11 of the 12 riders have been chosen based upon their wins in top-class races worldwide, with the Dubai Racing Club reserving the right to invite the last rider of their own choosing.  Based upon the list below – it seems almost certain that will belong to Frankie Dettori.  The races used to select riders is likely to change each year considering that the same rider can conceivably win multiple races. 

The contest will be conducted over four races on the card, including the Zabeel Mile (G2).

Wise Dennis had two wins at the 2008 Carnival which included a division of the Zabeel Mile, besting Dijeerr, and he also finished ahead of Jay Peg when winning a handicap event.  Jay Peg went on to upset the 2008 Dubai Duty Free (G1).

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Click HERE to watch this year’s Zabeel Mile.

Archipenko (pictured below in yellow saddle towel) worked on the turf course in tandem with Godolphin Mile chance LUCKY FIND (inside horse – blue saddle towel), and one regular Nad Al Sheba clocker considered Archipenko’s move as quite strong.

The Daily Racing Form’s Marcus Hersh was one of the few that caught ASIATIC BOY working over the Tapeta from the newly-opened training track and had one word when I caught up with him later in the morning – “awesome.”  I have Asiatic Boy a very close second on a projected morning line behind Albertus Maximus.

Godolphin Mile longshots ART OF WAR (inside #9) and BRAVE TIN SOLDIER (outside #10) worked together over the main track.  Neither did anything of extreme interest and are noticably below the top choices.

Dubai Duty Free shot BANKABLE (pictured below) had a strong gallop of at least seven furlongs over the main track.  He won first up at the Carnival on February 20 when defeating notably less accomplished competition.  That being the case, Bankable has a knack for being in the mix when he recorded three close seconds in 2008, finishing a neck behind Passage of Time, a length behind eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Raven’s Pass (Totesport Mile G2) and then a head behind Eagle Mountain (Nayef Joel Stakes G3) before that one was second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. 

KING OF ROME and MACARTHUR, both entrants in the Dubai Sheema Classic, galloped along just in front of Bankable, with Macarthur seeming to move the best of the pair.

Here is the exact verbage from the Emirates Racing Association:

Al Quoz Sprint (Group 3, 1200m Turf) Due to the number of Declarations for the Al Quoz Sprint (Group 3 over 1200m on Turf) the Dubai Racing Club has determined to run an additional race to accommodate those horses that would’ve been otherwise balloted. The additional race will carry prizemoney of USD 100,000 and the same conditions will apply. The additional Race will not carry Group status. Following the ballot for places in the Al Quoz Sprint, the horses that are listed as Reserves 1-4 in the Al Quoz Sprint will also be listed in the body of the additional race. Should a place/s in the Al Quoz Sprint become available up until the scratching deadline (4 hours prior to the scheduled time of Race 1), the Reserves are required to take their place in the Al Quoz Sprint given that it is the race for which the horse was Declared.

Zabeel Mile (Group 3, 1600m Turf) Due to the number of Declarations for the Zabeel Mile (Group 3 over 1600m on Turf) the Dubai Racing Club has determined to run an additional race to accommodate those horses that would’ve been otherwise balloted. The additional race will carry prizemoney of USD 100,000 and the same conditions will apply. The additional Race will not carry Group status. Following the ballot for places in the Zabeel Mile, the horses that are listed as Reserves 1-4 in the Zabeel Mile will also be listed in the body of the additional race. Should a place/s in the Zabeel Mile become available up until the scratching deadline (4 hours prior to the scheduled time of Race 1), the Reserves are required to take their place in the Zabeel Mile given that it is the race for which the horse was Declared.

$250,000 UAE Oaks (listed), 1800 meters (9F), dirt – 2008 winner: COCOA BEACH

$200,000 Al Quoz Sprint (G3), 1200 meters (6F), turf – 2008 winner: INSTANT RECALL

$200,000 Zabeel Mile (G3), 1600 meters (8F), turf – 2008 winner: THIRD SET

$175,000 Dubai Racing Club Gold Cup, 3200 meters (16F), turf

The DRC Gold Cup is a fresh addition to the Dubai racing calendar and is likely to draw a solid field of stayers. 

Purple Moon, pictured below, is a stayer in his own right and was caught exercising on Saturday morning.  With Francesca Cumani aboard, he is expected to be one of the main threats in the Dubai Sheema Classic on World Cup night for trainer Luca Cumani. 

Photo courtesy Dubai Racing Club/Neville Hopwood

Under Ted Durcan, Valedictum settled towards the rear and flashed home up the inside rail, improving quite a bit following a sixth place finish two weeks ago.  This 9-year-old is being pointed to back-up for one of the stakes races next week, most likely the Zabeel Mile (G3) on the turf.  In the international commingled pool, Valedictum was let go at 14-1.  The win does assist the form of SUMMIT SURGE who runs in the feature of the Thursday card, the Al Fahidi Fort (G2).