Saeed Bin Suroor’s Group 2 winner returns in Group 2 Zabeel Mile, sponsored by Emaar Beachfront
Godolphin's Real World is just one of several star turns on the third evening of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Friday, January 28th. The Emaar-sponsored card features Group 2 and four Listed races.

Saeed Bin Suroor’s five-year-old heads a strong field for the Group 2 Zabeel Mile (Presented by Emaar Beachfront) over 1600metres on turf. Beaten in four starts on dirt here last season, the son of Dark Angel was a revelation when returning to Europe, winning four races on the bounce, culminating in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Paris Longchamp in October.

“He’s a different horse to the one we saw finishing placed three times last Carnival,” said Bin Suroor, who won the Zabeel Mile in 2008 with Third Set and 2012 with Do It All.

“He really strengthened up and matured over the summer, progressing from handicaps to Group company. He’s been off the track since October, but we always planned to start him here, before looking at the Neom Turf Cup or the Saudi Cup. The Group 1 Jebel Hatta [sponsored by Emirates Airline] on Super Saturday could also be an option.”

Real World, the mount of Frankie Dettori, is joined in the race by two other Godolphin trainees; Path Of Thunder and One Ruler, both trained by Charlie Appleby, who has won this race five times.

They finished first and sixth in the Zabeel Trophy three weeks ago and Appleby is confident of another big run from Path Of Thunder, saying: “He kicked off his Carnival by winning a Conditions race over a mile, so now he’s forced himself into Group company. He should be competitive in the Zabeel Mile.”

Of One Ruler, whose classy European form saw him finish sixth in the Derby at Epsom, he said: “He had an interrupted run when finishing sixth [behind Path Of Thunder], but he’s come out of the race well.”

First Classic of season

The card also features the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas, (Presented by Dubai Marina by Emaar) in which the unbeaten Shahama has scared off much of the opposition. Trained by Fawzi Nass for owner KHK Racing, the daughter of Munnings overcame a muddy track in the Guineas Trial on New Year’s Day to win by two and a half lengths and looks hard to catch here, although Swedish-based Irish trainer Kahlil De Burca sends out his highly-regarded Uchcaihshravas, winner of her only start to date at Bro Park in Stockholm, Sweden.

“Fawzi’s filly will be hard to beat, but we think our filly is special,” said De Burca, who will be saddling just his second runner in Dubai. “There isn’t much between them on the times of the races they’ve won.”

Race eight, the Listed Dubai Sprint, (Presented by Dubai Creek Harbour by Emaar) over 1200metres on the straight track, looks like one of the toughest races of the night for Pick Six players.

It features a raider from Australia, with Adelaide-based Will Clarken sending runners to the UAE for the first time. He saddles Parsifal here, who will be ridden by Caitlin Jones, seven races after she partners He’s A Balter for the same trainer in the opening 1200metre Emaar Dubai Sprint Consolation race.

Among Parsifal’s rivals is Man Of Promise, winner of this race a year ago for Appleby, who also runs Group 3 scorer Lazuli.

“He missed his intended start a couple of weeks ago after spiking a temperature”, said Appleby of Man Of Promise. “I didn’t want to run him at less than 100 percent as he’s a horse we think can be competitive at the Carnival. He’s back on song now.”

On Lazuli, last seen finishing seventh in the Group 3 Troy Stakes at Saratoga in New York, he added: “Lazuli has a proper sprint profile. We’re starting him over six on Friday to see whether he can book himself a slot in Saudi or go for one of the later sprints in Dubai.”

Competitive renewal of Zabeel Mile

The 2000metre Listed Zabeel Turf, (Presented by The Valley By Emaar) race five, looks very competitive and features Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes winner Star Safari for Appleby. The six-year-old warmed up for this assignment with a good second over 2400metres to Dubai Future in the Listed DRC Classic two weeks ago and will be happier back in distance.

The card is completed by two more dirt races. The 1400metre Downtown Dubai Cup looks like a good opportunity for Doug Watson’s Mubakker to follow up his 1200metre win here last month, while recent course winner Law Of Peace looks to have strong claims in the Graduate Stakes (Presented by Arabian Ranches by Emaar).