Comeback of Nations Pride at Meydan

Meydan, Friday, February 17: At a high level, the Dubai Racing Carnival continues today at Meydan. Three-year-old fillies will be addressed in the UAE Oaks (3rd race/16.10pm/150,000 $/1900m/dirt). Last year`s US-trained Ami Please (Antonio Fresu), now under the direction of Doug O`Neill, is seen as a winner. A leading role should also be played by Mimi Kakushi (Mickael Barzalona), who came off superiorly against Awasef (Sam Hitchcott) and Asawer (Pat Dobbs) at List level here.

There is a big crowd in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy (5th race/5.20pm/$200,000/2810m/turf). 14 horses are competing at Group 3 level, four of which are provided by the Godolphin hosts. Siskany (William Buick), who has already been victorious on this course and most recently finished third on the all-weather track at Kempton, may fancy his best chances. Before that, he also finished third in the Bayern Grand Prix in Munich. Ardakan (Ben Coen) achieved the same result on his appearance four weeks ago behind Global Heat (Pat Cosgrave) and Away He Goes (Mickael Barzalona) and ahead of Wickywickywheels (Richard Mullen) and Charging Thunder (Daniel Tudhope).

Godolphin`s blue colours also feature prominently in the Dubai Millennium Stakes (6th race/5.55pm/150,000/$/2000m/turf). An impressive winner at last year`s Dubai Racing Carnival, Nations Pride (William Buick) later also performed at the highest level in the USA, should not disappoint in his seasonal debut. He will be supported by Ottoman Fleet (James Doyle), who currently has two third places to his name. Behind the latter, the Al Rashidiya (Group 2) was followed by Zagrey (Christophe Soumillon) and Freescape (Pat Dobbs), who are again looking for a place.