Dubai Carnival Program Is a Worthy Saudi Opening Act

With the massive Saudi Cup program a day later hogging the limelight, the Dubai World Cup Carnival soldiers on Feb. 25 with some under-the-radar runners looking for a boost toward the Emirates Dubai World Cup (G1) program a month down the road.

The feature, the Dubai Millennium Stakes Presented by Lincoln (G3), features a quartet from the two Godolphin trainers.

Star Safari , trained by Charlie Appleby, looks for a repeat win in the Millemnium, a 2,000 meter (about 1 1/4 mile) turf challenge. The 6-year-old Sea The Stars  gelding went on from the 2021 victory to finish sixth in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1).

After a middling mid-year campaign in England, he returned to Meydan Racecourse to finish second, then first, in two preliminaries for the Millennium.

Appleby also saddles Royal Fleet , a promising 4-year-old Dubawi  gelding who was second to Lord Glitters  in the Singspiel Stakes Presented by Race of Uae Innovates (G2) Feb. 11.

The Godolphin yard overseen by Saeed bin Suroor contributes Big Team  and Volcanic Sky . The latter, a 7-year-old Street Cry  gelding, ran on well to finish third in a handicap event Feb. 11 and both drew some praise from the trainer.

"Volcanic Sky tries hard, as you saw in his race last time," bin Suroor said from Saudi Arabia, where he is supervising his Saudi Cup team. "Big Team has been very consistent all season and was finishing his last race well."

A wild card is Burgas, a 4-year-old colt by King David  who arrives from Ankara with a record of eight wins from 12 starts.

"Burgas is one of the best horses in Turkey. He won the Turkish Derby (G1) and he's beaten Long Runner, who holds the record for the most Turkish group 1 wins," said Bulut Karahan, racing manager for owner and breeder Fedai Kahraman. "We are using this race to get him ready for the Dubai Sheema Classic at the Dubai World Cup meeting."

Long Runner is by Gio Ponti  , who counted the 2009 Arlington Million (G1T) among his top-level triumphs and finished fourth and fifth in two swings at the Dubai World Cup.

Also looking forward to the World Cup meeting are the connections of Batwan , who starts in a contentious field of 12 in the Lincoln Nautilus Handicap at 1,200 meters. The 7-year-old gelding by Kendargent  won over course and distance in January.

"Batwan worked really well in preparation for this race," said Marine Henry, assistant to her husband, trainer Nicolas Caullery. "He loves it here in Dubai. We're hoping for a good run here and to earn an invitation into the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on Dubai World Cup day."

Shadwell contributes five of the 12 entries in the Nautilus.

The richest event on the six-race card is the new Jumeirah Derby Presented by Al Tayer Motors over 2,000 meters on turf for a purse of $200,000. Eight entries are topped by the Appleby-trained New Kingdom, second over 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) in his local debut last time out. 

Also new to the Carnival program is the opening race, the Al Karama Stakes Presented by Lincoln Corsair, at 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) on the dirt. That event is the landing place for Rawy, the Frosted   colt who won the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Trial Presented by Al Furjan by Azizzi but then finished seventh in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Presented by Race of Creativity (G3).

American trainer Doug O'Neill sends out Notre Dame  in the Lincoln Aviator Handicap at 1,200 meters on the dirt. The 5-year-old Into Mischief   gelding, a mid-level performer in California, takes a class dive after a disappointing ninth in his Meydan debut, the Al Shindagha Sprint Presented by Sustainability (G3) Feb. 11.