2010 Burj Nahaar (G3) champion Cat Junior and dominant Al Rashidiya (G3) winner Alexandros are amongst other entrants.  Most focus in the Queen Anne will be on Goldikova, the two-time Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner, and Paco Boy, a former Dubai Duty Free also-ran, who has reeled off consecutive wins to start the season.

Wednesday’s feature, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, plays host to a quartet of Dubai graduates: dual Carnival winner and close third in the Dubai World Cup (G1), Allybar (pictured below), makes his return to the races; Presvis will make a rare English start for Luca Cumani and hopes to have some pace to run at after going fifth in Hong Kong following a disappointing Dubai Duty Free (G1) run; Cavalryman, a decent first-up fifth in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), and fifth last time behind Fame And Glory in the Coronation Cup (G1); Twice Over, tenth but only about three lengths behind Gloria De Campeao, returns to the races and grass for the first time since the fall. 

An overwhelming number of Carnival runners are entered for Wednesday’s Royal Hunt Cup, a race won a year earlier by Forgotten Voice, who was second to Gloria De Campeao in the Maktoum Challenge – R1 (G3).  The Jeremy Noseda trainee will give this race another chance and is likely to be joined by more than 20 rivals. 

Kinsale King, winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) is due to be one of the main challengers later in the meeting over the six furlong Golden Jubilee.

Meanwhile, a strong sixth in the Dubai World Cup was all that Gitano Hernando could muster against Gloria De Campeao and Lizard’s Desire.  Only about three lengths behind the top trio, Team Valor primary Barry Irwin, quoted by the Press Association, reported that the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown is a possible next target for his charge.  A go over the 10 furlongs of the Arlington Million could follow that start.  Click HERE for that story. 

Other top nominees include Crowded House, Oiseau De Feu, Alexandros, and Rio De La Plata.  Final entries are due Tuesday morning and DubaiRaceNight.com analysis will follow late that evening or Wednesday morning.

The win at Lingfield, over 2000 meters, was over older rivals and he defeated Carnival alum Bound By Honour in a strong effort for a young horse.  Jockey Ted Durcan sported the royal Godolphin blue on that day and was wide throughout the event, especially on the corner for home.  Bound By Honour franked the form when he won back in another class two handicap at Lingfield, 14 days after his defeat to Black Eagle.   This is a fast improving colt who races locally for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.  Whether or not he takes to the natural dirt at Jebel Ali, I suspect we’ll be hearing more from Black Eagle.   

Carnival winner #3 Dynamic Saint is amongst the field on Friday, making his second start of the season for Doug Watson.  The son of Sweetsouthernsaint pulled off one of the more incredible efforts of the 2009 Carnival when appearing hopelessly beaten turning for home, fading in mid-pack.  Yet, jockey Ryan Moore picked up the rains and Dynamic Saint kicked on in an incredible reversal.  He comes on for the run and should run with better precision than he did when fifth at Jebel Ali on 20 November. 

Trainer Mubarak bin Shafya sends his third starter of the season in #1 Muy Ponderado, a South American native who failed to do much running in two spring starts.  Both Gladiatorus and Eastern Anthem provided bin Shafya with back-to-back $5 million race wins on Dubai World Cup night. 

Friday’s fifth race at Jebel Ali, a handicap over 1,600 meters, offers a handful of Carnival familiars, including Roman’s Run, a winner over 1,700 meters on 6 February and Kal Barg, second to Alexandros (who was later third in the Dubai Duty Free – G1), on 22 January.  Naseehah, another Godolphin runner now sporting the colors of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, part of a four horse entry, is a 3-year-old colt with a win and a second from two lifetime starts.  He looks to improve off a rating of 88 for bin Huzaim in yet another well-matched field.

Click HERE for Friday’s advance form guide.

The racing at Jebel Ali is getting more competitive as we get closer to the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival and the racing unveiling of Meydan.  Don’t forget to register to receive the DubaiRaceNight.com Newsletter by entering your name and e-mail address in the box in the right toolbar.  You will have first access to the exclusive “Dubai Racing Comprehensive” when it is released in January.

Presvis, a winner at the Carnival, second in the Dubai Duty Free (G1) and the Singapore International Airlines Cup (G1), is expected to be one of the top picks for the Hong Kong Cup (G1) over ten furlongs.  Defending champion Eagle Mountain will have a chance to quash the hopes of the perennially tough Luca Cumani.  While Jebel Hatta (G2) winner Balius was declared from the Hong Kong Mile (G1), Godolphin stablemate Alexandros is due to take a spot in the gate.

Richard Hughes was aboard again and rode a masterful race, sitting chilly while the rest of the field was in full flight.  Hughes guided Paco Boy to a slight gap and he naturally accelerated.  Inside the two furlong pole, Hughes remained still while his colleagues were hard at work.  The son of Desert Style ran on when asked and improved his career mark to eight wins from twelve starts. 

Gladiatorus, winner of the 2009 Dubai Duty Free and previously the world’s top-rated turf horse, picked up the running to race with his traditional prominence but faltered as Paco Boy, eighth in the Duty Free, rolled past for the 1.5 length victory over Cesare and Aqlaam.  Gladiatorus finished sixth while Godolphin’s other entrant, Alexandros (third in the Dubai Duty Free), was eased back in eighth.

Likely contenders include Paco Boy, eighth in the Dubai Duty Free, Cesare, a multiple Ascot winner, and possibly even Alexandros, third behind Gladiatorus in Dubai. 

Click HERE for the full story.

Godolphin took possession of Gladiatorus following a winter campaign with trainer Mubarak bin Shafya for Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Presvis wins QEII Cup - Photo courtesy Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Luca Cumani trained Presvis, second in the 2009 Dubai Duty Free (G1), rolled home past the field to draw away to win the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup by a length at Sha Tin on Sunday.  Long time local success Viva Pataca checked in second.

Ryan Moore guided the son of Sakhee through traffic to the victory after having flown in just hours before following three mounts at Sandown. 

Archipenko, the 2008 QEII Cup winner, was sixth while Dubai Duty Free fourth, Niconero, finished eighth and was determined to be lame following the race. 

Click HERE for more from Press Association.

Click HERE for video of the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Sight Winner, under Brett Prebble, landed The Champions Mile (G1) prior to the QEII Cup at long odds, defeating local legend Egyptian Ra by a nose, at 66-1.  Mike De Kock trainee Imbongi checked in sixth with Godolphin’s Alexandros seventh, 1.75 and 2 lengths behind the winner, respectively.

Click HERE for video of The Champions Mile from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

De Kock noted that Archipenko returned from the Dubai Duty Free with a slight cough and despite a win in the Al Fahidi Fort (G2) prepping for the Duty Free, he may not have been in the best total shape. 

Click HERE to read more from Seb Vance, in Hong Kong. 

Other 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival graduates to run in the QE II Cup include Presvis (stall 8 ) and Niconero (stall 10).  Carnival winner Alexandros (stall 5) will join placer Imbongi (stall 3) in the Champions Mile which preceeds the Cup.