International Contenders Take on Godolphin in Dubai

Night two of the Dubai World Cup Carnival Jan. 21 at Meydan features some promising 3-year-olds, the return of last year's U.A.E. Derby Sponsored by Emirates NBD (G2) winner Rebel's Romance , and early preps for the middle-distance and sprint turf events on the March 26 Dubai World Cup (G1) card.

The recurring themes are increasing international competition and lots of contenders from the Godolphin home team.

The Jumeirah Derby Trial Presented by Park Avenue by Azizi and the Al Rashidiya Presented by Riviera Beachfront by Azizi (G2) for older horses are both 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8 miles) tests on the grass for candidates for the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1) on World Cup night or, for the versatile, for the UAE Derby.

The Jumeirah Derby Trial has 10 takers—three of them from the Godolphin barns. Frankie Dettori rides Island Falcon and Pat Cosgrove takes the mount on Nader. Both are by Iffraaj and trained by Saeed bin Suroor. William Buick gets a leg up from Charlie Appleby on New Kingdom, a Dubawi  colt.

Sed Maarib, an American Pharoah   colt trained by Fawzi Nass, and Mr. Professor (IRE) return just a week after finishing second and third going 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs) over the same course. Pjerrot, a Hard Spun   colt, raced in Denmark and Norway in 2021 and makes his 3-year-old and UAE debut.

Five of the 11 entered for the Al Rashidiya will tote Godolphin blue. Three of those raced with credit during the 2021 carnival but none made it to any of the big races on the final night. Four-year-olds Highland Avenue  and Royal Fleet, both by Dubawi, make their first starts as geldings after middling 2021 efforts in the UK in 2021. Highland Avenue arguably peaked with a victory in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes on the Kempton all-weather.

The Al Rashidiya field also includes the Energizer Bunny known as Lord Glitters . The 9-year-old Whipper gelding comes off a victory in the Bahrain International Trophy (G3) at Sakhir Racecourse where he defeated the likes of Barney Roy  and Magny Cours.

Rebel's Romance has been on the sidelines for Godolphin and Appleby since winning the 2021 UAE Derby. The Dubawi colt gets a test in the Aliyah By Azizi as he's asked to go 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) against a full field of 15 rivals, many older and more experienced. A good showing would make him a top candidate to return to Saudi Arabia for the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) in February and set up a shot at the World Cup back home.

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Also on the second night of the carnival, potential candidates for the UAE Derby or the Godolphin Mile (G2) tackle the Jumeirah Derby Trial Presented by Park Avenue by Azizi at 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs) on the dirt. Among those is Albahr , whose gate mishap in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Del Mar led to controversy.

Canvassed  returns from nearly 10 months on the sidelines to contest the Dubawi Stakes Presented by Rivera by Azizi (G3). The 7-year-old Shamardal  gelding was third in the 2021 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1), the race in which Zenden  won but suffered a fatal breakdown just after crossing the finish line.

The compact field for the Dubawi also includes Freedom Fighter , a Violence   colt who finished second in the 2021 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park and fourth in the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack when trained by Bob Baffert. Now trained by rising young UAE trainer Bhupat Seemar, Freedom Fighter makes his first start in the UAE.

A full field of 14 turf sprinters is on tap for the Al Fahidi Fort Presented by Mina By Azizi (G2). The 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs) also could be an early tune up for the Dubai Turf or could point to the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on March 26.

Continuing the theme that permeates the carnival, Sheikh Mohammed's home team has four of the 14 but the Al Fahidi Fort lineup is another multinational one. Garrulous, a 4-year-old Byword  gelding, started his career in Durban, then raced in France after enduring the onerous South African export protocols. Could Be King  campaigned in Scandinavia and Germany.

Naval Crown , a 4-year-old Dubawi colt, brings the best résumé of the Godolphin runners with a fourth in last year's Qipco Two Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket and a second in the Jersey Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot. Storm Damage, by Night of Thunder , was 3-for-4 in England but the loss was a nine-length thumping in the Jersey.