3 minute read

Classy Australian sprinter Faatinah goes after his third Dubai win at Meydan tonight in the G2 Meydan Sprint over 1000 metres.

Faatinah is midway through his second campaign in Dubai, having raced successful at Meydan 12 months ago when he won he raced three times for win in a conditions race over 1200m and finished eighth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint.

He has returned in similar form this year, winning first-up over 1000m on January 3 before his last start third over the same course and distance on January 24.

Faatinah is trained for Sheikh Hamdan by the Hayes/Dabernig partnership at Lindsay Park and they again have the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night next month as the ultimate target for the 6YO gelding.

He faces a stern test tonight as his rivals include Godolphin’s heavily favoured Blue Point, the G1 King’s Stand Stakes winner from the Charlie Appleby stable.

Blue Point finished second in the Meydan Sprint last year, adding to Appleby’s frustrating sequence of five successive seconds placings in the G2 race after runner-up finishes by Jungle Cat (2017, 2016) and Ahtoug (2015, 2014).

Blue Point was favourite for the Al Quoz Sprint last year but was withdrawn at the barriers after a trickle of nostril blood was detected.

Blue Point has not raced since he finished third in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August.