winner, as well as G1 Canadian International winner Silawi, for trainer Hamad Al Jehani.
“Opera Ballo put up a good performance in the Al Rashidiya, when he picked up some valuable experience of racing at Meydan,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “He goes into the race in great order and this is the logical next test for him. It is a small field, but everyone in there deserves respect.
“I feel that Nations Pride has come forward for his last run as his work since has been a bit sharper. He has plenty of experience under his belt and conditions are there to suit. He is a rock-solid horse and I’m sure he will put up another strong effort.”
Midak, making his first start for trainer Ian Williams and owner Fitri Hay, looks a fascinating recruit having won a Group 3 in France last May, while last year’s third Holloway Boy and Charlie Fellowes’ Vafortino complete the line-up.
Rematch in the Fort
The G2 Al Fahidi Fort, race three, over 1400metres on turf, features a rematch between the last two winners; Mysterious Night, successful in 2024 and Marbaan, who beat him last year.
Trained by Michael Costa, Marbaan was third behind Mysterious Night in the Listed Business Bay Challenge in December, but the trainer issued an upbeat bulletin.
“It’s not often you get to say this in Dubai, but he didn’t appreciate the soft ground last start,” he said. “It was still his best performance on rain-affected ground and we expect to see him properly let down back on the good going this week.”
Appleby said: “Mysterious Night came out of the Business Bay Challenge in good order and has plenty of experience over this course and trip. It is a big field, but I am not too concerned with being drawn out in stall 10. He is entitled to come on for his first run of the season, which should hopefully put him bang there at the finish.”
Witness Stand, winner of the G2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood in July, makes his local debut for trainers Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole.
“He’s a really solid Group 2 horse,” said Insole. “We tried him over six furlongs [1200metres] which didn’t really work, so seven furlongs round a bend should be his conditions here, and we may even try stepping him up to a mile.
“He looks fresh and well and he’s still got his summer coat, so we’re looking forward to a big run on Friday night.”
Sprinters Clash Again in Al Shindagha
The G3 Al Shindagha Sprint, race four, over 1200metres on dirt, is a fascinating affair, with G3 Dubawi Stakes winner El Nasseeb clashing again with second, third and fourth Mufasa, Colour Up and Dark Saffron.
Having his third run in this race, Colour Up represents Doug Watson, who gave an upbeat bulletin about the eight-year-old.
“Colour Up needs something in front of him when he breaks,” he said. “He just lost his way early last time and got a little detached and it took him a while to get in the race. He’s had a really good year – his coat’s been perfect all year whereas usually it’s in and out.
“I’d love to see him win one of these, as he doesn’t miss a cheque often, but El Nasseeb will be tough to beat.”
Seemar, who won this race 12 months ago with Tuz, runs three, including impressive last out handicap winner Drew’s Gold.
“He carried 62 kilos, clocked a good time, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t do it again,” he said. “But we’re stepping up in class, so we’ll find out how he really stacks up.”
Mufasa carries the same silks of RRR Racing and has stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea on board.
“He’s getting closer!” said Seemar. “He was a good second last time. He does have a good kick but we’ll let Tadhg decide where to ride him and see how it pans out when the gates open.”
Colts Compete for Kentucky Points
The G3 UAE 2000 Guineas has attracted a strong field of 16, including Appleby’s Devon Island, winner of both his Meydan starts to date.
“Devon Island is unbeaten since switching to dirt, although this is a step up in class against several horses with a similar profile to him,” said the Godolphin handler. “He has improved mentally as much as physically with each run, and we will be slightly wiser regarding what the future holds after this.”
Brotherly Love has finished behind Devon Island twice but did coast away for his own four-length maiden win two weeks’ ago, beating the reopposing Yamdeek.
“Originally we thought we’d leave him until the Road To Kentucky Derby [formerly Al Bastakiya] but he looks great and he’s been training great,” said trainer Osborne. “A mile is the inner edge of how far he can go; the 1900metres is going to be so much better for him. Saffie [Osborne, jockey] is of the opinion that he’s so much sharper in the blinkers that he’ll be able to sit a little closer to them, and Devon Island in particular.”
Bhupat Seemar trainer trains four in here, including Six Speed, winner of the Guineas trial last time out.
“He showed some grit last time,” he said of the Not This Time colt. “He went up there with the pace and then sat back a little and took some kickback, then when the opening came he shot clear. He should be able to get the mile well.”
Seemar also runs Lino Padrino, an impressive maiden winner before fluffing his lines last time out.
“We have high hopes for Lino Padrino,” he said. “We’ve done some work with him at the gates as he was slowly away last time, so hoping for a better break. Tadhg chose him as he’s a horse with a lot of talent.”
Seemar’s other two Guineas runners are new to the stable, one from the US and one from Ireland.
“Rammas was an impressive winner at Gulfstream,” he said. “He’s still in quarantine, but we worked him on Sunday and he impressed us. I think he has a good future but we just don’t know him too well yet.
“Senator Of State was a winner at Dundalk on his last start who has just come over and he’s running on the dirt for the first time, so it’s going to be a little bit different for him.”
Argentine-bred Legalaized, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheri, ran second to Six Speed in the trial, despite conceding weight and a wide draw in 14.
“I thought he did a good job in the trial,” said jockey James Doyle. “We were drawn widest of all and we covered a lot of extra ground and he just got a little tired late on.
“The extra furlong is certainly a question mark, but if he can get a bit more of an economical trip then hopefully he can run a very good race.”
The UAE 2000 Guineas is now part of the ‘Road To The Kentucky Derby’ with points going to the first five home, including 20 for the winner.
West Acre out to Defend Crown
The G2 Blue Point Sprint [presented by Longines], race five, has its defending champion in West Acre, winner 12 months ago for British trainer George Scott.
The four-year-old was last seen finishing second to the reopposing Spartan Arrow at Dundalk in October.
“We missed his intended first start in Dubai in December due to the weather,” so he’s coming in fresh,” said Scott. “He’s a horse who clearly enjoys this set of circumstances and I’ve been particularly happy with the way he’s been training.”
West Acre’s ten rivals include Cover Up, winner of the Listed Dubai Dash over this track and trip in December.
“Cover Up won in great style on Festive Friday and has done really well since that race,” said co-trainer Ed Crisford. “He’s a bigger and stronger horse this year. Although it’s another step up and more competitive, he should be right there in the mix.”
Crisford runs Meydaan in the G3 Al Khail Trophy, the final race on the Longines-sponsored card.
“Meydaan is in super form since his win a few weeks ago,” he said. “He goes into the Al Khail over the same trip, same track, and we’re very happy with him. Although it’s a more competitive race I think he’ll go super well.”
Meydaan’s seven rivals include G1 winner Sunway, for trainer David Menusier, and David O’Meara’s Epic Poet, third in this race last year.
The G3 Firebreak Stakes [presented by Longines], race two, was won last year by King Gold whose trainer Nicolas Caullery saddles Fort Payne this time. The eight-year-old won the G3 Burj Nahaar over this course and distance in March.
“Fort Payne is in good shape, he did a good piece of work and is ready to go,” said Marine Henry, wife and assistant to Caullery. “He had a run before he arrived here on 19 December in Chantilly so that will probably help him to be ready for this race on Friday.”
Meshtri is three times a winner over this course and distance, including at G2 level, and trainer Costa is hopeful he is back to that sort of form.
“Meshtri this week showed his first gallop that looked to be in somewhat of the same ballpark as last season,” he said. “He hasn’t quite been there this year but this week’s training has been more encouraging. Let’s see what we get on Friday night.”
Seemar runs Commissioner King and Mendelssohn Bay, both winners already this season.
“Commissioner King is a big unit of a horse and it takes him a couple of races to get fit,” he said of the 2023 Saudi Derby winner. “I think now is the time that he’s at his fittest so he should run a really big race.
“Mendelssohn Bay was third the last time when he was a little bit slow out of the gate and he was still catching on,” he said. “We decided that the mile wasn’t as deep as the Group 1, so we’ve kept him here and I think he’s got a good chance.”
Four G1 winners lock horns among 16 runners in the opening G1 Maktoum Challenge R2 for Purebred Arabians, a key prep race for the G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic in March. That race was won in 2025 for a second time by First Classs, who lines up here after finishing down the field in the G1 President Cup at Abu Dhabi in December.
“First Class is doing fantastic,” said trainer Doug Watson. “We pointed for this after that slightly poor performance on the turf the last time. This is where we started getting going with him last year, and he seems like he’s in that kind of form again.”
Watson also runs multiple G2 winner Djafar, who makes his second start for the stable. “We’re just getting to know Djafar, but he works like a really nice horse and has done well since we got him.” he said.
