DUBAI Friday 6th February

Declarations

Race 1 Turf 1200m handicap 95-110 $120k 12 runners
10/3F (102) Diana's Choice(SAf) - Shea/de Kock
40/1 (100) Grand Vista(GB) - Moore/Brown

Race 2 Turf 1200m handicap 95-110 $120k 12 runners
5/2F (104) Warsaw(Ire) - Murtagh/de Kock
11/2 (99) Lipocco(GB) - Moore/Brown

Race 3 Dirt 1700m handicap 90-105 $110k 13 runners
8/1 (100) Art Of War(SAf) - Murtagh/de Kock
5/1 (97) Naples(Aus) - Shea/de Kock
20/1 (95) Indiscutible(Chi) - Latham/de Kock

Race 4 Turf 1777m handicap 95+ $150k 9 runners
9/2 (113) Biarritz(SAf) - Shea/de Kock
9/4F (112) Kings Gambit(SAf) - Moore/Brown

Race 5 Turf 2750m handicap 95+ $150k 14 runners
7/1 (112) Mourilyan(Ire) - Moore/Brown
25/1 (108) Basaltico(Ire) - Latham/Brown
20/1 (96) Bennie Blue(SAf) - de Kock (reserve runners)

Race 6 Dirt 1600m 3y/o Fillies Listed $250k 10 runners
17/2 (98) India Tiberina(Chi) - Shea/de Kock
33/1 (93) Fire Sale(Arg) - Moore/Brown

Race 7 Turf 1600m handicap 95-110 $120k 14 runners
11/4F (107) Russian Sage(SAf) - Murtagh/de Kock
33/1 (96) T-Bird(SAf) - Jara/Watson

Updated post from nominations to declarations.

Updated with current betting.

good start, nice ride

See even the best can cock it up sometimes. Spargo calling Lions Blood - Lions Blood not even in the race. Lion Sands was though

So Shiny another big winner for Saudi team


Nad Al Sheba, Thursday

UAE 1,000 Guineas (Listed) 1m, dirt, 3yo fillies

THE wheels came off the hitherto unstoppable Godolphin wagon as Devotee, backed as if defeat was out of the question, trailed in last behind surprise winner So Shiny in Friday's feature event, the UAE 1,000 Guineas.

The ex-Argentine-trained filly, partnered by Mick Kinane, became the third big-race winner at the Carnival for Saudi Arabian-based American Jerry Barton, who had already struck in Group races with Big City Man and Deem.

Sent off a 16-1 shot in Britain, So Shiny was taken straight to the lead by Kinane in the 1m Listed dirt race and kept up the gallop to record a clear victory over fellow outsiders Earth Living and Purple Sage.

"We knew she wasa nice filly and that was a great performance from the front," said Barton.

"Mick is a top jockey as we all know and has done everything right. Obviously we will look at the Oaks now."

All looked to be going as planned for 1-3 favourite Devotee as the former US-trained filly travelled smoothly, but she hung badly turning for home and weakened dramatically.

The raceourse vet subsequently found her to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat.

So Shiny was Kinane's second win in the race, having won it in 2007 on Jeremy Noseda's Vague, the only previous international winner.

It was also a second Dubai Classic win for a horse carrying the colours of Prince Sultan Mohd Saud Al Kabeer of Saudi Arabia, having won the UAE 2,000 Guineas on Gold For Sale in 2006.

Alexandros the highlight of Godolphin treble
Nad Al Sheba, Friday

THE Godolphin operation continues in fine form at their home fixture sending out a treble on the fifth night of the 2009 Carnival.

The only reverse came when much-touted Devotee trailed home last behind So Shiny in the feature event, the UAE 1,000 Guineas.

Prior to that trainer Saeed Bin Suroor had dominated proceedings, taking his score for 2009 into double figures courtesy of a treble with Asset, Alexandros and Friston Forest.

Most impressive of the trio was Alexandros, 11-4 winner of the 1m1f turf handicap.

Frankie Dettori was always in control, travelling well behind the pace before asking his mount to quicken in the straight, where Alexandros showed a ready turn of foot to record his second victory of the year.


Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "He picked up well and it was a good performance. He has always been a nice horse and is hopefully improving. We will have to consider the Dubai Duty Free but that would be a big step up."

Well-backed favourite Kings Gambit, a dual Grade 1 winner in his native South Africa, was a bitter disappointment, finding nothing off the bridle.

Asset, often placed in good company, finally recorded his first victory for Godolphin when winning for the first time since April 2007 in the second 6f turf handicap.

Given a patient ride by Dettori, the ex-Richard Hannon-trained six-year-old raced wide throughout before hitting the front inside the final furlong to score a shade cosily over Lipocco and Judd Street.

Bin Suroor said: "Frankie gave him a great ride and he is a nice enough horse but no superstar."

The treble was completed when Friston Forest and stablemate Veracity flashed past the post together after an epic struggle in the 1m6f turf handicap.

Ted Durcan got the verdict on the nod on supposed second string Friston Forest, who had challenged the Dettori-ridden Veracity on the outer inside the final furlong.

"The French form looked good but we knew there were several with chances," said Durcan. "He has responded bravely when Ihave asked him and led, literally, only on the line."

The Bin Suroor treble means he has overtaken Mike de Kock as the leading trainer in carnival history with 59 winners.


De Kock took his tally to 57 as Kevin Shea scored on Diana's Choice in the opening 6f turf handicap.

Having made a pleasing local debut in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint on dirt, she was unfazed by the return to turf and collared long-time leader Instant Recall close home.

Shea explained: "She is a decent filly and we were hopeful she could win. I was always happy tracking the runner-up and she is an interesting sort for the carnival as she handled the dirt last time."

A De Kock double was foiled in the last when well-backed Russian Sage was just outpointed close home by Kachgai, smuggled through on the rail in the 1m turf handicap to score for French-based Spaniard Luis Urbano.

Jockey Jose Martinez can take credit for getting his mount across to the rail from the widest draw in a 14-runner field.

The determined Roman's Run just got the best of a desperate finish in the 1m1/2f dirt handicap under Fernando Jara.

The 20-1 shot was the third thoroughbred winner at the carnival for UAE champion trainer Doug Watson.

"That was a big relief as we have had problems with this horse," said Watson. "On his best form he was entitled to go close and I hoped for a good run."