Two Group 3 turf races the highlights at Dubai
THURSDAY is the penultimate meeting of the 2009 Dubai Carnival, with only Super Thursday and Dubai World Cup to follow before Nad Al Sheba is demolished and replaced by Meydan for next season.
The UAE Oaks is the feature of Thursday's card but looks likely to be overshadowed by two Group 3 turf races, the Al Quoz Sprint (6f) and Zabeel Mile. Both races divided last year and with the rail out this week, that looks a strong possibility again.
The Rod Simpson-trained Balthazaar's Gift, a winner last Friday, is among those entered in both races while Champion South African sprinter JJ The Jet Plane will revert to turf in the Al Quoz Sprint for Mike de Kock, having failed to act on dirt last time.
Opposition could include the Doug Watson-trained Mutamarres, who won a division of this race last year.
The British and Irish contingent, Intrepid Jack, Judd Street and Dohasa, look guaranteed a run even if the race were not to divide.
The De Kock-trained Group 1 winner Archipenko will head the weights in the Zabeel Mile, in which Godolphin's Tam Lin is another penalised. Summit Surge, for Ger Lyons, will definitely get in, but with 44 entered and a maximum field of 12, a lot will be hoping for a split.
Jalil, winner of the concluding round of the Maktoum Challenge last year, could have his first start for Mubarak Bin Shafya in a 1m1f dirt handicap, in which Traffic Guard, being considered for a World Cup bid, could revert to dirt.
The 2m DRC Gold Cup is a new addition to the programme, and 22 have been entered for the turf marathon, headed by the De Kock-trained Macarthur and Godolphin's Veracity.
The UAE Oaks, on dirt over 1m1f, is a Listed contest and has attracted eight entries, including UAE 1,000 Guineas heroine So Shiny, and Godolphin's Devotee, who flopped in that race but was found to have an irregular heartbeat.
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