Musir continues on the comeback trail March 2 at Meydan in search of his first win in more than a year in the $250,000 Zabeel Mile Sponsored by Stud Estreal Energia (UAE-II).
The ninth meeting and first Saturday card of the Dubai World Cup Carnival is sponsored by Stefan Friborg's of Brazil-based Stud Estrela Energia. Friborg maintains a stable in Dubai and campaigned Gloria de Campeao, who in 2010 won the first Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) to be staged at the newly opened Meydan. The six-race card is worth combined purses of $1.1 million and also includes the $250,000 Nad al Sheba Trophy (UAE-III).
Musir won the Al Rashidiya (UAE-II) in January 2012 but went winless in three subsequent starts before being retired to stand the Southern Hemisphere season at Coolmore Australia. He was reunited with trainer Mike de Kock late last year to resume his racing career after experiencing fertility problems.
A Meydan stalwart owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, Musir was a South African champion as a juvenile. He has won five of his 11 starts in Dubai, including back-to-back victories last season in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round I (UAE-III), defeating Master of Hounds, and the Al Rashidiya defeating City Style. The 7-year Redoute's Choice horse followed a sixth in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) with a seventh-place finish in the BMW Champions Mile (HK-I) last May at Sha Tin and launched his comeback in the Al Fahidi Fort (UAE-II), finishing fourth after leading 300 meters out.
Godolphin's English group II winner Fulbright bids for a breakthrough at Meydan after placing twice in group stakes there in January and February. In his most recent start, he could not pick up in the final 50 meters and failed to catch Moonwalk in Paris in the Firebreak Stakes (UAE-III) Feb. 14, finishing two lengths behind as second-best in the 14-horse field. The 4-year-old Exceed And Excel colt, trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, finished in a dead heat for third in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round (UAE-II) Jan. 10.
The eight-horse field for the Zabeel Mile also includes scintillating come-from-behind Jaguar Trophy winner Trade Storm; French stakes winner Mustaheel; Royal Ridge, winner of a 1,600-meter handicap on the all-weather track Feb. 7 at Meydan; and South African group I winner Le Drakkar, who won a 1,600-meter turf handicap Jan. 10 at Meydan before finishing seventh in the Al Fahidi Fort.
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