The Dubai World Cup Carnival has already garnered media attention with the season starters. The first major race of the season, The Gr.2 Maktoum Challenge R1 is headlined by none other than Ramadan Kodrov’s North America. The Dubawi sired entire did a 3-2-1 in last season’s Maktoum Challenge R1, R2 and R3. And he is ready to fly for his connections in the 2019 installment of the fixture.
There is a line-up of fine horses hoping to challenge him for the trophy. Leading the charge is old rival Heavy Metal, owned by HH. Sh. Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum. The Exceed And Excel colt was last seen on this track winning the Gr.2 Godolphin Mile - a title he is expected to defend his title on Dubai World Cup night. His fine form suggests that North America will be equally matched. The other Sandeep Jadhav trained 7YO Bay colt Fitzgerald, has a tough challenge ahead of him. He was last seen in the last installment of this race, where he finished 8th of 8 runners.
No big race is complete without at least one Godolphin horse. Emulating his late sire Street Cry, who won the race for Godolphin in 2001, Charlie Appleby trained Gold Town won the Gr.3 UAE 2000 Guineas (2018) despite a change in surface. And he was a good fourth behind Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (2017) winner Mendelssohn in the Gr.1 UAE Derby. He Street Cry cold was retired after he finished his swan song with the fantastic Travers run. Mendelssohn went to the early lead, where he was joined by Catholic Boy. The two raced side by side for the first mile until Catholic Boy pulled away to win by four lengths. Mendelssohn hung on to finish second, a length in front of Bravazo. Mendelssohn's share of the purse took his career earnings to US$2.2 million. But we digress.
The Street Cry colt has won four of his nine starts and is back to a surface he likes.
Doug Watson saddles three in this year’s edition of the Gr.1 Maktoum Challenge R1. Starting with popular Muntazah. The Dubawi gelding was runner up behind Heavy Metal in the Gr.2 Godolphin Mile (2018) however failed to impress in the recent National Day Cup which was won by the new Jebel Ali master, Nicolas Bachalard. Kimbear and Etijaah are both in top form. Kimbear was recently seen in the Garhoud Sprint, where he finished third behind stablemate Drafted. The Gr.3 Burj Nahaar winner has previously raced against the likes of (now retired) Gr.1 Pennsylvania Derby winner West Coast.
Etijaah was fourth behind stable mate Cosmo Charlie in the Entisar Stakes recently. He will need to step up to prove himself with this field.
The race has attracted an international runner, American bred Dolkong. The horse has always raced in Korea. He placed a good fourth in the 2300m race in September behind Korean bred Triple Nine. Dolkong is trained by Australian Simon Foster who current trains in Seoul.
Bachalard saddles Masaarr for HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Distorted Humor colt was runner-up behind PIncheck in the Gr.3 Desmond Stakes at Leapordstown. The horse has good form and should be a wild card entry in this race.
And finally ex-Godolphin Simon Crisford saddles Nabil Mourad’s African Ride. The 5YO colt comes back to the track after 101 day haitus. The Candy Ride colt was runner up to Straight Right in a 1400m Conditions race at Chelmsford City racecourse.
This should be an interesting
Full Runner list with Trainer & Jockey 2019:
1. Mawahib (T:e lemartinel J:patrick cosgrave), 2. Af mahshoum (T:a al rayhi J:jim crowley), 3. Aziz al shahania (T:r bouresly J:sherman brown), 4. Mirna (T:j de roüalle J:richard mullen), 5.Af al hazer (T:e oertel J:royston ffrench), 6. Af al sajanjle (T:e oertel J:tadhg o'shea), 7. Rb madymoiselle (T:d watson J:patrick dobbs), 8. Cheik roque (T:e charpy J:antonio fresu), 9. Wadeeaa (T:m ali J:szczepan mazur), 10. Al hantar monlau (T:s al hajri J:al moatasem al balushi), 11. Rb smokin rich (T:s h al mazrouei J:bernardo pinheiro) 12. Rb torch (T:e lemartinel J:fabrice veron), 13. Rmmas (T:j de roüalle J:adrie de vries) 14. Najm alemarat (T:m ramadan J:rowan scott), 14. Af marrah (T:e oertel J:olivier doleuze), 15.Goshawke (T:a al hammadi J:fernando jara)
Race Info:
Distance: 2,000 metres,Surface: Dirt,Track: Left-handed,Purse: $400,000
Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secreatriatsworld.com