Racing at Meydan has begun! It’s a cloudy evening in Dubai – currently 68° F for the first night of racing. Below are some photos. There’s a good crowd here to witness history – no estimates have been announced yet. The first race came in 12-9-7-8, No Risk Al Maury taking the first race at Meydan.
RACE 1 – $55,000 Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (Purebred Arabians – G1) – 1,600 meters, Tapeta
Eventual winner #12 No Risk Al Maury in the paddock prior to the first race
Meydan grandstand
Diamond vision screen during the race
RACE 2 – $50,000 UAE 1000 Guineas Trial – 1,400 meters, Tapeta
Race 2 is off – results were 4-13-11-1 – Mike de Kock takes the first race for Thoroughbreds.
Parade ring during Race 2
Horses finishing in Race 2
RACE 3 – $110,000 Intidab – 1,900 meters (abt 9.5F), Tapeta
#4 Lizard’s Desire took the third race over the #1 King of Rome, both trained by Mike de Kock who also won the last. #3 Jaroslaw came in third.
RACE 4 – $110,000 Dumaani – 2,200 meters (abt 11F), Tapeta
The top finishers in the fourth race were 10-11-7, Luca Cumani’s Drunken Sailor taking the win over Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s Monte Alto.
Race 4 - Coming down the stretch
Race 4 - Drunken Sailor wins
RACE 5 – $120,000 Kayrawan – 1,200 meters (abt 6F), Tapeta
Race 5 came in 6-4-7-8. John Best’s Sir Gerry won in a blanket finish.
Field in the backstretch for Race 5
Coming down the stretch for Race 5
Close finish for Race 5
Thoughts through five races:
- Mike De Kock’s stable is doing just fine as he lands the first two races at Meydan
- Winners have succeeded from both on the front end and off the pace, leading to a very fair track
- With four throughbred races opened for wagering, favorites landed the first two for De Kock while Godolphin’s Bab Al Salam was a well-beaten 1-2 favorite and Macau shipper Good Control played down from 20-1 open to an obscence 9-5. Aichi was 2-1 second choice and didn’t pick up the running.
Speaking to Dubai Racing Channel, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president of the UAE and ruler of Dubai commented on the debut of Meydan. “Everyone is proud of their track, but this was a major project completed with the right vision, and we are very proud of it. Meydan is here now, you can’t ignore it.”
RACE 6 – $175,000 Mustanfar – 2,000 meters (abt 10F), Tapeta
GODOLPHIN WINS
It took five races, but Godolphin wouldn’t get past the sixth race without a win as Whispering Gallery led throughout in the 10-furlong event. Dettori and Saeed bin Suroor registered what is the first of likely many winners.
Results for the sixth were 4-1-11-2.
Parade ring before the horses for Race 6
Godolphin's blue silks take the 6th
RACE 7 – $200,000 Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (G3) – 1,600 meters, Tapeta
Gloria De Campeao surprised by winning the Maktoum Challenge. Midshipman, heavily favored, was leading but lost it in the end and finished fourth.
Results are 11-7-2-14
Al Maktoum Challenge Race 1: Eventual winner Gloria De Campeao
Al Maktoum Challenge Race 1: Eventual winner Gloria De Campeao
Al Maktoum Challenge Race 1: Godolphin's Midshipman
Gloria De Campeao in the winner's circle
RACE 8 – $110,000 Daaher – 1,400 meters, Tapeta
Results of the final race for the night were 8-10-9-6.