Meydan: Musir wins Al Rashidiya, second stakes win of the month

On turf and synthetic courses, Musir was unbeatable in Dubai in January.

Thursday, Musir won the $200,000 Al Rashidiya Stakes over about 1 1/8 miles on turf at Meydan Race Course, the beneficiary of an ideal trip under jockey Christophe Soumillon. On Jan. 12, Musir won the first round of the Maktoum Challenge on Meydan’s Tapeta surface.

In Thursday’s Group 2 Al Rashidiya Stakes, Musir stalked pacesetter Macret for the first seven furlongs before taking the lead near the quarter pole. Soumillion had Musir in front by at least a length through the stretch and never faced a serious challenge.

City Style, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by City Zip, closed well to finish second, a length behind the winner, and 3 1/2 lengths clear of Macret. City Style won the Sunday Silence Stakes at Louisiana Downs in 2008.

Presvis, the winner of the $5 million Dubai Duty Free in Dubai last March, could only finish fifth in the field of eight in his first start since May.

Musir races for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and is trained by Michael de Kock. A 6-year-old Australian-bred by Redoute’s Choice, Musir, a Group 2 stakes winner in Turkey last September, won the UAE Derby on the Dubai World Cup undercard in 2010.