Meydan will host a massive Friday of action, featuring two G1 races

The Al Maktoum Challenge and the Jebel Hatta will be contested as part of a card packed with major races, heading toward the grand Dubai World Cup meeting

Walk of Stars is always a key player when he runs at Meydan / DRC

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Special for Turf Diario).— The eyes of the global racing world turn to Dubai this Friday. Under the sponsorship of Longines, the imposing Meydan racecourse presents a 9-race card that includes two G1 clashes, with the Al Maktoum Challenge as the feature event. The race, boasting a purse of AED 3,680,000, is not only a summit of talent but also awards the coveted Golden Ticket, granting guaranteed entry into the $12,000,000 Dubai World Cup on March 28.

Trainer Bhupat Seemar dominates the scene in the Al Maktoum Challenge, saddling six of the nine confirmed runners. Among them, the duel of stakes winners between Walk Of Stars (Dubawi) and Kabirkhan (California Chrome) stands out.

“Walk Of Stars had to concede a lot of weight in his comeback against horses that were already in peak rhythm,” Seemar explained regarding the bay's fourth-place finish in the Entisar (L). For his part, the talented Kabirkhan will wear blinkers this time: “He is a horse with a world of talent, but he’s becoming a bit quirky, and the blinkers will help him maintain focus after a somewhat sluggish start in his last outing.”

Seemar’s army also includes Artorius (Arrogate), for Juddmonte, who recently chased home Heart Of Honor (Honor A.P.); the consistent Imperial Emperor (Dubawi); and the rising Killer Collect (Collected), who seeks redemption after a stumble at the start.

However, the horse to beat is precisely Heart Of Honor, the Jamie Osborne pupil who comes off a gritty victory in the Entisar. “His style is to win ugly, but he conserves energy like few others and is a natural stayer,” warned his trainer.

The seventh race will set the pulse for the Jebel Hatta (G1 - 1,800m) on the turf. All eyes are on Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath), who dazzled in December by taking the Al Rashidiya (G2). The Charlie Appleby trainee will face his stablemate Nations Pride (Teofilo), a distinguished four-time G1 winner, and the grey Silawi (Dubawi), who recently shone in the Canadian International (G1).

“It’s a small field but one of enormous respect. Nations Pride has evolved significantly since his last run and arrives very sharp in his morning works,” commented Appleby, the Godolphin strategist.

The card offers other high points. For example, the Al Fahidi Fort (G2 - 1,400m, turf) will see a rematch between Mysterious Night (Dark Angel) (the 2024 winner) and Marbaan (Oasis Dream), who snatched the victory last year. The 1,400-meter field promises a blistering pace.

In the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3 - 1,200m, dirt), El Nasseeb (Profitable) seeks to ratify his dominance against the Chilean Mufasa (Practical Joke) and the experienced Colour Up (Mehmas). Seemar also has full confidence in Drew’s Gold (Violence), who steps up in class following a crushing victory carrying 62 kilos.

Meanwhile, the Blue Point Sprint (G2 - 1,000m, turf) features defending champion West Acre (Mehmas) as its central figure. He will face the ascending Cover Up (Exceed and Excel), who dominated the field in the Dubai Dash.

The Firebreak Stakes (1,600m, dirt) has Meshtri (Medaglia D’Oro) and Mendelssohn Bay (Mendelssohn) as its main candidates, while in the Al Khali Trophy (G3 - 2,810m, turf), most eyes are on Meydaan (Frankel).

The action will kick off with the Maktoum Challenge R2 (G1) for Purebred Arabians, a precursor to the Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1). There, two-time winner First Classs (Dahess) will attempt to regain his best form after a lackluster performance on the Abu Dhabi turf, facing 15 high-caliber rivals.