Deauville Goes For All In Singspiel Stakes
The first event of the much awaited 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival (#DWCCarnival) gets underway at Meydan Racecourse this evening. The headlining races of the evening are the $200,000 Singspiel Stakes (Gr.3) and the $200,000 Dubawi Stakes (Gr.3).
Overall, eight countries will be represented on opening night.
The line-up for the Singspiel Stakes is headlined by top rated (115)c who is trained by Fawzi Nass. The entire owned by a collective called Victorious, is pointed towards the US$6m Gr.1 Dubai Turf previously won by Benbatl.
Previously trained by Aidan O’Brien, this son of Galileo has four career victories highlighted by success in the 2016 Gr.1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes.
Saeed bin Suroor saddles three for Godolphin, with Christophe Soumillon aboard Dream Castle, thus appearing the strongest of the triad. The top conditioner also saddles Team Talk and Racing History.
German invader and multiple Gr.3 winner Degas will be piloted by Fabrice Veron. The gelding was runner-up in the Gr.2 Premio Vittorio di Capua in Italy.
No horse has won the Singspiel Stakes twice, but Light the Lights has the chance to remedy the longtime partnership of Mike de Kock and Sheikh Mohd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. Winner of this in 2017, he was seventh last year, while ridden both times by Soumillon. Likely in need of the run, he was not helped by drawing widest of all in 16. He picks up a new pilot in Olivier Doleuze.
Charlie Appleby, top trainer at last year’s carnival, saddles three more Godolphin runners. Top international rider James Doyle has chosen Key Victory over Salsabeel (Brett Doyle) and Bay of Poets (Colm O’Donoghue).
2018 Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot winner Settle for Bay and Erwan Charpy trained Amazon princess, Furia Cruzada concludes the formidable field.
On the dirt surface, the 1200m Gr.3 Dubawi Stakes is a truly international affair with the local sprinters facing stiff opposition from the UK, Sweden and Korea.
Representing South Korea is Ace Korea, has received a plumb draw in one with Darryll Holland riding for Peter Wolsley while on the other end of the spectrum Trickbag, from Sweden, is drawn widest of all in seven. Satish Seemar and Richard Mullen, combine with Touch Gold Racing’s well-regarded Raven’s Corner.
Meanwhile, David Barron, saddles dirt debutant Above the Rest, his first UAE runner since 2014.
Doug Watson saddles both My Catch with Pat Dobbs in the saddle and lightly raced 5-year-old 2018 Garhoud Sprint (Listed) winner Drafted, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum owned High on Life will look to improve upon his fifth-place finish that evening.
The rest of the card is highlighted by Simon Crisford trained-Starry Eyes and Turn ’n Twirl, who saddles three, all owned by Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum.
For Bin Suroor, Godolphin and Soumillon, Dubai Beauty appears the one to beat, if she merits her official rating of 104 and handles the surface.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum has three contenders, including Australian raiderFaatinah, a 1200m carnival winner last year. Darren Bunyan-trained Irish Group 3 winner Hit The Bid and Jaber Ramadhan’s locally based Dutch Masterpiece were also 2017 Carnival winners and must be respected.
Her Majesty The Queen will have her first Meydan competitor when Seniority and Chris Hayes face 13 rivals in the 1400m turf handicap, for William Haggas. The leader on ratings is Mike de Kock-trained 2018 Zabeel Mile (Gr.2) winner Janoobi.
Full Runner list with Trainer & Jockey 2019:
Team talk (patrick cosgrave saeed bin suroor), Musaddas (sherman brown rashed bouresly), Deauville (luke morri fawzi nass), Furia cruzada (antonio fresu erwan charpy), Degas (fabrice veron markus klug), Bay of poets (colm o'donoghue charles appleby), Key victory (james doyle charles appleby), Gm hopkins (robert tart j. Ramadhan), Arod (jim crowley david m. Simcock), Escalator (stephen donohoe charlie h. Fellowes), Dream castle (christophe soumillon saeed bin suroor), Settle for bay (patrick dobbs david marnane),Salsabeel (brett doyle charles appleby), Racing history (kevin stott saeed bin suroor), Hornsby mickael (barzalona s. Jadhav), Light the light (olivier doleuze mike de kock)
Race Info:
Distance: 1 1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs), Surface: Turf, Track: Left-handed, Qualification: Three-year-olds & up, Weight: Assigned, Purse: $125,000 (2017)
Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com