Dubai times questioned

Doubts are being raised about the accuracy of the times recorded at Nad Al Sheba on Dubai World Cup Night last Saturday. The Emirates Racing Authority has removed the fractional times from its website and has announced that it is conducting an investigation into claims by the Racing Post that several clockings were inaccurate.

The uncertainty stems from the supposed track record of 1:46.20 for about 1 1/8 miles on turf set by Jay Peg in the Dubai Duty Free. Jay Peg set a slow pace in the race before coming again to win by a half-length from Darjina. Clockers for the Racing Post caught the winner in 1:47.20 and raised the alarm, which has set in motion the investigation.

The Racing Post claims that five of the six Thoroughbred races, the Godolphin Mile being the exception, went a full second slower than the official timings. The Emirates Racing Authority is investigating the validity of the following times: Curlin's winning Dubai World Cup time of 2:00.15 for 1 1/4 miles, Sun Classique's 2:27.45 in the 1 1/2-mile Sheema Classic, Benny the Bull's 1:08.70 in the six-furlong Golden Shaheen, and Honour Devil's 1:48.60 in the 1 1/8-mile UAE Derby. The winning time of 1:36.96 recorded by Diamond Stripes in the Godolphin Mile is not being questioned.