Dubai World Cup Carnival Program Sees Some Stars

Make it or break it time is at hand Feb. 11 at Meydan Racecourse for some of the international cast of characters eyeing the big-money races slated through the coming weeks.

With the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) just two weeks away and the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1) set for March 26, candidates for those races and their rich undercards will be under close scrutiny.

And 3-year-olds, including an American upstart from trainer Doug O'Neill's string, get another shot to make their case for a Derby run, be it in Saudi Arabia, back at Meydan, or in Louisville.

The entire evening is sponsored by various components of "UAE Innovation Month," leading to some unusual alternate names for the events.

The Curlin Stakes or "Race of Ambition" is carded at the same 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) as the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1) on March 26 and features the likes of Salute The Soldier  and Rebel's Romance .

Salute The Soldier, trained by Fawzi Nass, won the Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1) last season and was fifth in his 2022 debut last month at Meydan in Round 1 of the same series.

"He's in good shape," Nass said. "He's had his first run now, over a mile, because we thought he would be gassy and fresh and needing the run. Hopefully, that race has brought him on and he's ready to rock and roll this week."

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin team sends out three of the 13 set for the Curlin, notably Dubai Icon , second in this race last year and a romping winner in his first start of the season, and Rebel's Romance, who needs a turnaround to reclaim the form that saw him win the 2021 UAE Derby Sponsored by Emirates NBD (G2) by 5 1/2 lengths.

The Singspiel Stakes or "UAE Innovates Race" (G2) at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on the turf points directly to the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1) on World Cup night and has popular 9-year-old Lord Glitters  facing some of Godolphin's finest.

Lord Glitters, trained by David O'Meara, won the 2021 Singspiel Sponsored By Riviera by Azizi (G2) and went on to victory in the Jebbel Hatta Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) before finishing sixth in the Dubai Turf. The popular gray veteran won the Bahrain International Trophy (G3) at Sakhir Racecourse Nov. 19 and returned to finish fourth behind three Godolphin rivals in the Al Rashidiya Presented by Riviera Beachfront by Azizi (G2) Jan. 21 at Meydan.

"We're happy with his training," O'Meara said, "and we thought he ran well enough the other night in his first run at Meydan this season. He had a little break after Bahrain and might have needed his first run back."

Godolphin again might stand in the way in the Singspiel as Charlie Appleby saddles Zakouski , a Shamardal  gelding who has won three of four starts at Meydan and is looking for revenge for two losses to Lord Glitters—in last year's Singspiel and in November in Bahrain.

"He didn't see out the mile and two furlongs when ninth in the Bahrain International Trophy last time," Appleby said. "We think he'll be better down in trip in the Singspiel as he ran really well in the race last year."

The Al Shindagha Sprint or "Sustainability Race" (G3) is 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) on the turf with defending champ Al Tariq  and eight others eyeing the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). Al Tariq won the Dubawi Stakes Presented by Riviera by Azizi (G3) in his last start and picks up a penalty for that. The added weight on the favorite could help Freedom Fighter  and Canvassed , who return after finishing second and fifth in the Dubawi.

While the listed UAE Two Thousand Guineas or "Race of Creativity" field includes all of the top three from the Guineas Trial—Rawy, Quality Boone, and Kiefer—O'Neill wheels back Get Back Goldie  on just one week's rest after a rousing, stretch-running victory in the Oud Metha Stakes Presented by Longines Master Collection.

Get Back Goldie was a revelation in that first start in the desert, surging through the final 100 meters to win by a half-length with William Buick enjoying a fruitful partnership with the American trainer that included a rousing ride to victory on Hot Rod Charlie  on the same program. Buick takes the reins again in the Guineas, which leads to the UAE Derby on World Cup night and offers 100 points on the Churchill Downs "Road to the Kentucky Derby" series—a virtual "Win and You're in" scenario.

Get Back Goldie came to Dubai as a bit of a question mark. He finished ninth in the Cecil B. DeMille (G3T) at Del Mar in his last race in California and his only victory before the Oud Metha came at Santa Anita Park Oct. 23 when he was not taken for a $50,000 claiming tag.

The program is the fifth in this year's Carnival schedule with three to go, including Super Saturday on March 5. The Feb. 18 card features the UAE Oaks (G3) and a pair of graded turf events.