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Photo courtesy: Emirates Racing Association

Watch the Dubai Duty Free below:

2.  Could the Carnival get any better for Doug Watson?  Surely, it could, but Watson has to be immensely pleased with the performance of his barn over these last two nights after scoring back-to-back wins previously with FORCE FREEZE and BARBECUE EDDIE.  Watson landed four winners over the weekend, including both Arabian events with Nirwan on Thursday and Quaolina on Friday.  GREEN COAST, who almost always shows up and runs a great race managed the first thoroughbred event Friday and ROMAN’S RUN pulled an absolute shocker in the finale.  On the international commingled tote, Roman’s Run was an overwhelming 80-1.  After the win, Watson said that Roman’s Run has an awful bleeding habit, but he runs a good one if he keeps in and he sure did in the last of the night.

3.  SKYSURFERS drew into Friday’s brutally difficult sixth race, a basic allowance with a quality field, and drew away in grand style for this once raced son of E Dubai.  With a win over the classy EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Skysurfers is likely to see a massive rise in the ratings and would make sense for a start in the Burj Nahaar (G3) on Super Thursday.  To make this event more impressive, Skysurfers clocked the fastest 1,600 meters of the Carnival, which was even better than CALMING INFLUENCE’s 6.25 length win on Thursday.  In just his second lifetime start, I have to think that Skysurfers stands to improve with time and age, giving Godolphin a massive prospect.

4.  Should this be considered an oddity or a trend?  In the six races at the Carnival over 1,600 meters on Tapeta, five of the six have been won by horses breaking from stalls 11 and wider.  Only AL ARAB, who broke from post two on February 4, survived an inside draw. 

5.  MUSIR ran a grand race winning the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) over FROZEN POWER and a fast closing DELLA BARBA, who galloped out well past the winner.  Concerns that Musir would not get the 1,900 meters of the UAE Derby (G2) seem forgotten at this point. 

6.  How about Ahmed Ajtebi?  This guy is riding with ice in his veins, and there is no better example than the Maktoum Challenge (G3) win on Thursday aboard ALLYBAR.  While Ajtebi had little success in his six week prep in America this winter, he has shown remarkable patience and acument over the Tapeta.  Allybar, after going relatively close in the trial race when winning over PRESVIS, was shuffled back to last leaving the backstretch on Thursday.  I thought something was amiss or at least that Allybar was tired, but instead, Ajtebi sensed the field was quickening a bit early.  He waited to the perfect moment and then got a better jump on CROWDED HOUSE, briefly boxing the favorite, and had enough to hold off a late charge.  Ajtebi is now tied for second in the jockey standings during the Carnival.

Feel free to add your thoughts and comments below.  Racing continues in Dubai next Thursday with the UAE Oaks, Balanchine, and DRC Gold Cup leading the charge.

DeKock received former Coolmore contenders Frozen Fire, winner of the 2008 Irish Derby (G1) and Golden Sword, 2009 Irish Derby placer, midway through last year with sights set on the 2010 DIRC.  “Frozen Fire is the most forward and likely to race first.” 

Eagle Mountain (pictured below at the 2008 Breeders’ Cup), after time off to recover from an injury that forced him out of the 2009 Dubai festivities, returned with a decent leg-stretcher in top conditions when fifth, beaten almost five lengths in December’s Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (G1), a race he won in 2008.  De Kock will test the classy horse over Tapeta and might hold an Dubai World Cup entry. 

Honour Devil, winner of the 2008 UAE Derby will be back for more action, as will long time companion Royal Vintage, the 2008 Al Bastakiya winner, who was several beats off at the 2009 Carnival.   

Seven of DeKock’s runners are recent imports from South Africa.  The 3-year-old filly Zirconeum leads the charge for DeKock’s raiders, after a dazzling run when second in the 2009 Vodacom Durban July (G1).  DeKock has earlier reported that he “thinks she might be better than Irridescence,” who herself had won the Balanchine (G3) in 2003 and was an international Group One winner.  Zirconeum was closest to becoming the first filly to win the Durban July since the great Ipi Tombe, winner of the 2003 Dubai Duty Free (G1), landed the spoils.  De Kock reported that she is likely to go the route of Sun Classique, beginning with the Cape Verdi (G3) en route to the Duty Free.

Musir, winner of the Golden Horseshoe (G1), adds more fuel to DeKock’s fire from South Africa, and could go for either the Tapeta races leading on the UAE Triple Crown trail or perhaps stay on the grass.  Other South Africans coming for the Carnival include Mr. Crazy Boy, Wonder Lawn, Our Giant, and Raihana. 

2009 Carnival performers expected to return for a go at Meydan include winners Front House (Dubai City of Gold – G2), Silver Mist (Al Rashidiya – G3), Art of War, Warsaw, and Hunting Tower.  They are joined by past Carnival runners Biarritz, Engruipdo, Frosty Secret, Imbongi, King of Rome (pictured below), Mr. Brock, Rocks Off, and Stubbs Art.

Click HERE for the full list from DeKock’s website.

In the feature on the Windsor card, the Totepool Winter Hill Stakes (G3) is led by Bankable (pictured below), a winner at the 2009 Carnival, fifth in the Dubai Duty Free (G1), third in the Singapore International Cup (G1), and unraced since.  Bankable has some of the best back class form of 2008 when second to Raven’s Pass and Eagle Mountain and hopes to get back to winning ways in this ten furlong affair. 

Eagle Mountain at Breeders' Cup

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