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  • 26 May 2013
    Following directives by His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Emirates Racing Authority to draft decree criminalising import and use of anabolic steroids in UAE

    The Government of Dubai Media Office - 24 May 2013: Commenting on the order by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to draft a decree criminalising the import, trade and use of anabolic steroids for horse sports in the United Arab Emirates, Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of Emirates Racing Authority and Chairman of the Board & CEO of Meydan City Corporation said: “The order by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed shows categorically the UAE’s determination to be at the forefront of the fight against ‘doping’ in all h

  • 31 March 2013
    Quotes for the Group 1 US$10m Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline

    Joel Rosario (Animal Kingdom, 1st) – “I knew we had a chance. I’ve never been here before. This is my first time. I watched a lot of races. I had an idea where I needed to go from. I listened to my trainer and to my horse. He’s a very good horse. He did it. He’s very quick. It seemed like a long way home in the stretch.”

    Gerard Mosse (Red Cadeaux, 2nd) – “This horse never ceases to amaze me. To run second in the Dubai World Cup and get within two lengths of Animal Kingdom, I’ve got to be happy with that.”

  • 31 March 2013
    American-based Animal Kingdom Dominates Field In US$10m Group 1 Dubai World Cup

    With effortless looking but ground devouring strikes, Animal Kingdom crushed his competition in the 18th running of the G1 US$10 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline on March 30.

    Now owned in partnership by Australia’s Arrowfield Stud and the Team Valor International racing partnership based in the United States, Animal Kingdom stunned even his owners with his remarkable victory by two lengths over late running Red Cadeaux in the world’s richest race at Meydan.

  • 31 March 2013
    Quotes for the Group 1 US$5 m Dubai Sheema Classic, presented by Longines

    Joseph O’Brien (St Nicholas Abbey, 1st) – “There didn’t seem much pace on paper and (part-owner) Mr. Smith said maybe we should ride him a bit further forward and see what happens. This horse is very tough, very special, gives his best every day, relaxes, and finds plenty. It turns out you can ride him any way you want.”

    Aidan O’Brien (trainer, St Nicholas Abbey, 1st) – “I’d always felt this horse wanted to be ridden back but Joseph and Derrick (Smith) said they wanted him to be ridden forward and they got their way today, so perhaps they were right.”

  • 31 March 2013
    Quotes for the Group 1 US$5m Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free

    Silvestre De Sousa (Sajjhaa, 1st) – "It was a great performance. This filly is now 4 for 4 (in Dubai); she's just improved and improved since she came here. I had a good position early on and she made her way through on the inside. She's very tough and so genuine. I'm very pleased."

    Christophe Soumillon (The Apache, 2nd) – “I was very pleased with the run. My plan was to have my horse a little bit closer tonight. The winner was on the rail and I’d hoped she’d be kept there but a gap opened on the inside and I knew it was all over for me. The winner is very good.”

  • 31 March 2013
    St Nicholas Abbey Sets His Sheema Classic Record Straight

    St Nicholas Abbey gained sweet compensation for his second-place finish in this race last year when storming down the Meydan straight to take the Group 1 US$5m Dubai Sheema Classic, presented by Longines.

    Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by his son Joseph, St Nicholas Abbey crossed the line two and a quarter lengths to the good of Japan’s three-year-old champion filly and Japan Cup winner of 2012 Gentildonna in the hands of Yutaka Take, stopping the clock in 2:27.7 seconds, another course record time.

  • 31 March 2013
    Sajjhaa Continues Godolphin Success on Dubai World Cup Card With Dubai Duty Free Win

    Sajjhaa, the revelation of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, completed an unbeaten four-timer for Godolphin at Meydan by smashing her own course and distance record when it meant the most, in the Group 1 US$5m Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free.

    Never worse than third as Gary Stevens enjoyed an uncontested lead on Little Mike, Silvestre De Sousa held his rails position on Sajjhaa and made his move past the leader at the same time as the Mike de Kock-trained pair Igugu and The Apache, 350 metres from the finish.

  • 31 March 2013
    Quotes for the Group 1 US$2m Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News (third leg of Global Sprint Challenge)

    Richard Mullen (Reynaldothewizard, 1st) – “I had the perfect trip. He was always traveling well. He gave me everything in the straight. This is the best winner of my career. It’s unbelievable and I’m so happy for Satish and all his team, and Zabeel Racing, his owners. I’m overjoyed.”

  • 31 March 2013
    Reynaldothewizard magic in the Dubai Golden Shaheen

    Dubai World Cup Carnival form very much came to the fore as the Meydan-based Reynaldothewizard displayed no end of courage to snatch the Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News.
    An affinity for the Meydan’s six-furlong dash has long been considered a distinct advantage in the US$2 million feature and the result was almost a replica of the Super Saturday’s Mahab Al Shimaal, with the first three past the post on that occasion dominating again.

  • 31 March 2013
    Quotes for the Group 1 US$1m Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Emirates NBD

    Christophe Soumillon (Shea Shea, 1st) – “I’m not surprised to win a race like this after his last run because that race was as good as this one. I was confident. He likes to come late and catch them on the line and it worled out perfectly.”

    Mike DeKock – “He had the horse to go and fetch and it was just as we’d hoped. Coming here is not easy. The horses do better the longer they are here and horses like him a geared for these type of races. He will now go to Royal Ascot for the King’s Stand Stakes.”

  • 31 March 2013
    Shea Shea Wins Al Quoz Sprint in Course Record Time

    South African-bred sprinter Shea Shea broke his own course record and set himself up for a possible clash with World Champion sprinter Black Caviar later in the year with his win in the $US 1 million Al Quoz Sprint (1000m), sponsored by Emirates NBD.

    The win also completed a double on World Cup night for trainer Mike de Kock after the win of Soft Failling Rain in the Godolphin Mile.

    The five-year-old, who has now won 10 of his 19 starts, scorched over the 1000 metres on the straight turf track in 56.41 seconds, running the last 800 metres in 44.70.

  • 31 March 2013
    Quotes for the Group 2 US$2m UAE Derby, sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah

    Ryan Moore (Lines of Battle, 1st) – “It was a farce of a race. They only cantered to halfway and my horse was only doing what he needed to. I think he was just the best horse in the race.”

    Aidan O’Brien “We wanted the race to be a true test but it wasn;t because of the slow pace, which made it a good win in the circumstances. We are very pleased with him and we’ll go to the Kentucky Derby with him.”

  • 31 March 2013
    OBrien Wins UAE Derby for Second Straight Year

    Trainer Aidan O’Brien secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby for the second year in a row with his win with Lines of Battle in the $2 million UAE Derby (G2), sponsored by Al Naboodah. The trainer has plans to send the son of War Front to Kentucky, following in the footsteps of the O’Brien-trained 2012 UAe Derby winner Daddy Long Legs.

    “We wanted the race to be a true test, but it wasn’t because of the slow pace, which made it a good win under the circumstances,” said O’Brien. We are very pleased with him and will now go to the Kentucky Derby.”

  • 31 March 2013
    Quotes for the Group 3 US$1m Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors

    Silvestre De Sousa (Cavalryman, 1st) – “Everything went to plan for me. It was a bit slow to halfway and I was happy when the pace quickened. My horse traveled well and quickened up nicely. It’s a big night but the pressure will come later. At least the (Godolphin) horses are running well.”

    Kieren Fallon (Ahzeemah, 2nd) – “It was very tough as they crawled. My lad pulled up in front so I had to sit and suffer. That was a big run.”

  • 31 March 2013
    Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Pair Take Top Spots In Godolphin Mile, Sponsored by Etisalat

    Horses owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum filled the first two places in a thrilling renewal of the US$1 million Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Etisalat after Soft Falling Rain collared Haatheq deep into the stretch to score by three-quarters of a length under Paul Hanagan.

    As game as the winner was, Haatheq looked likely to prevail when Royston Ffrench kicked for home with 400 metres remaining of the 1,600-metre journey. The evergreen six-year-old, who ran fifth in this race last year, dashed into a clear lead that forced Soft Falling Rain to dig deep to overhaul.