Dubai: Horses of interest on spectacular Fashion Friday card

The Thoroughbred equivalent of haute couture will line up on “Fashion Friday” at Meydan, with an all-stakes program featuring several superstars. 

Last year’s stunning Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Laurel River returns over a metric mile in the Firebreak (G3), while Hong Kong money-spinner Romantic Warrior aims to dethrone Godolphin’s Measured Time in the Jebel Hatta (G1). Add in French shipper Facteur Cheval testing the dirt in the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1), the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) with implications for the UAE Derby (G2), and prizes for sprinters and stayers alike, and you cover a lot of bases.

The horsepower on display is reminiscent of what you might have seen on “Super Saturdays” in past years before the Saudi Cup (G1) came along to steal the show near that spot on the calendar. Dubai has countered by positioning major races on this late January Friday that can serve as springboards to Saudi Cup Day Feb. 22, as well as pointers to World Cup night itself on April 5.

Let’s take a look at the key players and potential price angles for the eight Group races for Thoroughbreds.

UAE 2000 Guineas (G3): Race 2, 9:05 a.m. ET

Ten years after Toast of New York dominated the UAE Derby and came within a nose of winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), British trainer Jamie Osborne has another smart main-track prospect in #9 Heart of Honor (14-1). The son of Honor A.P. is 2-for-2 over this track and trip, including wins over next-out Guineas Trial winner #8 Golden Vekoma (9-2) and #16 Royal Favour (11-1). 

Former Gulfstream Park denizen #14 Rafid (12-1) is worth including in his local debut for Doug Watson, both on pedigree and form. The Into Mischief colt is out of past Watson trainee Rayya, who romped in the 2018 UAE Oaks (G3) and finished second behind Mendelssohn in the UAE Derby. Rafid has been mixing it up in decent company, splitting Crazy Frazy and Naughty Rascal when runner-up in the Aventura S.

#12 Nimble Boy (15-1), second in the Trial in his first start outside of Russia, could move forward second time out for Bhupat Seemar. The presence of Tadgh O’Shea indicates he’s the stable’s first string.

Al Fahidi Fort (G2): Race 3, 9:40 a.m. ET

Defending champion #1 Mysterious Night (3-1) will try to fend off #7 Native Approach (2-1), his up-and-coming stablemate from the Charlie Appleby yard, in a race that appears to go through Godolphin. William Buick sticks with Native Approach, who has the benefit of a sharp comeback score over the yardstick #3 Danyah (4-1). But Grade 1 veteran Mysterious Night is proven at a higher level. While he hasn’t raced since his second in the June 8 Poker (G3) at Saratoga, beating Casa Creed and Carl Spackler, he could be ready to do himself justice.

If you’re looking to add value, Wathnan Racing’s progressive #5 Make Me King (11-2) ran down #6 Marbaan (7-1) at Abu Dhabi last out. Marbaan has claims to improve second off the long layoff for leading trainer Michael Costa, but the younger Make Me King arguably has more scope to develop.

Firebreak (G3): Race 4, 10:15 a.m. ET

#1 Laurel River (5-2) is using this race on the way to his main targets, the Saudi Cup and a World Cup title defense, and that can pose a question about vulnerability at a short price. Yet I’m not sure that it’s comparable to his blow-up in his Dubai debut last year, since the Juddmonte homebred was resuming in a hot sprint off a far longer layoff that day. 

The cadence of a metric mile, in a pretty typical comeback for a Carnival regular, implies that Laurel River might retain his edge. #2 Meshtri (7-2), the current course-and-distance darling, will test his fitness with a similarly forward running style.

Fellow American expats #6 Artorius (14-1) and #7 Cagliostro (16-1) can factor at their best. Artorius is intriguing as a stablemate of Laurel River’s who exits a third in his Dubai debut behind Meshtri. Also a Juddmonte homebred, Artorius could reignite his career with the change in scenery. The son of Hall of Famer Arrogate had promised more than he delivered stateside. 

Blue Point (G2): Race 5, 10:50 a.m. ET

As a three-year-old taking on elders in this turf sprint, #10 West Acre (7-1) gets in light at 121 pounds, receiving 11 or 12 pounds. The sophomore filly Star of Mystery leveraged a weight advantage to win the 2024 edition, so there’s precedent. West Acre appeared to have Godolphin’s promising Symbol of Honour in his grasp here last out before he just got outstayed late, and now the George Scott gelding shortens up to his optimal trip.

#7 Jakajaro (31-1) has dark-horse appeal in his first start for sprint maven Robert Cowell. When previously trained by David Marnane, the well-bred son of Too Darn Hot showed glimmers of ability going about five furlongs, including a fourth to high-class Believing in last summer’s Sapphire (G2) at the Curragh.

#3 Cover Up (5-2) made a winning debut for Simon and Ed Crisford in the course-and-distance Dubai Dash, edging #2 Bilhayl (5-2). Their prices are rather unappealing in the circumstances of a fairly open-looking sprint.

Al Maktoum Challenge (G1): Race 6, 11:25 a.m. ET

I’ve long been partial to #5 Imperial Emperor (15-2), going way back to his Godolphin days when he was prominent in the antepost market for the 2023 Derby (G1) at Epsom. The son of Dubawi and star racemare Zhukova failed to live up to his potential and got sold, but he’s completely reinvented himself since joining Seemar.

Imperial Emperor is 2-for-2 since switching to dirt, and the step up in trip should suit the three-quarter brother to past Godolphin standout Ghaiyyath. Seemar said that the five-year-old will have to put on his “big boy pants” against this group and establish himself as a World Cup candidate. O’Shea opts for the safer of the Seemar duo, #10 Walk of Stars (5-1), who just annihilated the Entisar S. in his stakes breakthrough. 

#11 Gaassid (14-1) intrigues as a potential sleeper. The Costa trainee has yet to finish out of the exacta, and his resume is too brief to typecast him as a Jebel Ali specialist. Wathnan recruit #12 Generous Tipper (11-1) can’t be overlooked given his U.S. stakes form, although he might learn something in his local bow for Ahmed al Jehani.

#3 Facteur Cheval (7-1) would outclass them if he adapts to the dirt, and stamps himself as a Saudi Cup threat, but it’s anyone’s guess whether he can. Trainer Jerome Reynier is well aware of the novelties of race dynamics and kickback, so he’s being circumspect about expectations. I’m chastened from being overly sanguine about City of Troy in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, although the situations aren’t identical.

Defending champion #6 Kabirkhan (4-1) was one of the big stories of the 2024 Carnival. The Kentucky-bred son of California Chrome became a celebrity in Kazakhstan and Russia and carried his winning attitude to Dubai until flopping in last year’s World Cup. Returning stateside, he never made it to the races, but Watson reports that the crew at WinStar Farm sent him back to Dubai in grand shape. But he hasn’t had a prep, and this probably will turn out to be tougher the 2024 edition. 

Jebel Hatta (G1): Race 7, noon ET

#7 Romantic Warrior (even-money) versus horse-for-the-course #4 Measured Time (7-2) is a match-up to savor more for racing fans than bettors. It stretches credulity to imagine a third rival upsetting the narrative, making for a chalky result whichever way it goes. 

Romantic Warrior didn’t become the world’s all-time richest racehorse by raking in money only at home; the Hong Kong Horse of the Year has successfully taken his game on the road in Australia’s weight-for-age championship, the Cox Plate (G1), and toppled Japan’s milers in the prestigious Yasuda Kinen (G1). Trainer Danny Shum wanted to stick with turf before a grand dirt attempt in the Saudi Cup, and regular pilot James McDonald can work out the right trip from the rail.

Measured Time has to back up a scintillating repeat in the Dec. 20 Al Rashidiya (G2), where he smashed the course record in 1:45.11 in his return. Appleby isn’t envisioning a regression, but the half-brother to Rebel’s Romance has to avoid second-up syndrome. 

For an exotics play that isn’t painfully obvious, note that #2 Ancient Rome (15-1) is making his first start as a gelding. The last time Tom Marquand rode him, the Charles Hills blueblood was a close second in the July 13 Summer Mile (G2) at Ascot. Ancient Rome’s ensuing third in the Arlington Million (G1) to Godolphin’s Nations Pride, the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) favorite, underscores his class on the right occasion.

The others are all coming out of the Zabeel Mile (G2). Godolphin’s secondary hope, #5 Ottoman Fleet (11-2), ought to reverse form with #6 Poker Face (14-1) and #3 Holloway Boy (7-1) over the extra furlong.

Al Shindagha Sprint (G3): Race 8, 12:35 p.m. ET

Reigning Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) winner #1 Tuz (2-1) and #2 Colour Up (5-1) have furnished the exacta in both of their tune-ups this Carnival. There’s no compelling reason to see them deviating from their established form, although unbeaten class-climber #6 Ma Yetal (4-1) presents a new variable. 

But we might get a bigger price into the frame. #9 Torivega (26-1) had a smattering of turf sprint form in Ireland, and the Lope de Vega gelding has taken well to the dirt at Jebel Ali. Returning to about six furlongs is a plus, and if he acts as effectively around Meydan, the Salem bin Ghadayer trainee can outperform his odds. #3 Drew’s Gold (7-1) would fit well given his U.S. back class, especially his second to Arabian Lion in the 2023 Woody Stephens (G1). The rub is that he hasn’t raced since the summer of 2023 and figures to be ring-rusty for new trainer Julio Olascoaga. 

Al Khail Trophy (G3): Race 9, 1:10 p.m. ET

Weight could make a difference in this about 1 3/4-mile contest, where the mare #9 Caius Chorister (14-1) and newly-turned four-year-old #10 Trafalgar Square (9-1) get a few pounds from the older males. Both would need to fire fresh, but that’s a risk worth taking at a price.

Caius Chorister has been competing against the cream of the European stayers, most recently finishing fourth to the great Kyprios on Champions Day at Ascot. Trafalgar Square, a new recruit for Seemar after selling for €1.15 million at the Arqana Arc Sale, placed to the likes of the Aga Khan’s classy Calandagan and Ballydoyle stalwart Illinois last campaign. 

Godolphin’s #8 King of Conquest (5-2) is all the rage after just missing to #3 Epic Poet (9-2) in a course-and-distance tune-up. His lesser-fancied Appleby stablemate, #4 Flying Honours (7-1), was once a good staying juvenile before losing his way. Yet he could be rediscovering his form. The royally-bred son of Sea the Stars was fourth to #7 Keffaaf (4-1) in his best result in ages, and he’s arguably been crying out for this distance.