Race 7 – $250,000 Haatel Jebel Hatta (G2), 1,800 meters, Turf
Luca Cumani’s #1 PRESVIS won the final race of the night, the Haatel Jebel Hatta (G2). Godolphin’s #3 ALEXANDROS was second and #4 TAM LIN finished third.
Presvis
Presvis wins the Haatel Jebel Hatta (G2)
Race 6 – $300,000 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (G2), 2,000 meters, Tapeta
Japan brought in a contingent of horses to compete at Meydan, but it wasn’t two time Horse of the Year #8 VODKA to win the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (G2) – it was the #13 RED DESIRE, third last out to Vodka in Tokyo. #5 GLORIA DE CAMPEAO was second and #3 MR BROCK was third. Vodka finished 8th.
Vodka, two time Japan Horse of the Year
Japan's Vodka in the parade ring at Meydan
Race 5 – $250,000 Marju Dubai City of Gold (G2), 2,485 meters, Turf
Godolphin’s #2 CAMPANOLOGIST won the Marju Dubai City of Gold (G2) on the turf under Frankie Dettori, the team’s third win of the night. Turkey’s #9 PAN RIVER came in second and #10 GOLDEN SWORD came in third for Mike de Kock.
Godolphin's Campanologist, eventual winner
Start of the Marju Dubai City of Gold (G2) on the turf
Field of the Marju Dubai City of Gold (G2) on the turf
Field heading into the turn at Meydan...
Race 4 – $200,000 Alhaarth Burj Nahaar (G3), 1,600 meters, Tapeta
#11 CAT JUNIOR made most all of the running and really took to the addition of blinkers, holding sway over late-closing fellow longshot #9 GREEN COAST. Sent off at 35-1 in the international pools, he dramatically improved after being fifth behind #6 SKYSURFERS last time out, in a race where jockey Jamie Spencer was handed a two night suspension. That tot kept him off Cat Junior today and Richard Hills served as the beneficiary. The final time of 1:35.95 was .75 seconds faster than the previous fastest 1,600 meters, set by Lucky Find last week.
Cat Junior wins the Alhaarth Burj Nahaar (G3)
Race 3 – $200,000 Elnadim Mahab Al Shimaal (G3), 1,200 meters, Tapeta
What a performance from #2 DESERT PARTY, making his first start since a displaced ankle chip sidelined him following the 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1). He ran forwardly and held off #12 MUTHEEB for a solid victory in 1:10.82, the same winning time Leahurst ran a few weeks back. Leahurst is a dual-Carnival winner and skipped this event to plan for the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). #7 WAR ARTIST was a disappointing fifth, at 1-5 in the international pools, and still holds the record for the 1,200 meters trip, just eight-hundreths of a second faster than Desert Party and Leahurst. Godolphin Mile (G2)? Dubai World Cup (G1)? Regardless, Godolphin should be very happy with this performance off the shelf.
Godolphin's Desert Party, 2nd in the 2009 UAE Derby
Desert Party
Race 2 – $250,000 Al Bastakiya (Listed), 1,900 meters, Tapeta
#14 MENDIP took benefit of a leisurely pace and ran well clear in the Al Bastakiya, handily defeating #4 DELLA BARBA and more so, stable companion and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner #8 VALE OF YORK. Mendip is a Triple Crown nominee and would require some graded earnings before an entry in the Kentucky Derby, earnings that could be obtained with a good run in the UAE Derby (G2). Trainer Saeed bin Suroor indicated that no decisions about future race placements would be made until after the UAE Derby, where both Mendip and Vale Of York are expected to participate.
Start of the Bahri Al Bastakiya
Triple Crown nominated Mendip wins the Bahri Al Bastakiya at Meydan
Race 1 – $55,000 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (G1) for purebred Arabians, 2,000 meters, Tapeta
Gillian Duffield won the first race with #9 NO RISK AL MAURY taking the win. Doug Watson came in 2nd with #10 KANDAR DU FALGAS while #1 PALAPAL finished third.
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It’s a beautiful day in Dubai and Meydan’s first Super Thursday commences in just over an hour. After a lot of rain earlier in the week that left parts of Dubai flooded, tonight is a fair 73°F. Below is a photo of the Meydan racecourse with the stage set for Meydan’s first musical performance – STING. The final race goes at 10:45 and his concert is set to begin at 11:00 PM Dubai time. Sting, lead singer of the rock band The Police has earned more than sixteen Grammy Awards over his solo career, receiving the first in 1981.
Stage set for Sting's performance after the races