Latest news with #G2AlMaktoumClassic
Khaleej Times
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Imperial Emperor fuels syndicate's Dubai World Cup dreams
There almost wasn't space on the presentation stage for the 14 delighted owners of Imperial Emperor after Bhupat Seemar's gelding stormed home in the G2 Al Maktoum Classic (sponsored by Emirates Airline) and gained entry to the G1 Dubai World Cup. The gelding, an Dh 300,000 Racing In Dubai Sale purchase in March, was favourite for the Dh 1.7million contest but had to deal with draw 15 for the 2000 metres. Jockey Tadhg O'Shea was able to secure a spot to the outside of the leaders and was in the perfect position from which to strike in the straight, leading off the final turn and storming home by eight and a half lengths from stablemate Artorius and Korean raider Global Hit, who ran a superb race from the front. 'Wow, what a horse!' said Ryan Tongue, Director of British-based syndicate Deva Racing. 'This horse didn't owe us anything before tonight, we just wanted him to come home safe. 'This a dream come true. I can't believe we're in the Dubai World Cup!' O'Shea added: 'This horse is on the up. I've only thrown my leg over him three times and I've won all three. That was probably a career best for him. It was a true run race and there was no hiding place out there. He's very, very genuine.' As a four-time Group 1 winner, Nations Pride was rightly sent off favourite for the G2 Singspiel Stakes (sponsored by Emirates Airline) and he didn't let his supporters down. The six-year-old arrived off the back of defeats in the G2 Bahrain Trophy and G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf but put those well in the past. Ridden by William Buick, he was settled close to the pace in the 1800metre turf contest and pushed into the lead off the home turn. However, he had to find plenty to see off the determined Holloway Boy, second, and First Conquest, third, by a one and a quarter lengths and three lengths. 'We came here confident that he was where he needed to be to win this race,' said trainer Charlie Appleby. 'He had valid excuses for his last two defeats as he's only ever run twice right handed around Bahrain and been beaten twice. Then at Gulfstream he had a torrid shipping, it took a long time to get there and conditions weren't really suitable. 'Hopefully there might be a bit of improvement to come and we'll look towards World Cup night and the Dubai Turf. But if Romantic Warrior turns up we're all running for place money!' Buick and Appleby celebrated a second Group success on the night when Silver Knott charged home in the G2 Dubai City of Gold (sponsored by Emirates Airline). The five-year-old had been campaigned at Group 1 level in the US and is likely to head back there later this season. He made no mistake here, leading all the way and beating Passion And Glory by two lengths, with British challenger See Hector third. 'Last season he spent most of the year in the States and we learned that he is very effective from the front,' said Buick. 'He is very professional and he has a good level of ability to go with it. I was delighted with that and hopefully he can improve from it." The presence of Japanese challenger American Stage made the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal (sponsored by look a little tougher for Tuz than his three previous races this season, but no matter – he trounced them anyway. Seemar's sprinting star also made history, becoming the first horse to sweep the Listed Garhoud Sprint, G3 Dubawi Stakes, G3 Al Shindagha Sprint and this race all in one season. He did it in his usual style, contributing to blistering fractions up front, especially when taken on by Al Shibli, but was still much too good, bolting up by five lengths from American Stage, with Eastern World, winner of this race in 2022, in third. 'He's a streetfighter, he just keeps coming back – he's like Muhammad Ali!' said Seemar. 'He's made history by becoming the first horse to win all the big dirt sprints. 'There will be some good sprinters here for the Dubai Golden Shaheen, but we have home turf.'
Gulf Today
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
International cast converge on Meydan Racecourse for Emirates Super Saturday
Dubai World Cup places are up for grabs as the stars converge on a superb Emirates Super Saturday at Meydan Racecourse on 1 March. Six of the day's nine races offer automatic entry to corresponding races on the big day on April 5, including the featured G2 Al Maktoum Classic (sponsored by Emirates Airline), over the Dubai World Cup course of 2000metres on dirt. A full field of 16 line up, including G1 winner Kabirkhan, who aims to bounce back from seventh in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge last time out. Bhupat Seemar runs Imperial Emperor, who finished in front of Kabirkhan when second to Walk Of Stars in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge. Seemar also runs Artorius, fourth in the G3 Firebreak Stakes last time, the mount of Pat Cosgrave. The third Seemar runner is recent course winner Guns And Glory, who will be ridden by Richie Mullen for owner Fitri Hay. The G2 Singspiel Stakes (sponsored by Emirates Airline) offers guaranteed entry to the G1 Dubai Turf for the winner and nine take their chance. The favourite is likely to be four-time Group 1 winner Nations Pride, who arrives here off a ninth place in the G1 Pegasus Turf in Florida in January. Charlie Appleby, who has won this race twice. Appleby also runs First Conquest, two from two at Meydan, the mount of Mickael Barzalona. Cairo, trained in the UK by Alice Haynes, has enjoyed a profitable Carnival, finishing second in both the G2 Al Rashidiya and the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes. Tuz will make UAE racing history if adding the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal (sponsored by to his haul on Saturday - becoming the first horse to sweep the UAE's Group dirt sprints in one season. Seemar's charge, who will break from stall five in the field of 12, has been flawless in his last four starts including the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen last March – his target once again. Colour Up has seen the back of Tuz three times this season already, but Watson hasn't lost faith in Sayed Hashish's star sprinter, despite a below-par fifth in the Listed Jebel Ali Sprint two weeks ago. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, American Stage is an intriguing runner who brings a three from six win record with him from Japan, although none of his runs have come at Group level. Japan, who were last successful on Super Saturday back in 2010 with Red Desire in the then Maktoum Challenge R3, are also represented in the G3 Burj Nahar (sponsored by Emirates Airline) with T O Saint Denis. Daisuke Takayanagi's six-year-old had an international campaign last year, finishing ninth in the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile when last seen in November. Another bringing top level form into the race is the Charlie Hills-trained Ancient Rome, third to Nations Pride in the G1 Arlington Million in August, who tries the dirt for the first time. The G2 Dubai City of Gold (sponsored by Emirates Airline) is a proven path to the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic and seven run for that entry ticket on Saturday. Godolphin hold a strong hand, with three runners including multiple Group race winner Silver Knott, the mount of stable jockey William Buick, and G3 Sandown Classic Trial winner Arabian Crown, who makes his Meydan debut for Appleby. Three British raiders line up, including Highway Robber, an intriguing recruit from the US for Charlie Hills, and Onesmoothoperator, who drops in trip for Brian Ellison having finished third in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy last week. The day's shortest turf contest is the 1000metre G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (sponsored by Emirates SkyCargo) in which defending champion Frost At Dawn runs for trainer William Knight. Among her rivals is fellow Brit West Acre, so impressive in the G2 Blue Point Sprint last time out for trainer George Scott.
Khaleej Times
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Top stars set to vie for glory on Super Saturday at Meydan
Dubai World Cup places are up for grabs as the stars converge on a superb Emirates Super Saturday at Meydan Racecourse on March 1. Six of the day's nine races offer automatic entry to corresponding races on the big day on April 5, including the featured G2 Al Maktoum Classic (sponsored by Emirates Airline), over the Dubai World Cup course of 2000metres on dirt. A full field of 16 line up, including G1 winner Kabirkhan, who aims to bounce back from seventh in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge last time out. 'We thought we had him in good shape for his last race, off a ten-month layoff,' said trainer Doug Watson. 'I think that he just got in the kickback and then he lost his action. I like the draw [9], a little wide, to keep out of the kickback. I think he will run a nice race.' Bhupat Seemar runs Imperial Emperor, who finished in front of Kabirkhan when second to Walk Of Stars in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge. 'He's done nothing wrong,' said the Champion Trainer. 'He's won two races and he was second in the Group 1. There's no Walk Of Stars this time, but Kabirkhan is a good horse.' Seemar also runs Artorius, fourth in the G3 Firebreak Stakes last time, the mount of Pat Cosgrave. 'He's doing great and he ran a very good race last time,' he said. 'He looks like he's crying out for more distance, so a mile and a quarter should suit him well. He gets blinkers for the first time and if they go hard and fast he could be the one closing.' The third Seemar runner is recent course winner Guns And Glory, who will be ridden by Richie Mullen for owner Fitri Hay. 'He is being thrown a bit in the deep end here having broken the track record last time out,' said Alex Cole, Racing Manager to the Hay family. 'I feel he's earned a shot at this level and on Saturday night we'll find out if he's good enough or not.' Nations to Uphold Godolphin Pride The G2 Singspiel Stakes (sponsored by Emirates Airline) offers guaranteed entry to the G1 Dubai Turf for the winner and nine take their chance. The favourite is likely to be four-time Group 1 winner Nations Pride, who arrives here off a ninth place in the G1 Pegasus Turf in Florida in January. 'Nations Pride put up a strong performance over this course and trip in the Dubai Turf two years ago and enjoyed a productive campaign in the United States last season,' said trainer Charlie Appleby, who has won this race twice. 'The Pegasus World Cup Turf proved a bit of a non-event for him, although he came out of the race well. He is a multiple G1 winner and looks a leading contender if he runs to his best.' Appleby also runs First Conquest, two from two at Meydan, the mount of Mickael Barzalona. 'First Conquest has done nothing wrong so far this winter and came out of the Dubai Millennium Stakes in good order,' he added. 'He deserves to take another step up the ladder and will have no problem with the return to nine furlongs.' Cairo, trained in the UK by Alice Haynes, has enjoyed a profitable Carnival, finishing second in both the G2 Al Rashidiya and the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes. 'We're thrilled with what he's done out there,' said Haynes. 'First Conquest beat him last time, but coming back in distance, you never know what will happen." History Beckons for Tuz Tuz will make UAE racing history if adding the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal (sponsored by to his haul on Saturday - becoming the first horse to sweep the UAE's Group dirt sprints in one season. Seemar's charge, who will break from stall five in the field of 12, has been flawless in his last four starts including the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen last March – his target once again. 'He's full of himself so he might as well come out and get rid of that energy,' said Seemar, remarking on the gelding's busy campaign. 'I don't think anyone has won the Garhoud Sprint, Dubawi Stakes, Al Shindagha Sprint and the Mahab Al Shimaal in one season before.'
