Dubai Racing Carnival with Adrie de Vries

Meydan, Friday, February 3: Over one million dollars will be paid out in six flat races at today`s event at Meydan. The lion`s share will go to the Al Maktoum Challenge (5th race/5.20pm/350,000 $/1900m/dirt), which has Group 2 status and gathers nine horses at the starting gate.

The question of the winner should be answered by Algiers (James Doyle), who stood well above his opponents at the opening round and corrected the mediocre result from last year in the Godolphin Mile (Group 2). The German-bred Salute The Soldier (Adrie de Vries) also made a strong impression a week later when beating Atletico El Culano (Jose Da Silva) and Bendoog (Ryan Moore), who finished next about three lengths behind the Abdulla charge. A year ago and not yet part of the Dubai Racing Carnival, a Listed race was decided here, with Remorse (Tadhg O`Shea) finishing ahead of Bendoog and First Constitution (Pat Dobbs).

For mares, the Group 2-counted Cape Verdi (4th race/16.45/180,000 $/1600 m/Turf) is reserved. With The Moonlight (William Buick), who started the season victoriously in last year`s Pretty Polly Stakes (List race) at Newmarket and has recently enjoyed great success in the USA, forms the group of favourites together with Soft Whisper (Daniel Tudhope), Wild Beauty (James Doyle) and White Moonlight (Adrie de Vries), who also run for Godolphin.

The same picture is emerging in the Singspiel Stakes (6th race/5.55pm/180,000 $/1800m/turf), as the meanies are once again provided by Godolphin`s Royal Blue. Valiant Prince (James Doyle), Dubai Future (Adrie de Vries) and Ottoman Fleet (William Buick) already set the tone in the Al Rashidiya (Group 2) and the trifecta could repeat. Perhaps Shelir (Daniel Tudhope), who ran superbly second in the Zabeel Mile, will manage to break through the hosts` phalanx.