No PA this year
From the Racing Post
The Dubai World Cup Carnival starts on Thursday at Meydan – here Jason Ford brings you up to speed with all the goings-on
Racing revisions
Carnival prize-money boosted by 12% to a total of $12,670,000
Now six-race cards as opposed to seven, plus a ‘non-carnival race’
Thursday’s Dubawi Stakes has been moved forward a week, while the Al Maktoum Challenge Round One moves the other way
Two additional races for three-year-olds, both over 1m1½f, the Meydan Trophy and Al Bastakiya Trial as preps for middle leg of UAE Triple Crown
UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial now over a mile rather than 7f
Minimum handicap value raised to $135,000 from $125,000
Jockey jiggles
Christophe Soumillon no longer retained by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and now operating as a freelance
Ben Curtis is now stable jockey to Musabbeh Al Mheiri, replacing Fernando Jara, who is now based with Ali Rashid Al Rayhi alongside Ronan Whelan
Nicholas Bachalard is new resident trainer at Sheikh Ahmed’s Jebel Ali Stables; Chris Hayes, after a season off, returns as stable jockey
Billy Lee is now stable jockey for Helal Al Alawi, who is starting to make his presence felt in thoroughbred circles having been successful with Purebred Arabians
William Buick suspended for first four carnival meetings
Connor Beasley, who is enjoying a great UAE season, is stable jockey for Ahmad Bin Harmash
UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea is now based with Satish Seemar alongside stable jockey Richard Mullen
Hayley Turner is one of many jockeys registered with Saeed Bin Suroor at Al Quoz
Darryll Holland rode in the UAE for the first time since 2008 last Saturday and is in action on Thursday
On Thursday UAE regulars Mickael Barzalona, Jim Crowley, James Doyle and Soumillon are all riding locally for first time this season
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