The third meeting of the Dubai Racing Carnival held on Friday showcased a series of impressive performances, marking a promising start to the season at Meydan. This event featured a mix of seasoned riders and talented horses, providing a thrilling spectacle for race enthusiasts.
Prominent among the evening’s highlights was Antonio Fresu, who made a triumphant return to Dubai after spending part of the year in Southern California. Fresu wasted no time in asserting his dominance, riding the unheralded El Nasseeb to victory in the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint. This race saw him competing against high-profile rivals such as Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Dark Saffron and dual American graded stakes victor Mufasa.
Fresu shared insights on El Nasseeb’s performance, noting that while the horse lacked the early speed to keep pace with faster competitors, he managed to find another gear when it mattered. His connection to the UAE is evident, as he expressed his admiration for the racing environment at Meydan, reflecting on the joy of being back and riding winners.
The evening also saw Bhupat Seemar and Tadhg O’Shea from Zabeel Stables dominate the proceedings with a commendable hat-trick of wins. They demonstrated their prowess, kicking off with Six Speed, who won the Lincoln Aviator Handicap convincingly, establishing the colt’s potential for future Classic races. Seemar highlighted the horse’s rapid speed as a key factor in his performance, expressing hopes for his stamina in upcoming races.
Following this, Lino Padrino impressed with a decisive victory in the Lincoln Maiden, leading O’Shea to speculate on the horse’s ability to perform better with more distance in future races. Their winning streak continued with Welcome Dream, who achieved a gritty victory in the Ford Mustang Handicap. Seemar thanked the horse’s owner for the opportunity, indicating there could be further improvements ahead.
The race card also saw the Crisford father-son duo achieve their first win of the season, with Telemark emerging victorious in the Ford Handicap. Under William Buick’s guidance, the gelding navigated through traffic efficiently and showed resilience against the competition.
Meanwhile, eight-year-old Book Review continued to demonstrate his affinity for Meydan by claiming the Lincoln Navigator Handicap. His trainer, Salem bin Ghadayer, along with rider Bernardo Pinheiro acknowledged the horse’s long-standing performance at the course and attributed his latest success to a well-strategized ride.
Honest Moon rounded off the evening with a robust performance in the Ford Expedition Maiden, securing a convincing win. Trained by Ahmad bin Harmash, the horse showed tactical acumen before making a decisive move in the stretch.
Racing at Meydan will resume on December 12, featuring the prestigious Group 2 Madjani Stakes. With form lines establishing themselves, the upcoming meeting promises to add even more excitement to the Dubai Racing Carnival season.