'Exciting' Raihana on
Dubai Duty Free trail
Preview: UAE, Thursday 5.35pm GMT (live on ATR, RUK and Sky)
Meydan: Al Fahidi Fort (Group 2) 1m, turf, 3yo+
Hearts Of Fire (Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki/Ryan Moore) is one of 12 declared for the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort, the 1m turf feature at sixth meeting of the Dubai Carnival.
The race has proved a decent pointer for the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free in the past - Gladiatorus won in 2009 and Ipi Tombe in 2003 before winning the Duty Free on World Cup night, while Bankable (2010), Archipenko (2008) and Linngari (2007) all won the Al Fahidi Fort before finishing placed in the Group 1.
It looks a cracking renewal, with four-year-old Hearts Of Fire, a Group 1-winning juvenile for Pat Eddery sold for 550,000gns at Tattersalls in October, having his first start for his new Qatari connections.
South Africa has won this race six times in the last eight years, with Mike de Kock having three winners to his credit.
He saddles Our Giant and Raihana, carnival winners this year, with Christophe Soumillon choosing Raihana.
Champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe relies on vastly-improved Derbaas, a winner of his last three starts, including when breaking the track record over course and distance last time. He is the choice of Richard Hills from three Sheikh Hamdan runners.
Bushman (David Simcock/William Buick) and Mabait (Luca Cumani/Kieren Fallon) represent Britain, while Royal Hunt Cup winner Invisible Man (Saeed Bin Suroor/Frankie Dettori) also runs.
What they say. . .
Mike de Kock, trainer of Our Giant and Raihana
"Both have won at the carnival already and will be having their third outings so certainly are fit and ready. We have been looking to step Our Giant up to a mile and this is a good opportunity. He is very versatile and we have plenty of options with him.
"Raihana has delighted us since returning from Australia and was very impressive last week. We hope she is a Dubai Duty Free horse so this is the obvious next step for her. She is an exciting runner."
Jailani Sidiqqi, assistant to Ali Rashid Al Raihe, trainer of Derbaas
"He has been a revelation this season at Meydan and is very versatile with regards to surface as he has won on both Tapeta and turf. His last win was a very good one and they broke the track record. He has been working well since and seems in great form so he definitely merits this step up in class."
William Buick, rider of Bushman
"I won on the horse at the Epsom Derby meeting and he has run well in Group 2 company in the UK. It was not a bad run first time here in Dubai and hopefully he has comeon from that but it does look a good race."
Olivier Peslier, rider of Le Drakkar
"This is arguably his best trip and he was not far behind Raihana last week but we are not favoured by the weights on this occasion."
Doug Watson, trainer of Finjaan
"We have taken our time with him and he would have needed his first run. Stamina may be an issue over the mile but he is in good form at home and it is a suitable opportunity to get him back on the track."
Christophe Lemaire, rider of Thai Haku
"She was an excellent second over course and distance last time and we decided to stay over a mile rather than run over a bit further tomorrow. Hopefully she can run another big race."
Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Invisible Man
"He ran well behindDerbaas last time, has improved since then and is working nicely. We are weighted to finish a lot closer to Derbaas on this occasion but there are plenty of other dangers in a good race."
Julien Grosjean, rider of Silverside
"The return to turf is a definite positive and he showed in Turkey that he can be competitive on the international stage."
Ibrahim Al Malki, trainer of Hearts Of Fire
"We are really looking forward to running him and representing Qatar. Obviously he is a high-profile purchase and the carnival has been our aim with him. We are here now and hopeful of a bold show."
Tadhg O'Shea, rider of Snaafy
"Richard [Hills, rider of Derbaas] had a tough choice and Snaafy is a great ride. He does seem at his very best on dirt but won here on turf last year and was unlucky in running in the Zabeel Mile. He should go well."
Charlie Henson, assistant to Luca Cumani, trainer of Mabait
"Again the draw has done us no favours and we are widest of all. He is in good form athome but we can only be hopeful from stall 12."
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