Meydan

Horses long ago tutored Eoin Harty in the kind of coincidences that defy rational explanation, as we'll discover when reaching the story of Well Armed. But losing both parents inside a week, in February, was maybe not quite as bewildering as it may seem. As Harty says himself, after 66 happy years together, perhaps the reason his father followed his mother so quickly was not so much a heart attack, as a broken heart. As a fifth-generation trainer, Harty owed not just personal but professional formation to his Irish genes....

Reef Runner (The Big Beast), winner of the G2 1351 Turf Sprint in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh and fourth in the Mar. 28 G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan, is expected to make his stateside return in the June 6 GI Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga. The 5-year-old gelding had his first work since returning from the Middle East Saturday, going four furlongs in :46.90 (1/19) over the Tapeta at Gulfstream. "He looks fantastic," said trainer David Fawkes. "I nominated him for the Jaipur. We're coming. He traveled...

When Dubai welcomed the world to old Nad Al Sheba Racecourse for the first time in 1996, 'America's Horse' Cigar repelled what seemed an inevitable challenge from compatriot Soul of the Matter to help cement His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Makoum's goal of creating a worldwide Thoroughbred spectacle in the Emirates. The eyes of the racing public were on sprawling Meydan Racecourse Saturday for the 30th renewal of the G1 Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates--at $12 million now worth three times original pot--and Japan's Horse of the...

Back in competitive action for the first time since being crowned Longines World's Best Racehorses for 2025, Calandagan (Gleaneagles) signalled that he won't be giving up his crown without a fight when reeling in longshot West Wind Blows (Teofilo) to avenge last year's defeat in the $6-million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Saturday. Runner-up to Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) 12 months ago, Calandagan was a warm order to go one place better in this six-strong field and register a fifth consecutive Group 1 success for Francis-Henri Graffard and...

A model of consistency in Europe's premier middle-distance races throughout 2025, Godolphin's Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) teed himself up perfectly for another productive campaign when making light of a five-month absence to run out a smooth winner of Saturday's $5-million G1 Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World at Meydan. Bettered only by Calandagan (Gleneagles) when last seen filling the runner-up spot in a vintage edition of the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot back in October, Ombudsman faced nothing of that calibre in this 1,800-metre contest and duly proved himself a...

Dramatically off form for the bulk of the 2025-2026 Dubai Racing Carnival, Sultan Ali's Dark Saffron (Flameaway) was put right into play from a wide draw in defence of his title in Saturday's $2-million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen and outsprinted reigning GI Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Bentornato (Valiant Minister) to give jockey Connor Beasley and trainer Ahmad Bin Harmash a rolling Group 1 double. The pair teamed to win the Al Quoz Sprint with Native Approach about 35 minutes earlier. Defeated by a combined 50 lengths after taking his seasonal...

Campaigned exclusively on straight courses for his entire career, Native Approach (Too Darn Hot) ran out a game winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by AZIZI Developments. He held a determined Lugal (Duramente) to a neck at the line with Lazzat (Territories) another 1 1/4 lengths back in third for the 1200-metre grass affair. Always part of the vanguard closest to the stands, Native Approach was joined at the front by Rayevka (Blue Point) on the other wing. Hooked by Lugal to his inside at the midway point,...

For the fifth year running, a horse trained in Japan has proven too good in the G2 UAE Derby, as Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}) went to front-running Six Speed (Not This Time) at midstretch and edged away for a solid victory, to collect 100 points on the European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby Exiting a sound fourth to would-be UAE Derby runner and the undefeated Al Haram (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the G3 Saudi Derby across in Riyadh on Feb. 14, Wonder Dean jumped with them and...

Ghostzapper's Banishing capitalized on the early exertions of Commissioner King (Commissioner) to run out a 2 1/4-length winner of the G2 Godolphin Mile Sponsored by EMAAR at Meydan on Saturday. The David Jacobson trainee was coming off an eighth-place run in the G1 Saudi Cup for Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri, Jacobson and Larry Roman. The final time for the 1600 meters was 1:38.23. Finding space next to Mendelssohn Bay (Mendelssohn) just off the rail, the duo shadowing Commissioner King from the bell. The pacesetter scorched an internal quarter of :21.4...

Fairy Glen (Farhh) demonstrated remarkable versatility and no small amount of class when stepping up fully seven furlongs in trip to win Saturday's $1-million G2 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors for Simon and Ed Crisford. The winner of last month's G2 Balanchine over 1,800 metres of the Meydan turf, the five-year-old Fairy Glen remained an unknown quantity in this 3,200-metre contest, taking on heavyweight stayers such as Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) and Caballo De Mar (Phoenix Of Spain), the winners of last year's G1 Irish St. Leger...

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 8.45 p.m., DUBAI WORLD CUP SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE-G1, $12,000,000, NH4yo/up, SH3yo, 2000m Field: Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steal {Jpn}), Magnitude (Not This Time), Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Imperial Emperor (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), Walk Of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Heart Of Honor (GB) (Honor A. P.), Tap Leader (Tapiture). TDN Analysis: A disappointing third to Hit Show last spring, Forever Young has another chance to become the first horse to complete the Saudi Cup/Dubai World Cup double,...

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 8.45 p.m., DUBAI WORLD CUP SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE-G1, $12,000,000, NH4yo/up, SH3yo, 2000m Field: Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steal {Jpn}), Magnitude (Not This Time), Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Imperial Emperor (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), Walk Of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Heart Of Honor (GB) (Honor A. P.), Tap Leader (Tapiture). TDN Analysis: A disappointing third to Hit Show last spring, Forever Young has another chance to become the first horse to complete the Saudi Cup/Dubai World Cup double,...