While the first two days of the 2010 Royal Ascot meeting have not been kind to graduates of the Dubai International Racing Carnival or the Dubai World Cup meeting, there are still more chances in the offing. Godolphin got off the shelf yesterday with a win from Invisible Man in the Royal Hunt Cup, defeating a field of more than 30 rivals.
Purple Moon, the Luca Cumani-trainee who managed a narrow third in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) from 2009, goes in Thursday’s Ascot Gold Cup (G1) over 2.5 miles. Godolphin’s Black Snowflake, a two-time Carnival starter this season with a fourth and fifth to his ledger in 3-year-old races, is one of 32 starters in the Britannia Stakes over a mile.
Friday has a host of horses familiar to Dubai racing followers. The 16-strong Wolverton Handicap (Listed) over ten furlongs has seven starters who have been seen in the Emirates, including Meydan winners Halicarnassus and Antinori, and former star Traffic Guard. Beauchamp Xerxes, Tartan Gigha, Kings Gambit, and Fiery Lad have all had decent goes in Dubai, with Tartan Gigha placing behind the strong Mr. Brock in a Meydan handicap this year.
A full field of 32 are expected for the Buckingham Palace Stakes at seven furlongs to cap the Friday card, with Al Khaleej, third behind Green Coast in February, and Swift Gift, second behind Al Arab on the second night of the 2010 Carnival, are part of the bulky field, and both stand chances.
Saturday, the Golden Jubilee (G1) stands to be the top sprint race of the year thus far with 27 horses holding entries. Dubai winners Kinsale King, Joy And Fun, Sir Gerry, and Balthazaar’s Gift are amongst the grand lot, awaiting the final declarations and barrier draw later today.