As evening arrives, The Meydan grandstand comes alive.
Photo: AmWest
Meydan turf course starting gate.
Photo: AmWest
The Meydan starting gate.
Photo: AmWest
Racing at Meydan.
Photo: AmWest
Mendip, showing winning the Maktoum Challenge Round II (G2) at Meydan on Feb. 9 under Kieren Fallon. Mendip will now race in the Al Maktoum Challenge round III.
Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
Monterosso, shown winning the 2011 Dubai City of Gold (G2) at Meydan, Mickael Barzalona up. Monterosso is expected to run on Saturday in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round III.
Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
Al Shemali, winning the 2010 $5-million Dubai Duty Free (G1). Al Shemali is to race in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round III.
Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
Capponi (chestnut on the inside), setting a Meydan track record on January 26 for 1900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) while defeating Godolphin's Sarrsar. Capponi will race in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round II on Saturday.
Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
Fly Down at Meydan in 2011. Fly Down is entered in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round III.
Photo: Michele MacDonald
Richard's Kid is entered to run on Super Saturday in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round III.
City Style, a son of City Zip bred in Kentucky by Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable who won the Sunday Silence Stakes at Louisiana Downs as a juvenile, has won two of three Dubai World Cup Carnival starts this year and finished second in the other race, the Al Rashidiya (G2). The six-year-old is entered in the Jebel Hatta (G1) for Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum.
Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
In each of his two Dubai World Cup Carnival starts, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum's Mutahadee has brilliantly sped away from his competition, spurring jockey Christophe Soumillon to look behind him while crossing the finish line. Mutahadee is entered in the Jebel Hatta.
Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
Dubawi Gold after finishing second in the English 2000 Guineas (G1) last year. Dubawi Gold is entered in the Jebel Hatta.
Photo: Michele MacDonald
Musir, winning this year's Maktoum Challenge Round I (G3) at Meydan, Christophe Soumillon up. Musir is entered in the Jebel Hatta and Burj Nahaar Saturday.
Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
Presvis, winning the 2011 Al Rashidiya (G2) at Meydan. Presvis is entered in the Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday.
Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
G1 winner River Jetez, 2nd in last year's Dubai Duty Free and 3rd in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington, shown training at Meydan last year. River Jetez ill race in the Jebel Hatta Saturday.
Photo: Michele MacDonald
Master of Hounds, headed to the paddock at Churchill Downs prior to the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Master of Hounds will be in the Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday.
Photo: Michele MacDonald
Wigmore Hall, winner of the 2011 Jebel Hatta, which was then a G2 race, training at Meydan. Wigmore Hall will be in the Jebel Hatta this weekend.
Photo: Michele MacDonald
British-bred Kreem, a four-year-old son of Hurricane Run owned by Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, after he won the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (also known as the King's Cup) at Al Janadriah in Riyadh on Feb. 3. Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, commander of the Saudi National Guard and CEO of the family's Janadria Farm accepting the trophy with jockey Roberto Perez up. Kreem is entered in the Dubai City of Gold (G2) on Super Saturday.
Photo: Courtesy of Al Khayal magazine
Godolphin's multiple G1 winner Campanologist, shown training at Sha Tin in Hong Kong. Campanologist is set to race in the Dubai City of Gold on Super Saturday.
Photo: Michele MacDonald
Godolphin's Songcraft, left, a four-year-old Singspiel gelding who has won four races without a loss, wins a handicap over Laajooj at Meydan on February 9. Songcraft is set to race in the Dubai City of Gold on Saturday.
Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
Multiple G1 winner Gitano Hernando (left) during early morning training at Meydan in 2011. He finished sixth in that year's Dubai World Cup, but only 2 3/4 lengths behind winner Victoire Pisa.
Photo: Michele MacDonald
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint champion, Regally Ready, is entered to race in the Meydan Sprint this weekend in Dubai.
Jockey Mickael Barzalona flourishes his whip as his mount Kinglet wins the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) over Mickdaam (rail). The pair will renew their rivalry in the second jewel of the UAE Triple Crown, the Al Bastikiya.
Photo: Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
Hitchens (left) and jockey Silvestre de Sousa edge Krypton Factor and Kieren Fallon in the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) at Meydan on Feb. 3. They will renew the rivalry in the $200,000 Mahab Al Shimaal (G3).