Russian-Trained KY-Breds Keep World Cup Dream Alive

A pair of Russian-raced Kentucky-breds romped home 1-2 in the co-featured Dubai Islands Jan. 12 at Meydan Racecourse, adding fuel to dreams of the Dubai World Cup (G1) at the same trip 11 weeks down the road.

It's no longer early innings as the World Cup Carnival approaches its halfway mark and the sixth evening of the series offered some real, albeit ambitious, chances for the coming weeks. Taking full advantage was Kabirkhan, a run-out winner in the Dubai Island Stakes at the same 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) as the World Cup.

While the race was well-described as a "modest handicap" by the locals, Kabirkhan ran well beyond the ratings.

With Patrick Dobbs up, Kabirkhan had a rough start and was forced to run wide from behind rivals. He circled the leaders early in the stretch run and had no competition as he hit the front and widened to win by four lengths. Hero Mo, a stablemate with trainer Doug Watson, easily was best of the rest.

Both were last seen racing in Russia and Watson said the owners ambitiously have the eye on the World Cup.

"That's what they brought them over here for," the trainer said. "I'd love to run in it but let's see what happens in the next few weeks. I think they'd both do well in the second leg of the Maktoum Challenge (G1, 1,900 meters, Jan. 26). I think they'd be competitive in that."

Beyond the impressive win in his Dubai debut, Kabirkhan has another credential for the World Cup. The 4-year-old colt is a son of California Chrome  , the 2016 World Cup winner. Out of the Castledale  mare Little Emily , he was bred by Kehner Thoroughbreds and sold for $12,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Hero Mo, by Mo Town  , went for $27,000 at the same sale.

Star of Mystery Takes Tough Al Wasl

Lofty ambition also was on display in the Al Wasl Stakes, a co-feature on the sixth Carnival program, which turned up a lot tougher than some of the players would have liked. Star of Mystery , a Godolphin homebred daughter of Kodiac , got the job done in the 1,200-meter (about six furlongs) event with a smooth, late run for jockey William Buick.

After a slow start, Buick positioned Star of Mystery behind the well-fancied Starlust , last seen third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, and that pair gradually closed on the early leaders down the Meydan Racecourse turf straight.

Seven Questions , a Kodiac gelding, took a brief lead but couldn't hold off Star of Mystery, who outfinished Starlust by one length. Seven Questions held third as the 1,200 meters went in 1:09.62.

Star of Mystery made her 3-year-old debut after closing out a promising juvenile season with a close sixth-place finish in the Lowther Stakes (G2) at York Aug. 24.

"She did jump slow," Buick said, "but I really didn't mind. She loves passing horses. I found the horse we needed to beat and followed that one."

Trainer Charlie Appleby was not in attendance to provide a glimpse of plans for the filly but the race could be a pointer to the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at the same conditions on World Cup night March 30, particularly as the field for the Al Wasl Stakes was unusually tough.

"I didn't think this race would come up quite so strong," said George Scott, trainer of Seven Questions. "It's great to have such competitive races here at Carnival."

Ouzo, an 8-year-old gelding trained by Jamie Osborne, wove through the field in the stretch run to land the Lord North Handicap at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on the turf. Osborne noted the win will raise the veteran campaigner's rating to new levels, forcing him into ever-tougher competition as he moves forward.

"Can he improve at this age?" the trainer wondered.

Adrie de Vries rode Ouzo, his third winning mount of the evening.