DUBAI (ALETIHAD)
The connections of Ouzo will be hoping to once again taste victory when their gelding defends the Lord North Handicap, the official feature on a packed Dubai Racing Carnival card on Friday.
Ouzo, who went onto land the Lord Glitters Handicap five weeks’ later, makes his first start since September here. He will be partnered by Adrie de Vries in the Dh350,000 turf event, which has attracted a capacity field of 16.
Trainer Jamie Osborne faces additional pressure in that his wife Katie is among Ouzo’s owners, but he reported the gelding to be in good form for his title defence. “It’s great to have him back here in an attempt to retain his Lord North crown,” he said. “He’s been training well and on all known evidence this course, distance and the Dubai air brings out the best in him.”
Osborne also runs a new recruit in See Hector, who has been purchased by leading Emirati owner Malih Al Basti specifically for the Carnival. A Group 3 winner in Germany when trained by Henk Grewe, he will be ridden by Pat Dobbs. “He hasn’t been with us very long,” added Osborne. “Friday will show us where we are with him.”
Ouzo’s rivals include last year’s runner-up Silent Film, back for a fourth Carnival for trainer Ian Williams, and the high-class Galen, gelded since finishing eighth in a Group 2 race at Leopardstown in September. He lines up for multiple Gr.1-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, who is yet to have a Dubai winner in five attempts.
Trainer Dylan Cunha runs Silver Sword, who makes a quick return. “Silver Sword was disappointing last week but got boxed in twice when he was in a good rhythm and needed to make a run which I feel cost him. He’s a thinker and that was too much for him. I do feel we could have been 3rd/4th there,” Cunha said.
“Friday is a lot tougher and he’s going to have to up his game to run well. He’s taken the race well and I’ve freshened him up into this week and he looks great. Ray [Dawson, jockey] has sat on him a few times over the past five weeks so knows him fairly well.”
The Al Wasl Stakes for three-year-olds over 1,200 metres on turf, is the second-most valuable race on the card, carrying a prize fund of Dh300,000. It was won last year by Star Of Mystery, beating subsequent G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust, and a strong European contingent lines up again for the fourth race of the evening.
They include the Amy Murphy-trained Itsatenfromlen, winner of two of his four starts, including over this trip. “He’s in good form, he shipped over well,” said the Newmarket-based trainer. “He enjoys quick ground and we are looking forward to running him.”
Osborne runs three-time winner Jungle Drums, a recruit for his yard having purchased him from Karl Burke. “We haven’t had him long and we are still learning about him,” he said. “He breezed well last week but I’m confident we can improve him further through the next few weeks.”
The 14-strong field also includes King’s Call, who reverts to racing against three-year-olds after an excellent fourth over course and distance last week. “King’s Call ran a massive race against older horses last week,” said trainer Cunha. “He’s back against his own age and I feel he will run a huge race. He’s in tip top form and should be in the first three, all being well in the race.”
Godolphin run two horses; dual novice winner Midnight Thunder lining up for Saeed bin Suroor and Lingfield Maiden winner Symbol Of Honour for Charlie Appleby. “This is a good opportunity to see how much Midnight Thunder has improved since last year,” said bin Suroor. “It’s a nice race for him and I’m looking forward to a good run.”
Appleby added of Symbol Of Honour: “Dropping back to six furlongs isn’t a concern, and you can put a line through his last run as he didn’t enjoy the soft ground. He put up a good performance at Doncaster and goes into this with the highest rating in the field.”