Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Dark Saffron among notables at Meydan Jan. 2

The Dubai Racing Club previews the Friday card at Meydan, highlighted by the Dubawi (G3), Zabeel Mile (G2), and UAE Guineas Trial.

An exciting eight-race card brings in the New Year at Meydan Racecourse on Friday when Group 1 winners Audience and Dark Saffron are among those in action.

The Dubawi S. (G3) (Sponsored by France Galop), race five, is without reigning champion Tuz, but the 1200-meter dirt sprint has a strong line-up of seven. Four of them met last time, when El Nasseeb beat Colour Up, Mufasa, and Dark Saffron in the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint on Dec. 5.

Bhupat Seemar, trainer of Mufasa, is hopeful he will bounce back, stating circumstances went against him in the Garhoud.

“It just went wrong for him last time,” he said. “Three horses (Mufasa, Rabaah, and Dark Saffron) ended up going too fast, and it worked out for a horse (El Nasseeb) who was sitting in the middle. I think it could be a completely different result this time, as it was his first run and he will improve again.

“He could be the next Tuz, he could be the horse who’s got speed and also the stamina for seven furlongs.”

Abdulla Muammer, Racing Manager to owners RRR Racing, added: “Mufasa came out of his last race in very good order. It was a messy race, and nothing really went to plan, so we’re happy to put a line through it. We learned a lot from that run, he’s improved since, and I’m confident he can run a big race.”

Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) winner Dark Saffron also had a legitimate excuse in the Garhoud Sprint, having become upset in the stalls prior to forcing a fast pace.

“He’s good,” reported trainer Ahmad bin Harmash. “Last time he had problems in the gate, so if everything goes right this time, we expect a good run.”

Aomori City aims to Continue Appleby Record

The card’s official feature is the Zabeel Mile (G2) (Sponsored by Phi Advertising), which has been won six times by Charlie Appleby. The Godolphin trainer has a strong contender this time in Aomori City, winner of the 2024 Vintage S. (G2) at Goodwood. 

“Aomori City was disappointing in the French Guineas (G1) and we gelded him soon after," said Appleby. "He has benefited from a nice long break since, and we have been pleased with his preparation.

“He ran to a high level as a two-year-old and enjoyed the turning tracks at Goodwood and Del Mar, so we are hopeful racing at Meydan will suit him well. It is a good race, with some decent older horses in the field, but he should be very competitive if he runs to his best.”

The race has a Group 1 winner in Audience, winner of the 2024 Lockinge S. (G1) at Newbury when trained by John and Thady Gosden. The six-year-old is now with David O’Meara, who gave an upbeat bulletin.

“We haven’t had Audience that long, we got him at the Horses In Training Sale in October,” he said. “Obviously he was a very good horse for the Gosdens and Cheveley Park. His work has been good, and Danny (Tudhope) has sat on him a couple of times and is happy with him.

“It’s his first run for us, and I’m sure we’ll learn plenty about him.”

The field of nine includes Group 2 winner Quddwah for Simon and Ed Crisford, a former Carnival winner in Vafortino for Charlie Fellowes, and Karl Burke's Holloway Boy, who finished second in this race last year behind Poker Face.

The card opens with the AED300,000 Zabeel Turf (Sponsored by Binghatti), over 2000 meters, for which 14 line up, including four trained by Appleby. Arabian Light beat the re-opposing Sean over 1800 meters in the Lord Glitters H. last season and looks hard to beat again, despite top weight and a wide draw in 12.

“His seasonal debut will have brought him forward,” said trainer Jamie Osborne of Sean, who finished eighth over 1800 meters three weeks’ ago. “I would expect a better performance this time. He’s at the right end of the handicap to show those younger legs that he’s still got it a day after his ninth birthday.”

Rematch in the Jumeirah S.

The Jumeirah S., sponsored by The Jockey Club for the second time, race four, looks very competitive with 15 going to post over 1400 meters on turf.

They include Power For Power and Do Or Do Not, first and second in a course and distance maiden last time. Osborne is hopeful of another good run from the latter who makes his second start for his yard.

“He has a chance,” he said. “But it looks like a strong renewal of this race, with any number of potential improvers in the field. However, we have the strongest form, and he will be sharper for his Dubai debut.”

Newmarket-based trainer James Owen sends out the filly Callahan, winner of a novice race at Kempton Park on her latest start in October.

“We’re looking forward to having our first runners in Dubai,” he said. “We’re really pleased with Callahan. She won well last time out, and the horse that finished second has won since.

“She’s thrived, and we think she’s well above her current rating, on her homework. It’s a tough task against the boys, but we’ll see where we’re at and her next two races will be against fillies only, hopefully ending up in the (Jumeirah) Fillies’ Guineas.”

Lino Padrino preps for UAE Guineas

The UAE Guineas Trial (Sponsored by Churchill Downs), race seven, has a capacity field of 16 including Lino Padrino, an impressive four-length winner on debut over course and distance on Dec. 5. Paul Ebbs. Managing Owner for Suited & Booted and My Future Champions Racing, is hopeful of the same again.

“In his first race he had a wide draw and was slightly slowly away,” he said, “but then on the back straight he really stretched out which we hadn’t seen him do before, so that was great to see.

“He’s got explosive speed over the seven furlongs (1400 meters) – he does that very easily. After this he will step up to a mile (1600 meters) for the Guineas on 23 January.”

There are four Europeans in the field, including Rugby Union, who finished ninth behind Lino Padrino on his local bow last time out.

“He underperformed on his dirt debut,” said trainer Osborne, ever realistic. “He lacks maturity and is a work in progress. I’m expecting a better performance, but you’d need a fairly vivid imagination to see him beating the leading protagonists here.”

Versatile Burdett Road starts Middle East Trail

The day’s longest race is the concluding Zoho H., over 2810 meters on turf. The field of 13 includes four Europeans, one of whom is Burdett Road, who was last seen finishing third in a Grade 2 steeplechase at Cheltenham.

“Burdett Road has been a dual-purpose horse, but some of his flat form is really solid,” said trainer James Owen. “I’m hoping that this clicks well and can be a path to the Red Sea H. (G2) that he’s entered in in Saudi.”

Among his rivals is Kihavah, who will be a first Meydan runner for British-based Adrian Keatley.

“We’ve been very happy with Kihavah since he arrived,” he said. “He lost a lot of weight traveling, but he’s put most of it back on now and did a nice piece of work with Pat Dobbs on him (Tuesday) morning.

“We’re delighted to have him here, and we’ve been looked after extremely well. We think going on his line of form with Burdett Road and his Ebor second that we’re in with a shout of earning a few quid.”

The card also features two sprint handicaps. The first of them, race two, the Binghatti Handicap, has a capacity field of 14 while the same number line up in the ARN Handicap, race four, over 1200 meters on turf. Protagonists include the exciting Group 2 winner Arabie, who makes his local debut for Burke, and the Richard Spencer-trained quartet of Righthere Rightnow, Twilight Calls, Run Boy Run and Two Tribes.