The first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge tops Thursday night’s race card at Meydan in Dubai, and topping the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge – at least in terms of interest – is Master of Hounds, who drew on the far outside of a 12-horse field entered in the one-mile race over the main track’s Tapeta surface.
Frankel, the undefeated English miler, topped the final 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and released Tuesday. His rating of 136 was four points higher than the second highest-rated performer, the Australian sprinting mare Black Caviar.
Mahbooba, a 5-year-old mare facing males, closed from off the pace to win Thursday’s $125,000 Al Rashidiya Trial on the opening evening of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.
View the schedule for the 2012 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan.
The 16-day Dubai World Cup carnival begins at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, with the $125,000 Al Rashidiya Trial over about 1 1/8 miles on turf as the highlight of the program.
Victoire Pisa, the winner of the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March and two major stakes in Japan, has been retired after two disappointing races in the last five weeks.
Orfevre, the winner of the Japanese Triple Crown earlier this year, ended a remarkable 2011 season with a victory in his first start against older horses in Sunday’s $5.3 million Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.
A first-ever matchup between Buena Vista, the winner of the Japan Cup last month, and Orfevre, the winner of the 2011 Japanese Triple Crown, will be the focus of Sunday’s Grade 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse.
Alfredo remained unbeaten in three starts and became the colt to follow for the Japanese classics of 2012 with a victory in Sunday’s Group 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at Nakayama Racecourse.
Leo Active and Sudden Storm, the first two finishers of the Group 2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 12, are leading contenders for Sunday's Group 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at Nakayama.
