Measured Time Sets Course Record at Dubai Carnival

Aptly named Measured Time  not only took the measure of seven rivals in the Al Rashidiya Stakes (G2T) Dec. 20 at Meydan Racecourse but did it in course-record time of 1:45.11 without being asked by jockey William Buick.

The Al Rashidiya was the brightest light on an evening that included the first two group stakes of the 2024-25 Dubai World Cup Carnival. Measured Time, a 4-year-old Frankel   colt trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, sparkled.

Shrugging off some nervous behavior in the parade ring, Measured Time wasted no time taking the lead during the long run down the backstretch. He easily opened a daylight advantage and was never challenged. Buick gave him a half-hearted reminder tap midway down the stretch but it wasn't needed as he cruised to a seven-length victory.

The record time came despite the rail being set 8 meters out into the course.

"He didn't need to put in a performance like that," said Buick, celebrating his third win of the evening. "But that's what you get with him. He gives his best every time."

Buick shrugged off the prerace upset, calling Measured Time "a high-pressure horse, an exuberant horse."

Measured Time won the Al Rashidiya in 2023 as a 3-year-old and then, after his birthday, the Godolphin homebred went on to win the Jebel Hatta (G1T) and finish fourth in the Dubai Turf (G1T) on World Cup night.

Appleby then sent him to New York, where he defeated stablemate Nations Pride  in the Manhattan Stakes (G1T) June 8 and finished second to Far Bridge  in the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) Aug. 24. He had not raced since.

Meshtri Shines in Al Maktoum Mile

The secondary feature on the Meydan card, the Al Maktoum Mile (G2) on the dirt course, also was a gate-to-wire affair as Meshtri , under Ben Coen, had no trouble with five rivals and won by three lengths over Qareeb .

Artorius , a son of Arrogate who transferred from New York and trainer Chad Brown to Dubai and trainer Bhupat Seemar, trailed much of the way and could only rally to post a well-beaten third in his first start in the desert.

Meshtri was having his third start at the Carnival, which opened this year in November, and backed up a pace-pressing score in the Dubai Creek Mile Nov. 22. Trainer Michael Costa said the addition of blinkers has helped.

"We saw that in the stable. It's nice to see it on the racecourse," Costa said. "We were pretty confident with the way he's improved."

Costa said the Medaglia d'Oro   gelding could go farther, depending on the wishes of his owner, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.

"I'm pretty lucky that I've got a good boss that'll guide me in the right direction," Costa said.

Undercard Races

Buick opened the Thoroughbred portion of the program with a victory aboard Cover Up  going 1,000 meters (about five furlongs) down the turf straight. Two races later, he guided Godolphin's Native Approach  to a last-to-first victory going 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs), also on the grass.

In the 1,900-meter (about 1 3/16 miles) The Entisar, Walk of Stars  separated from the crowd through the stretch to win by 11 3/4 lengths. Auto Bahn , making his first start since finishing second to Forever Young  in the UAE Derby (G2) in March, finished second.

Walk of Stars, trained by Seemar, finished second in the Godolphin Mile (G2) in March and was second again, behind Meshtri, in the Dubai Creek Mile.

After a holiday break, the Carnival returns to Meydan Jan. 3 with the Dubawi Stakes (G3) at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on the dirt, the Zabeel Mile (G2T) on the grass and the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Trial at 1,200 meters on the dirt.