Colonel Liam Sole American Hope in Dubai Turf

Although Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam  is the sole American competing in the $5,000,000 March 26 Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1), the United States couldn't have asked for a better representative in the about 1 1/8-mile Meydan turf contest.

The 5-year-old son of Liam's Map   enters the Dubai Turf off a career best performance in the Jan. 29 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Baccarat (G1T). Despite not having raced in seven months prior to the Pegasus Turf, the handsome gray appeared a winner throughout the race and defended his title in decisive fashion, clocking the 1 1/8 miles in a time only a tick off the Gulfstream Park track record.

"We feel that this year, while he's in his prime, let's go ahead and take a shot," said trainer Todd Pletcher of Colonel Liam. "The spacing suited us really well after the Pegasus, which is another reason we decided to come to Dubai."

In addition to his two Pegasus Turf crowns, Colonel Liam registered a victory—albeit a dead-heat with Domestic Spending —in last year's Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) undercard, making him a perfect 3-for-3 in top-level events.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Colonel Liam's steady pilot over the years, has made the trip to Dubai. He will also be aboard Colonel Liam's stablemate Life Is Good  later on the card in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).

While Colonel Liam could become the first American horse to win the Dubai Turf, last year's race hero, Lord North , has the chance to etch his name in the history's books as the first two-time captor of the Dubai Turf should he find the winner's circle.

Lord North, bred by Godolphin and racing under the colors of HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing, scored an impressive three-length tally in the 2021 Dubai Turf over the reopposing Japanese runner Vin de Garde . The 6-year-old Dubawi  gelding was given a considerable layoff after his Meydan romp, benched for the remainder of his 2021 campaign. He resurfaced for the father-son training duo of John and Thady Gosden in February, finishing second to Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) contender Alenquer  in the Betway Winter Derby Stakes (G3) over the all-weather surface at Lingfield Racecourse.

"Lord North was entitled to need his comeback run at Lingfield after such a long spell off and has come out of that in good shape," John Gosden told David Milnes of the Racing Post March 6.

Other British-based hopes in the Dubai Turf include Lord North's stablemate, Harrovian , most recently fourth behind Authority in the Feb. 26 Neom Turf Cup (G3) in Riyadh, William Haggas-trained duo of Mohaafeth  and My Oberon , the group-1 winning filly Saffron Beach , and the William Knight charge Sir Busker .

Despite the presence of defending champ Lord North and Colonel Liam, morning line favoritism in the field of 16 has fallen upon the top Japanese-based miler Schnell Meister .  

Trained by Takahisa Tezuka and owned by the powerful Japanese stable of Sunday Racing, Schnell Meister will be making his first start outside of Japan in Saturday's race. A grade 1 winner of the NHK Mile Cup (G1) last spring, the 4-year-old son of Kingman  earned a stellar 124 Timeform rating when just beaten by phenomenal racemare Gran Alegria  in the Nov. 21 Mile Championship (G1) in his last trip to the post. He was successful over the 1 1/8-mile trip two starts back in the Mainichi Okan (G2) at Tokyo Racecourse in October.

The global-trotting fan favorite Lord Glitters , victorious in the Singspiel Stakes Presented by Race Of UAE Innovates (G2) two starts back, was sixth in last year's Dubai Turf. An earner of more than $3 million, the Whipper  gelding has won three stakes over the Meydan oval, including the 2021 Jebel Hatta Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).

Manobo Puts Undefeated Record on the Line in Dubai Gold Cup

Earlier on the card, an exciting showdown will unravel between the undefeated Manobo  and recent Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3) victor Stay Foolish in the $1,000,000 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2).

Contested over the grueling two-mile distance, the drew a full field of 13 contenders but all eyes will be on 1-2 morning line favorite Manobo.

Th Godolphin homebred took beautifully to the Meydan turf course when soaring home a 5 1/2-length winner of the Nad Al Sheba Trophy Presented by DP World UAE (G3) Feb. 18.

"I'm delighted with Manobo," said trainer Charlie Appleby. "He's an unbeaten son of Sea The Stars . He looked fantastic this morning and he's an exciting horse. I don't think he's the type of out-and-out stayer who would end up being a Gold Cup (G1) horse back in Europe, but on what we've seen here he was very impressive on his only start. He did have a weight advantage there but he has come out of the race well and he will go off a worthy favorite."

Manobo's stiffest challenge should come from the Japanese-based adversary Stay Foolish. The Shadai Race Horse color-bearer, a multiple group/grade winner, drew away to a 4 1/2-length score over a competitive field in the 1 7/8-mile Red Sea Turf Handicap on Saudi Cup day in Riyadh.