Fri, 02/03/2012 - 14:17

Dubai: Gamilati overpowers foes in 1000 Guineas

[bc_video_id:243416:]Gamilati’s last-to-first stretch move produced an impressive 5 1/2-length victory in the UAE 1000 Guineas on Friday at Meydan in Dubai.

Winner of the Guineas trial last month in her synthetic-surface debut, Gamilati moved significantly forward with her Friday performance. The filly she had beaten by 2 3/4 lengths in the trial, Alsindi, finished almost nine lengths behind Gamilati in Friday’s race, a listed stakes with a purse of $250,000. Winning time for one mile on the Tapeta surface was 1:38.84.

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 14:58

Dubai: Godolphin has two good shots at UAE 1000 Guineas at Meydan

Godolphin and trainer Mahmood al Zarooni have a firm grip on the UAE 1000 Guineas, the featured race on Friday night’s card at Meydan. Their A Team for the Guineas is Gamilati, the mount of Frankie Dettori, but the al Zarooni-trained Pimpernel might not be all that far behind Gamilati, the likely Guineas favorite.

[DUBAI RACING: Get free PPs and watch Friday's card from Meydan live]

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 10:20

Black Caviar returns sharp, improves record to 17-0

Black Caviar extended her unbeaten streak to 17 races with an easy win in Friday’s Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse, her first start in 11 weeks.

Sent off at 1-20 with bookmakers, Black Caviar had an ideal trip to win the about six furlongs race by 4 1/4 lengths over pacesetter Zedi Knight. Ridden by regular rider Luke Nolen, Black Caviar stalked Zedi Knight and Doubtful Jack, circled those two with a three-wide move on the left-handed turn and pulled clear with little urging.

Thu, 01/26/2012 - 14:29

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.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 16:49

Orfevre named Japan Horse of Year

Orfevre, winner of the Japanese Triple Crown and the Arima Kinen against older horses on Christmas Day, has been named Japan’s 2011 Horse of the Year.

A colt by Stay Gold, Orfevre won 6 of 8 starts in 2011. He lost his first two starts and then scored six consecutive wins, a span that included the Japanese 1000 Guineas, Japanese Derby, and Japanese St. Leger.

Trained by Yasutoshi Ikee for Sunday Racing, Orfevre is scheduled to stay in training this year.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 16:48

Dubai: Presvis back in Al Rashidiya

Presvis, winner of the $5 million Dubai Duty Free Stakes last March, makes his 2012 debut in Thursday’s Group 2 Al Rashidiya Stakes at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Trained by Luca Cumani, Presvis has not raced since finishing 10th in the Group 1 Singapore International Cup last May. An 8-year-old gelding, Presvis is the defending champion of the $200,000 Al Rashidiya Stakes, which is run over about 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 13:50

Black Caviar to test unbeaten record in Australia Stakes

Black Caviar, unbeaten in 16 races, resumes racing Friday following an 11-week break in the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse, a race she won in 2010.

The Australia Stakes, run over about six furlongs with an approximate purse of $208,000, is the first of three expected starts in the next month that will determine Black Caviar’s spring campaign. Trainer Peter Moody has two Group 1 stakes over about seven furlongs at Caulfield on Black Caviar’s schedule in February – the $416,000 C.F. Orr Stakes on Feb. 11 and the $520,000 Futurity Stakes on Feb. 25.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 11:55

British racecourses set attendance mark

Attendance at Britain’s 59 racecourses reached a record 6.15 million in 2011, the third time it has cracked the six-million level and first time since 2004.

The figures were announced on Tuesday by the Racecourse Association, the trade association for Britain’s racecourses. The previous record was 6.048 million set in 2004. There were more than 1,500 racing days in Britain last year, which attracted an average crowd of 4,187.

Fri, 01/20/2012 - 13:40

Dubai: First City upsets Mahbooba in Cape Verdi at Meydan

First City, third in two group stakes in England last year, caught Mahbooba in the final strides to win Friday’s $200,000 Cape Verdi Stakes over about a mile on turf at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

The Cape Verdi Stakes, for fillies and mares, was First City’s first stakes win and her first start since September, in England.

The nose victory under jockey Royston Ffrench could lead to a start for the 6-year-old mare in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free Stakes against males on the Dubai World Cup undercard on March 31, trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe said.

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 14:26

Dubai: Mahbooba in sharp form for Cape Verdi at Meydan

Mahbooba, a 5-year-old mare trained by Michael de Kock, can win her second race of the month when she starts as the leading contender in Friday’s $200,000 Cape Verdi Stakes over about a mile on turf at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Mahbooba won the Al Rashidiya Trial at Meydan on Jan. 5, her first start in Dubai following a 2011 campaign in Europe that included a stakes win at Newmarket, England.