The Dubai World Cup Carnival kicks off at Meydan Racecourse today with the feature race on the evening's opening card being the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge. A field of ten go to post for the $250,000 contest headed by last year's winner Le Bernardin (Bernardini). His head defeat of Layl (Street Cry {Ire}) in the 2016 renewal was his last victory and the 8-year-old will have to improve on his recent fourth placing behind Fitzgerald (Elusive Quality) in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile Dec. 15 to defend his crown. Tadhg O'Shea again takes the ride on the Ali Rashid Al Rayhi trainee and he commented, “He ran well enough on his reappearance and is delighting us at home. We actually had a poor draw last year but this time we have a great one which is a real bonus. We are very pleased with his preparation and expect a big run in what looks a hot race.”
'TDN Rising Star' Polar River (Congrats) looked just that at last year's Carnival. Her 13 length demolition of Promising Run (Hard Spun) in the Listed UAE Guineas preceded a win in the G3 UAE Oaks before finding only Lani (Tapit) too strong in the G2 UAE Derby on World Cup night. She reappeared with a fourth placing in a conditions race at Meydan Nov. 17 and her trainer Doug Watson is expecting a more prominent showing this evening. “She needed that first run when she was carrying a penalty and has been working very nicely since,” said Watson. “Obviously she is taking on older colts and geldings but she receives weight this time and should make a bold show.” Another intriguing contender is Godolphin's Emotionless (Ire) (Shamardal). The Charlie Appleby trained 4-year-old looked a Group 1 colt in the making when winning the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster in 2015 but injury intervened in the meantime and he has disappointed on all three subsequent starts, most recently when finishing seventh of nine behind Thikriyaat (Ire) (Azaour {Ire}) in the G3 Bonham's Thoroughbred S. at Goodwood in July. It will be interesting to see if a switch to Dubai and to the dirt will spark a return to form and his trainer is quietly optimistic that it will. “He has been here since November and has thrived,” said Appleby. “He has been working really well on our dirt surface at home and we could not be happier. His pedigree offers every hope dirt will suit him and he is a very happy horse at the moment. He had problems last year and can hopefully bounce back.”
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