Dubai Racing Carnival Week Six Preview: First meeting of 2026, featuring Aomori City

Описание: The first meeting of 2026 takes centre-stage at Meydan Racecourse on Friday and commentator Pat Comerford runs through the card with his race-by-race guide.

An exciting eight-race card brings in the New Year at Meydan Racecourse on Friday when G1 winners Audience and Dark Saffron are among those in action.

The G3 Dubawi Stakes [Sponsored by France Galop], race five, is without defending champion Tuz but the 1200metre dirt sprint has a strong line-up of seven. Four of them met last time, when El Nasseeb beat Colour Up, Mufasa and Dark Saffron in the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint on 5 December.

The card’s official feature is the G2 Zabeel Mile [Sponsored by Phi Advertising] which has been won six times by Charlie Appleby. The Godolphin trainer has a strong contender this time in Aomori City, winner of the 2024 G2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

The race has a Group 1 winner in Audience, winner of the 2024 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury when trained by John and Thady Gosden. The six-year-old is now with David O’Meara, who gave an upbeat bulletin.

The field of nine includes G2 winner Quddwah for Simon and Ed Crisford, a former Carnival winner in Vafortino for Charlie Fellowes and Karl Burke's Holloway Boy, who finished second in this race last year behind Poker Face.

The card opens with the AED300,000 Zabeel Turf (Sponsored by Binghatti), over 2000metres, for which 14 line up, including four trained by Appleby. Arabian Light beat the re-opposing Sean over 1800metres in the Lord Glitters Handicap last season and looks hard to beat again, despite top weight and a wide draw in 12.

The Jumeirah Stakes, sponsored by The Jockey Club for the second time, race four, looks very competitive with 15 going to post over 1400metres on turf. They include Power For Power and Do Or Do Not, first and second in a course and distance maiden last time. Osborne is hopeful of another good run from the latter who makes his second start for his yard.

The UAE Guineas Trial [Sponsored by Churchill Downs], race seven, has a capacity field of 16 including Lino Padrino, an impressive four-length winner on debut over course and distance on 5 December.

The day’s longest race is the concluding Zoho Handicap, over 2810metres on turf. The field of 13 includes four Europeans, one of whom is Burdett Road who was last seen finishing third in a Grade 2 event over fences at Cheltenham.


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