Breeders' Cup rematch in UAE

Tempera and Imperial Gesture will have the Kentucky Oaks in their sights when they line up against three rivals in the 1 1/8-mile, $250,000 UAE Oaks at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday night.

The two, trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin, finished one-two in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall but have reversed their positions in the Godolphin pecking order this winter. Imperial Gesture was an impressive nine-length winner of the Moonshell Mile on Feb. 24, while Tempera disappointed with a dull five-length second-place finish behind Infinite Spirit in the UAE 1000 Guineas on March 14.

As a result, Frankie Dettori has opted to ride Imperial Gesture, and Godolphin is flying David Flores in from California to renew acquaintance with Tempera in the hope that the pair can repeat their Breeders' Cup triumph.

Moonshell Mile runner-up Seba is the third Godolphin runner in the Oaks. E.B.'s Sweep, third in the UAE 1000 Guineas, and Hot Dinar complete the field.

The evening's co-feature is the 1 1/8-mile, $200,000 Al Bastikiya for 3-year-old colts. Won last year by E Dubai, this renewal includes Dubai Tiger, Expect, and Janadel, all of whom have yet to distinguish themselves. Night Prey, a maiden winner here on Feb. 14, looms a threat.

Burnt Ember, a maiden winner at Saratoga last summer, will make his seasonal debut in a seven-furlong dirt allowance.