Sakhee's Dubai return postponed

Sakhee's 2002 debut at Nad Al Sheba Thursday night has been postponed until Sunday due to the death of Rashid bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, the eldest son of Dubai's president, Maktoum Al Maktoum.

The younger Maktoum, the brother of Lammtarra's owner Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, was killed in an automobile accident early Thursday morning in Dubai and buried later the same day. He owned horses that raced in the United Arab Emirates, among them the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Aslaaf, one of the rivals facing Sakhee in the 1-1/4-mile allowance race that will now be run at Nad Al Sheba on Sunday night. The deceased was also the owner of the Eoin Harty-trained Wahajj, who was to have run Thursday in a now cancelled maiden race.

The Moonshell Mile, which was to have featured the seasonal debut of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly runner-up Imperial Gesture, has also been postponed to Sunday's nine-race card which will include the Group 3 Dubai City of Gold.

That 1-1/2-mile turf contest, a prep for the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night, March 23, features the return of Grandera. Formerly part-owned by Lael Stable, the Godolphin runner has placed in three Group 1 races, the French Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the Juddmonte International. His main rivals will be stablemate Celtic Silence and the McLaughlin-trained Musha Merr.