Dubai Carnival Opens at Meydan Racecourse
The architect's future design, in the aerial view above, of Dubai's new US$2 billion hotel and Meydan Racecourse complex not only shows the vast ambition of the project, but the artistic integrity of its exquisite Arabic design.
The racecourse's 1,750m Tapeta synthetic surface will replace Nad al Sheba's 2,200m Dirt course and will become the new home of the US$10 million Dubai World Cup on March 27 and many other major races.
In fact, there is speculation that the Dubai Racing Club might stage world-class races later in the year which would bridge the seasons between Europe and both the Near and Far East.
They could be staged at the beginning of the Dubai racing season in November and could compete with the Breeders' Cup.
Meydan's racecourse and one floor of the grandstand's corporate section were ready in time for opening day of the Dubai Carnival January 28 and the first leg of the Maktoum Challenge sponsored by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell Farm.
The eight-race card was worth US$930,000.
It was only fitting that the first race would be a US$55,000 Group 1 for Anglo Arabs at 1,600m. It is the UAE Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 sponsored by Jazil of Shadwell Farm on Dirt.
The Anglo and Pure Bred Arabian races and Challenge are very popular with local residents and the horses regularly compete in Europe.
Sheikh Hamdan's gorgeous colt No Risk Al Maury FR (Kesberoy) trained by Britain's Gill Duffield, won the event by 3/4 length with his Santhal FR (Djebbel) second and Kandar Du Falgas FR (Kesberoy) ridden by Tadhg O'Shea fourth. Vite Royal USA (Monarch AH) was third.
British jockey Richard Hills made history as the first winning rider on the Meydan Racecourse and earned his 450th victory in the UAE. It certainly pays to be Sheikh Hamdan's retained jockey.
The mile thoroughbred US$200,000 Maktoum Challenge Group 3 sponsored by Invasor ARG, Shadwell Farm, was the highlight of the day as it is a Trial for the Dubai World Cup and Godolphin Mile.
Last-year's runner-up in the DWC and winner of the 1-1/4 mile Group 1 Turf Singapore Airlines International Cup, 6yo Gloria De Campeao BRZ (Impression ARG) won by 1/2 length and is entered in the DWC by his French trainer Pascal Bary.
There is symmetry in the ultra-tough Brazilian horse by an Argentinian sire winning the Trial race sponsored by the great DWC winner from Argentina--Invasor.
Godolphin's favoured twosome My Indy ARG (Indygo) and Midshipman USA (Unbridled's Song USA). Midshipman faded and only managed fourth.
Compensating for the loss, the inimitable Frankie Dettori dictated tactics from the front on Godolphin's Whispering Gallery (Daylami IRE) in the Mustanfar sponsored by Shadwell Farm 1m2f (Handicap) on Tapeta and won by 3-1/2 lengths.
Whispering Gallery was British bred. Four British-based trainers were victorious: Gill Duffield, Luca Cumani, John Best and Jeremy Noseda.
Kieren Fallon won his first-ever Dubai Carnival race on Cumani's Drunken Sailor Ire (Tendulkar USA) in the Dumaani sponsored by Shadwell Farm (Handicap) 1m3f on Tapeta.
Cumani's Monte Alto IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE) was second by 2-1/4 lengths. Lindner GER (Golan IRE) was third by 7-1/4 lengths.
Multiple-UAE Champion Jockey Ted Durcan brought his 25.1 Sir Gerry USA (Carson City USA) to a half-length victory in the 6f (Handicap) Kayrawan sponsored by Shadwell Farm on Tapeta for trainer Best.
UAE jockey Ahmed Ajtebi had a crashing fall and has just been released from hospital.
South African trainer Mike De Kock and jockey Christophe Soumillon teamed for two impressive victories in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial sponsored by Dayjur of Shadwell Farm (Conditions Race for Fillies), 7f, and the Intadab sponsored by Shadwell Farm (Handicap), 1m1-1/2f on Tapeta.
Four-year-old Raihana AUS (Elusive Quality USA) won the first and 5yo Lizard's Desire SAF (Lizard Island AUS) the second race for owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
The final race was won by British Jeremy Noseda's Leahurst IRE (Verglas IRE) for owner Mrs Susan Roy in the 7f (Handicap) Daaher sponsored by Shadwell Farm on Tapeta.
These races were the groundbreaking tests for jockeys who must deal with a new surface, a sharp bend, high camber at the bends and a short home straight of only a furlong-and-a-half.
Horses unfamiliar with All Weather surfaces take time to learn action changes and to use different muscles.
The surfaces favour Turf horses over Dirt which is why Rachel Alexandra's owner Jess Jackson will not enter her in the Dubai World Cup.
Jockeys believe speed is essential in the first furlong to gain a good position in the first five and any horse coming from behind is at a disadvantage.
That leaves a serious question of Zenyatta's chances to win on this racecourse as she likes to run last despite having the speed others do not.
Frank Gabriel, CEO of the Dubai Racing Club, is courting Zenyatta as a prime candidate for the Dubai World Cup. Her connections have tentative US racing plans arranged to defend her Breeders' Cup Classic 2009 victory.
Without her presence, Gloria De Campeao has been installed as favourite for the Dubai World Cup after his Trial victory opening night.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 3/14/2010 4:09 PM 
Categories: Dubai Carnival 2010
Tags: Whispering Gallery Breeders' Cup Leahurst Raihana Dubai Carnival 2010 Maktoum Challenge Dubai World Cup Meydan Racecourse Shadwell Farm Sir Gerry Gloria De Campeao Rachel Alexandra Dubai Racing Club Zenyatta Drunken Sailor
Categories: Dubai Carnival 2010
Tags: Whispering Gallery Breeders' Cup Leahurst Raihana Dubai Carnival 2010 Maktoum Challenge Dubai World Cup Meydan Racecourse Shadwell Farm Sir Gerry Gloria De Campeao Rachel Alexandra Dubai Racing Club Zenyatta Drunken Sailor
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