'Fashion Friday' in Dubai Previews World Cup Night

The overseas invasion leading up to the Dubai World Cup (G1) races rolls on with a "Fashion Friday" program Jan. 26 featuring candidates for many of the big races two months down the road.

Among them, American trainer Chad Summers has Clapton , last seen disappointing in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), prepping for the World Cup itself and Saeed Bin Suroor sending out world traveler Mawj , who finished second to Master of The Seas  in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) in her last outing.

The UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3) is a prep for the UAE Derby (G2) on World Cup night, which in turn offers the winner 100 points on Churchill Downs' Road to the Kentucky Derby.

"Fashion Friday" more or less overshadows the March 2 "Super Saturday" this year in the restructured World Cup Carnival, all of which upheaval was designed to lure foreigners to the desert as early as possible. As a sign of success, the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) at 1,900 meters (1 3/16 miles) on the dirt has a field as international as you please, from Clapton to Kentucky-bred but Russian-trained Kabirkhan.

"We think that maybe he didn't like being on the inside," Summers said of Clapton's 11th-place Classic finish at Santa Anita Park, per Dubai Racing Club. "When he's inside horses he feels like he's running in quicksand. He's such a big horse that we'd like him to really get into his rhythm and if we lose a little bit of ground, that's okay.

"We hope they'll go an honest enough pace. First Constitution  should make the pace and hopefully that will set it up for us to come with a big run. We're adding blinkers for this race, too," said Summers, who twice won the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) with Mind Your Biscuits .

Kabirkhan, a 4-year-old colt by 2016 World Cup winner California Chrome  , won his previous local start with ease after dominating rivals in Russia as a 3-year-old. Others with international roots include First Constitution, who started in his native Chile before moving to Todd Pletcher's care in New York, then to Dubai for the 2023 season, and Atletico El Culano , previously raced in Uruguay and Chile.

Oasis Boy Heads UAE Derby Prep

Eight are signed on for the UAE Two Thousand Guineas with Oasis Boy, winner of two of three starts in his native Argentina, highest-rated. He is by Asiatic Boy , winner of this race in 2007. Notable by his absence is Ma Yetal, a Flameaway   colt undefeated and largely untested in two local runs. Quartier, second to Ma Yetal at Meydan Jan. 5 in his first start outside Uruguay, and Military Artist, third in the same heat, will give an indication of the quality of that race.

Godolphin's sole entry in the Guineas is Nezeeh, a Profitable  gelding who has disappointed on both dirt and turf so far. Interest perks up slightly as Oisin Murphy rides Nezeeh for the second time for Bin Suroor.

Mawj Leads Godolphin Fleet in Jebel Hatta

Bin Suroor and Murphy would seem to have better chances sending out Mawj in the Jebel Hatta (G1), an 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8 miles) turf contest setting up the always-tough Dubai Turf (G1) on World Cup night.

Mawj, a 4-year-old filly by Exceed And Excel , won twice during the 2023 Carnival and moved along to England where she landed the 2023 One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket. She won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) at Keeneland in October before just missing in the Breeders' Cup.

"Mawj arrived in Dubai after the Breeders' Cup and had a bit of an easy time," said Bin Suroor. "She's doing well and I'm happy with her. After this, the plan is the Dubai Turf and then we will take her back to Europe."

The Jebel Hatta might be the toughest of the night's tasks as the field includes three other Godolphin runners, Measured Time , Highland Avenue  and Ottoman Fleet , all trained by Charlie Appleby; San Donato  and El Patriota , first and third in the Zabeel Mile (G2) in their last start; and Spirit Dancer , winner of the Bahrain International Trophy (G2) in November.

Undercard Stakes

Also on the dirt are the Firebreak Stakes (G3), a prep for the Godolphin Mile (G2), and the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) at 1,200 meters, an audition for the Dubai Golden Shaheen.

On the turf, the supporting events are the Blue Point Sprint (G2) at 1,000 meters and the Al Fahidi Fort (G2), either or both of which could be used to prepare for the 1,200 meters of the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on the World Cup undercard.

One thing for sure about "Fashion Friday": No matter how difficult any of these races may be, the pending influx of world-class talent from around the globe will make their counterpart heats on March 30 much tougher.