3 minute read

Despite some cold (for Dubai) weather and fog etc Thursday sees the Carnival proper get underway.

There will be 3 G2 races and 1 G3, with the latter being the Dubawi Stakes over 1200m.  Satish Seemar saddles the top two here in Gladiator King with Mikael Barzalona on 6/4 and Bachart with Richard Mullins on 6/1.  The favourite looks to be a stand out here and you can add whatever you like to the multiples.  Alkaraama and Waady on 8/1 are both reasonable chances.

The first of the G2s is the Singspiel Stakes over 1800m on the turf.   Charlie Appleby's Zakouski has William Buick on board and they are 2/1 after the horse brings some good English form back with him.  Frankie Dettori has returned to Dubai and into the arms of Godolphin after a separation of numerous years.  He gets the ride on Military March from Saeed bin Suroor's yard and is on 5/2.  Kinross for Ralph Beckett and Richard Kingscote is on 9/2.

The first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge is G2 over 1600m with bin Ghadayer's Capezzano on 7/2 and Barzalona riding with Fawzi Nass's Salute The Solder on the same quote and Adrie de Vries riding.  Doug Watson's Kimbear has possibilities and is on 11/2 with Pat Dobbs riding.  An interesting runner is the Uruguayan Ajuste Fiscal on 10/1 – keep an eye on him.

And then the second G2 on the turf is the Al Fahidi Fort over 1400m which seems to be well and truly under the control of Charlie Appleby who saddles Glorious Journey, the mount of William Buick, who won this last year and is on 6/4, plus D'bai on 4/1 with James Doyle in the irons and Velorum 11/2 to be ridden by Barzalona.  Land of Legends is also on that quote for bin Suroor and Dettori.