Charlie Appleby has turned the Dubai Millennium Stakes into something close to a personal showcase, winning the Group 3 contest nine times. On Friday night at Meydan, a strong European contingent will try to loosen that grip in the 2000-metre turf feature, race six on the card.

Run in honour of Dubai Millennium, the 2000 Dubai World Cup hero, the race has a habit of producing elite performers. Zarak and Ghaiyyath both used it as a stepping stone to Group 1 success, underlining its importance on the Carnival calendar.

Appleby relies on a familiar formula: depth and quality. His two runners are Dubai Racing Club Classic winner By The Book, partnered by William Buick, and Arabian Light, who comes off a victory in the Zabeel Turf with Billy Loughnane taking the ride.

“By The Book and Arabian Light go into this in great order,” Appleby said. “It is the first time in Group company for both horses, but they bring nice profiles into the race and have won around Meydan. I would be disappointed if they are not players at this level.”

The European challenge is led by Crystal Black, a first UAE runner for Irish trainer Gerard Keane. Now seven, the gelding enjoyed a standout 2025 season, landing the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot before adding the G3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.

France also has a say via Chibitty, who has recently transferred from Mikel Delzangles to David Simcock in Britain.

“We’ve only had him since November but he’s proved very straightforward and the more we’ve had him, the better he’s trained,” Simcock said. “He’s settled into Dubai very well. The only thing we don’t know is fast ground as all his form in France is on a softer surface. If he handles fast ground he should run really well.

“It’s a good opportunity, a little bit of a watching brief, but we’ll find out plenty on Friday.”

Dark Saffron Returns to Turf in Competitive Dubai Sprint

The Listed Dubai Sprint over 1200 metres has drawn a full field of 15. Headlining the line-up is Dark Saffron, winner of the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, who switches back to turf for the first time since March, when he finished fifth behind West Acre in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.

“We decided to get him back on the turf as he didn’t want to try after the stalls incident in his second race, this season,” said trainer Ahmad bin Harmash. “We will remove the visor as we want him to travel behind the leaders and get his confidence back and finish his race.”

Godolphin’s Symbol Of Honour, a dual Carnival winner, resumes for his 2026 debut.

“Symbol Of Honour is coming back off a nice break, having proved pretty consistent throughout his three-year-old career,” Appleby said. “We know he likes the course, although there will be some improvement to come on whatever he does here.”

Adding further international interest is Rebel’s Gamble, a Listed winner in Britain for Karl Burke, now trained by Sweden’s Oscar Berneklint and ridden by Silvestre de Sousa.

“We’re really happy with him and it looks a good race,” Berneklint said. “I think a furlong up in trip would suit him best, but it’s a good place for him to start.

“He looks smashing in the mornings and we couldn’t be happier with him. Silvestre will do a good job on him – he’s watched his previous races and is happy to have the ride, so we’re hopeful of a nice run.”

Berneklint also faces a family clash, with his father Fredrik Reuterskiold saddling Lamborghini BF, a seven-time winner.

“He’s been a nice horse all along,” Reuterskiold said. “I think there’s still some improvement in him. He won the biggest sprint in Sweden last year, the Bro Park Sprint, and he’s only five, which is still young for a sprinter.”

Mawj Stakes Draws Truly Global Line-Up

The Mawj Stakes features runners from Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Czechia, France, the UK and the UAE. Spanish raider Gelinotte, trained by Efrain Arguinzones, arrives with an impressive strike rate, having won three of her five starts.

“She has settled in very well in Dubai,” Arguinzones said. “[Vaclav, jockey] Janácek worked her and told me he felt like he had plenty of horse under him. This is her prep race for the Jumeirah 1000 Guineas, which is her main target for the Carnival.”

Janácek added: “This race is to test her class. She’s not quite at 100 per cent yet, as the main target is the 1000 Guineas.”

Her rivals include Godolphin’s Dance To The Music and Miss Yechance, who beat the colts last time out.

“She has a lot of speed and she doesn’t like to lose,” said trainer Julio Olascoaga. “This is a big task for her, to see if she can stay seven furlongs, but everything suggests that she will.”

Title Role Steps Up in Jumeirah Guineas Trial

Eleven runners go to post in the opening Jumeirah Guineas Trial, including Title Role, who finished third in the Jumeirah Stakes earlier this month.

“Title Role ran a really nice race earlier this month,” said Ed Crisford. “He’s stepping up in trip for the first time. He’s done really well since the race and physically we’re very pleased with him.

“That was just the third race of his life and he’s definitely going to be improving. He’s a really nice horse with a good mind and is hopefully going places.”

British Raiders Target Dirt Success

Karl Burke’s Antrim looks to maintain a perfect dirt record in the JAFZA Handicap after winning over a longer trip two weeks ago.

“He was bought by the owners specifically to come here and run on the dirt and it was a good choice,” Burke said. “If he performs well on Friday we could look at the Maktoum Classic four weeks later.”