Ihtimal Goes for More Classic Glory

Ihtimal will try to add a second classic win to her record Feb. 27 in the $250,000 United Arab Emirates Oaks Sponsored by Saeed and Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (UAE-III) at Meydan Racecourse.

 

Godolphin's diminutive starlet reopposes eight of the 10 fillies she handily defeated in the United Arab Emirates One Thousand Guineas Feb. 6 at Meydan. 

 

The field's standout, Ihtimal owns two group wins in England last year as well as a third-place finish in the Shadwell Fillies' Mile (Eng-I) to conclude the season. The Shamardal filly stretches out beyond a mile for the first time in trying the Oaks at 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) on the all-weather track for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who has sent out seven previous Oaks winners.

 

Mike de Kock saddles Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum trio of Mensoora, who finished a distant second in the Guineas, as well as Magrooma, who was fifth, and Magroora, who was seventh. All three are seeking breakthrough stakes wins.

 

Charlie Appleby sends out Guineas third-place finisher Feedyah for Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid al Maktoum.

 

The Guineas seventh- through 10th-place finishers of Mohammed Albousi Alghufli's More Aspen, Thistle Bloodstock's Letterfromamerica, Qatar Racing's Illuminating Dream, and Zaur Sekrekov's Sign of Lucky round out the field.

 

The U.A.E. Oaks is part of the "Road to the Kentucky Oaks" series and awards points to the top four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 basis.

 

The card, the eighth meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, also includes the $250,000 Zabeel Mile (UAE-II) and listed $125,000 Meydan Classic.

 

Qatar Racing's Trade Storm will bid for a repeat win in the Zabeel Mile. The strapping son of Trade Fair comes in off a 10th-place finish Jan. 30 in the Al Rashidiya (UAE-II), where he settled at the back of the field and never was in contention.

 

He won last year's Zabeel Mile by 1 1/2 lengths from Musir before finishing a creditable fourth in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) on the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) undercard.

 

More information on the Dubai World Cup Carnival, including entries, free past performance data, selections, videos, and more, is available at www.amwestentertainment.com. HRTV will broadcast the card live, starting at 9:30 a.m. EST.