G1 Al Quoz Sprint

Under a cagey Dane O'Neill ride, Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) stunned a field loaded with quality sprinters to take the $1.5-million G1 Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by AZIZI Developments for Shadwell and trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri. One of 16 entered in the 1200-metre turf feature, the 6-year-old gelding laid off the leaders as Miqyaas (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) set the pace while shadowed by Group 3 winner The Astrologist (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}). At the halfway point, it appeared that half of the field was in with a shot as...

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- My, oh my, how times have changed. When the G1 Dubai World Cup was introduced at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse back in 1996, its $4 million in prize-money equaled that on offer for that year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic and an American clean sweep of the top three placings--won by the legendary Cigar after an unforgettable final-furlong battle with compatriot Soul of the Matter--really and truly put the race on the map. The locally owned Halling, one of four in the race for a trainer...

Duke Wai (NZ) (Per Incanto)'s victory in the Devon H. at Sha Tin Sunday could trigger a start in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup undercard, trainer Pierre Ng confirmed following the race. "If we get an invitation from Dubai, we'll go to Dubai. I would love to see him run in a straight 1200m race because, in the past, he's run very well in straight 1000m races here, but there's no straight 1200m races here," Ng said of the 7-year-old, who took his career earnings...

Godolphin's Group 1 winner Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) has been removed from consideration for the $30.35-million Saudi Cup meeting after spiking a temperature, and will instead target the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai next month. "Creative Force spiked a temperature earlier today and following unsatisfactory blood tests, it has been decided that he will not travel to Saudi Arabia," Godolphin tweeted. "He will now be aimed at the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night." Trained by Charlie Appleby, the 5-year-old gelding won the G1 British Champions...

Drawn widest of all in the 16-strong G1 Al Quoz field, Gary Devlin's A Case of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) gave Ireland a reason to celebrate with an emphatic victory in Meydan's 1200-metre marquee race for turf sprinters. Pinned to the outside rail but in close contention under regular pilot Ronan Whelan in the early going, the 4-year-old forged to the front in the final two furlongs, and found Man of Promise (Into Mischief), who ran on determinedly to his outside, difficult to shake. Undeterred, the entire inched clear...

Stakes winner Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who is trained by Nigel Tinkler for MPS Racing and M B Spence, did not make the final field for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Mar. 26. He ran third in the 2021 edition, and was most recently seventh in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint on Super Saturday, Mar. 5. Tinkler is keeping the 4-year-old gelding's options open, and did not indicate a firm plan for Acklam Express's next start. "We're obviously disappointed, but on the other hand...

The likely fields for the nine group races (one Arabian and eight Thoroughbred) of the $30.5-million Dubai World Cup night card on Mar. 26, were revealed on Thursday. A total of 32 Group/Grade 1 winners will take part in the Meydan showpiece. Todd Pletcher trainee Life Is Good (Into Mischief), a winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., anchors the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airlines. Fellow Americans joining him in the field are Grade I winners Hot Rod...

Group 1 winner A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) will remain in Dubai and target the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Mar. 26. He was a distant second to Godolphin's Man Of Promise (Into Mischief) in the six-furlong G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint at Meydan on Mar. 5. Gary Devlin's 4-year-old colt captured the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp on Oct. 3 and was a good fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 6. He made his 4-year-old bow a...

The McMurray Family's Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), who ran third in the 1400-metre G3 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh on Feb. 26, is pointing to the 1200-metre G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Mar. 26, according to trainer Richard Hannon. A winner of the G3 Hackwood S. last July, the bay filly ran fourth in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. on Sept. 4 and tired to 11th in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. on Oct. 16. Hannon said, "Happy Romance ran a blinder in Riyadh. She...

Trainer Nigel Tinkler was upbeat after his Group 1-placed Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) finished second to Lazuli (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Blue Point Sprint at Meydan on Friday. Placed in three starts during last year's Dubai World Cup Carnival, including a third-place effort in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, he never factored in York's Listed Westow S. in May. He tired to 10th in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot and was given some time off prior to his reappearance in the UAE. Starts in...

DARRS Inc.'s Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid), winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint  Mar. 27, turned in his third work at Keeneland Saturday since his Dubai performance, covering five furlongs in 1:02.20 in company with stakes-placed winner Lontano (Street Boss) over a fast dirt track. Keeneland clockers caught him in fractions of :11.80, :24, ;36, :49.60 and 1:02.20. "He worked great. He's doing good," said trainer Brendan Walsh. "Looks like he came out of the race in Dubai good and got back in good shape." The 8-year-old is being...

Moss Gill (Ire) (No Nay Never), third in the 2020 G1 Nunthorpe S., is targetting the Mar. 27 G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night. His trainer, Ed Bethell, hopes to retain the services of Danny Tudhope, who has ridden the York listed hero three times previously. His latest effort was a close second in the Listed Betway Hever Sprint S. at Lingfield over the synthetic on Feb. 27. "He's going to go to Dubai, all being well, a week on Friday, for the Al Quoz...