Horses from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia made an impressive mark on the 2009 Dubai racing season, with wins coming from four horses over a variety of races. The late Big City Man was the first non-American prepared winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) since 2003, and only the second in the history of the race. Noble Bedouin was victorious in shocking result before the start of the Carnival, also for the same connections of Big City Man, Prince Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer, trainer Jerry Barton, and jockey Jose Verenzuela. Deem, pictured below, won the Cape Verdi (G3) over Front House after three consecutive wins to kick off her career in Saudi.
So Shiny surprised the public when winning the UAE 1000 Guineas (Listed) over Earth Living and a hampered Devotee, who bounced back to take the UAE Oaks (Listed) with Earth Living once again second. Before coming to Dubai, So Shiny prepped for a campaign in Saudi after three juvenile starts in her native Argentina.
On Dubai World Cup night, three Saudi challengers contested the Dubai World Cup (G1) with the Neil Bruss-trained duo Paris Perfect and Muller running crackers in third and fourth while Barton’s Joe Louis never gained traction on the deep, tiring, speed-favoring dirt and came home 13th. Lelah Dorak was a decent fifth in UAE Derby for trainer Badar Resaque while Don Renato took his second consecutive third placing in the Godolphin Mile (G2). Needless to say, the Saudi owned racing contingent sent to Dubai in 2009 was the best it has ever been.
As a result, it seemed appropriate to check in on their preparations for some possible ships to Dubai for the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival or Dubai World Cup meetings.
Muller (pictured directly below), racing in Saudi as Alsaqeer, scored a one length victory in the Minister of Defense and Aviation Cup (KSA-G3) on November 6 in what was arguably a field of weaker competition for the winner of the 2009 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G1). Sebastian Madrid was aboard for the winning ride, carrying the red silks of Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz.
Joe Louis, racing as Kharimes, third in the 2009 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, was victorious over Paris Perfect in a 2,000 meter contest on 19 November. Earlier on the card in Riyadh, Lelah Dorak was victorious in a one mile affair for 3-year-olds at. This son of Freequent seemed to have run his UAE Derby in the paddock, becoming quite unruly and rearing throughout the walking ring before he was led to the course. Trained by Badar Resaque, Lelah Dorak could be pointed to the Godolphin Mile (G2) in his 4-year-old campaign.
Most recently on December 11, both Deem and Muller were surprised by Himah, a 4-year-old filly by Blue Burner in the 2000 meters of the Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources Cup, defeating the classy runners by 5 1/4 lengths.
DubaiRaceNight.com will keep an eye on the Saudi results and forward those as the season gradually moves towards it apex on 27 March.
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