Emirates authority upgrades 10 stakes

The Emirates Racing Authority, the ruling body of racing in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, announced Wednesday that it has upgraded 10 of its races for the 2011 winter season. All but one of the races are run at Meydan Racecourse.

Most prominent among the promotions is the Al Quoz Sprint, which is now a Group 2. Two weeks ago its was announced that thre race,the most recent addition to Dubai World Cup Night, had been cut from six furlongs to five furlongs on the Meydan turf course.

Also promoted to Group 2 status are the Cape Verdi Stakes at one mile on turf for fillies and mares, the Al Rashidiya at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and the Balanchine Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares. Upgraded to the Group 3 level are the UAE Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta for 3-year-old fillies, the Dubai Racing Club Gold Cup at two miles on turf, and the Abu Dhabi Championship at 1 3/8 miles on turf, this race becoming the first group race to be run at Abu Dhabi Racecourse.

Three other races at Meydan have achieved listed status. They are the Firebreak Stakes at one mile on Tapeta, the Nad Al Sheba Trophy at 1 3/4 miles on turf, and the Meydan Classic at 1 1/8 miles on turf.