Race 8 – $120,000 Imax Cup Handicap, 1,600 meters, Tapeta
Mike de Kock won the last race with #6 LUCKY FIND. #2 VESUVE was second over #1 LE DRAKKAR.
Lucky Find wins the final race of the night
Race 7 – $175,000 DRC Gold Cup, 3,200 meters, Turf
Saeed bin Suroor took the first two spots in the 7th race with geldings bred in the United Arab Emirates by Darley. #10 SABOTAGE won the two mile DRC Gold Cup; stablemate # 1 AGE OF REASON was second. Satish Seemar’s #5 POMPEYANO came in third.
Sabotage in parade ring prior to the 7th race
Horses pass the crowd for the first time in Meydan's first two mile course
Race 6 – $200,000 Balanchine (G3), 1,800 meters, Turf
Jerry Barton’s #4 DEEM from Saudi Arabia won the Balanchine (G3) over Godolphin’s #1 ASPECTOFLOVE. Mike de Kock’s #5 ZIRCONEUM was third.
Eventual winner Deem heads to the racecourse at Meydan
Deem wins the Balanchine (G3) over Godolphin's Aspectoflove
Race 5 – $110,000 Meydan Metropolis Conditions, 1,400 meters, Tapeta
#6 MIDSHIPMAN, the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, and fourth in the Maktoum Challenge R1 (G3) behind Gloria De Campeao, ran on to establish a new course record for seven furlongs at Meydan, winning this conditions event. Settling midfield, Frankie Dettori confidently guided Midshipman into the clear and held sway over stablemate #9 ASSET. The win was a strong one, with a final time of 1:23.39, almost three-fifths of a second faster than the previous fastest 1,400 meters, set by Sirocco Breeze.
Midshipman is another that Godolphin must consider for the big night of racing on 27 March. Do they go to the Godolphin Mile (G2)? Dubai Racing Channel announced that Hong Kong miler Good Ba Ba is one that might make the trip for that race, tremendously increasing its profile.
Midshipman wins the $110,000 Meydan Metropolis
Race 4 – $250,000 UAE Oaks (Listed), 1,900 meters, Tapeta
#3 RAIHANA settled off the pace today and confirmed her opening night form when slowly progressing from the rear, this time, outside of horses, and the better trip really moved her forward, defeating #1 BIKINI BABE. Raihana gave Mike De Kock back-to-back winners tonight and seems a progressive type who could move on to bigger and better things after another strong win. #8 SIYAADAH did not have the same closing kick as her UAE 1000 Guineas run and settled for third.
Raihana in the parade ring prior to the UAE Oaks
Raihana in the winner's enclosure
Race 3 – $175,000 Meydan Horizons Handicap, 2,000 meters, Tapeta
Mike De Kock’s #3 MR. BROCK won his second race of the Carnival, settling just off the pace set by Godolphin’s #4 TROIS ROIS, who faded in the stretch. #8 MEERISS stayed on for second while longer shot #1 HATTAN was third over #9 EMERALD WILDERNESS. The question now for the connections is where to go with Mr. Brock, whose rating is likely to make him eligible for the Godolphin Mile (G2), but perhaps not high enough for a Dubai World Cup (G1) chance.
Mr. Brock in the paddock prior to the third race
Race 2 – $120,000 Meydan Museum Handicap, 1,200 meters, Tapeta
#5 STAR CROWNED took the second race for Rashed Bouresly, a popular on-track winner. A victory for the stamina of thoroughbreds in the UAE, Star Crowned was making his fifth start of the meeting, having appeared in each of the five weeks of racing at Meydan. Royston Ffrench settled just off the pace and outgamed #10 GOOD CONTROL and late-closing #11 ALO PURA.
Track at Meydan
Race 1 – $110,000 Meydan Hotel Handicap, 2,200 meters, Tapeta
Godolphin’s #13 ANTINORI, under a masterful ride by Ahmed Ajtebi, stormed home past the entire field to take the first race of the night. #10 MARINOUS was a strong second and #5 KAL BARG, a winner earlier in the Carnival, was third.
Entrance at Meydan