The sixth meeting of the 2016 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday night was highlighted by the 1200m Group 3 Al Shindgha Sprint, one of three dirt features on the card.

The Hong Kong invader Rich Tapestry led virtually the whole way under Gerald Mosse in a race that Godolphin’s Marking, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, parted company with jockey, James Doyle, as the gates opened.

Muarrab, with Paul Hanagan riding for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, tried to throw down a challenge throughout most of the straight but had to settle for second.

Reynaldothewizard, winner of this race last year, ran on to take third without ever being a threat to the first two.

It was a second Dubai victory for Rich Tapestry, winner of the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Saturday in 2014, beating Reynaldothewizard in that contest.

Rich Tapestry was second in that year’s Group 1 Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night and last year returned for a third place effort.

Trained by Michael Chang, the 8-year-old with Gerald Mosse in the saddle made light work of what appeared a bad draw in eight.

“He is normally very quickly away so I was not that worried,” said Mosse. “He has so much natural speed I was able to get across to the rail and was always happy.

“I was able to give him a bit of a breather and he then quickened well when I asked him for his final effort.”

Doug Watson’s fantastic season and Carnival continued as he landed his first local Classic victory with the impressive, 13-length victory by Polar River in the UAE 1000 Guineas, a Listed contest.

Having her third career start, all on dirt, she was staying on strongly at the end of the 1600m trip here and, on this evidence, will be very hard to beat in the UAE Oaks.

She only faced four rivals under Pat Dobbs who always looked to have matters under control, easing her into contention on the home turn before committing for home at the 400m pole.
Polar River easily stormed clear as Godolphin’s Promising Run was runner up and Kabaw third.

“She was still a bit green down the back straight,” said Dobbs. “She is a really lovely filly who loves this surface. The UAE Oaks I would imagine is next and then, hopefully, the UAE Derby.”

Watson then saddled first and second in the non-Carnival race on the card, a 1600m handicap in which Dobbs had to settle for second on Dornoch with Sam Hitchcott landing the spoils on Grand Argentier.

Not the fastest away from the stalls, Hitchcott soon rousted his mount to the front and they stayed there, winning quite comfortably in the end.

The Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas, also over 1600m on dirt, was won by the enterprisingly ridden Market Rally who made all under Chris Hayes.

Sporting the predominantly yellow colours of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, owner of Jebel Ali Racecourse, he is trained on that track by Dhruba Selvaratnam.

It was a first win in the race for the connections. Fourth, in the 1400m trial on his local debut, when staying on, he looks the type to stay even further.

“Making the running was not actually the plan,” explained Hayes. “He was fractious in the stalls though and I was worried we might miss the break and did not want that to happen.

“I was always going well out in front and he ran on strongly all the way to the line. The 1900m trip of Al Bastakiya and UAE Derby will really suit him.”

Godolphin supplied first and second in the Meydan Classic Trial, like both Guineas restricted to the three-year-old Classic generation but over 1400m on turf. It was William Buick, riding for Charlie Appleby, who partnered the winner Comicas who was chased home by the Saeed bin Suroor-trained filly, Pure Diamond.

The runner-up was closing fast, having not enjoyed the smoothest of runs after a tardy start.

“We have taken our time with this horse,” said Appleby. “He lost his maiden tag, at the third attempt, at Doncaster in July and we have given him a nice break since.

“Hopefully he will come on for the outing and can build on this.”
The first of two turf handicaps was over 2435m and apprentice Hector Crouch tried to make all on the Satish Seemar-trained Sugar Boy.

Probably ten lengths clear with 800m to run, it was turning for home that the field went in pursuit. The one to emerge from the pack was Liquid Mercury, trained by Mike de Kock and always traveling powerfully under Christophe Soumillon.

They pounced on Crouch’s mount about 200m from the line, running on strongly from the staying on Code of Honor, with Sugar Boy clinging on for third.

De Kock said: “He is a nice horse and one we think is Group class. We will have to have a long hard think about where he goes next as we are probably out of handicap options with him now.”

The second turf handicap, the night’s finale, was a well contested over 1800m as Sheikh Juma Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum’s Musaddas, an unlucky third in his last out, collected the win under James Doyle for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

Dormello chased home a length and a half back in second as Golden Soul took third. 

Image DRC / Watkins