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Australian sprinters have a tremendous history in the Al Quoz Sprint run at Meydan on Saturday.
Ortensia came from last to win in 2012. The 2019 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan on Saturday will have more Aussie interest this year.
2019 AL QUOZ SPRINT - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Al Quoz Sprint is a Group 1 sprint race for three year olds and up conducted by the Dubai Racing Club at Meydan.
The Al Quoz Sprint was first run in 2007 won by Great Britain.
The Al Quoz Sprint was initially run over 1200m under Weight For Age conditions but in 2011 it went back to 1000m. In 2017 it reverted to 1200m.
It is run on Dubai World Cup night as the feature turf sprint on the program.
Originally it was just part of the entire Dubai Racing Carnival but was moved to World Cup night in 2010 when Meydan opened.
JJ The Jet Plane has two wins in the race but with different trainers - Mike De Kock and Lucky Houdalakis.
The only trainer to win multiple Al Quoz Sprints is Mike De Kock. No jockey has any more the one win.
Australian mare Ortensia changed stables to Paul Messara in 2011 and after winning at Flemington in Listed grade, she won her first G1 in the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.
Connections then took her to Meydan four months later and coming from last at the 400m, flashed home under Craig Williams to win with a little ease. She would head to England and win a King George Stakes and a G1 Nunthorpe Stakes.
In 2016 the old warhorse Buffering, in the twilight of his racing days, was still able to win at international level. The horse who was there through all Black Caviar’s wins got some just desserts.
He had won a second Winterbottom then went home for a Magic Million bonus. However the trip to Dubai was tougher. He raced right on the speed all the way and held off several other global raiders. It was the last of his 20 career wins before retiring in October that year.
Jungle Cat won for Godolphin in 2018 and in that race he defeated the likes of Illustrious Lad, Faatinah and Music Magnate. He then was targeted for Australia where he’d win the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes first up and also later place in the VRC Sprint Classic.
The Al Quoz Sprint is worth US$2million in 2019.
The winners include Jungle Cat (2018), The Right Man (2017), Buffering (2016), Sole Power (2015), Amber Sky (2014), Shea Shea (2013), Ortensia (2012), JJ The Jet Plane (2009/2011), Joy And Fun (2010), Instant Recall (2008 Div 1), Mutamarres (2008 Div II) and Great Britain (2007).
The 2018 Al Quoz Sprint was won by Jungle Cat from Stormy Liberal and Conquest Tsunami.
