A field of 16 runners, led by five grade/group I winners, will enter the starting gate for the $250,000 Dubai City of Gold Sponsored by Skywards (UAE-IIT) at Meydan Racecourse March 10.
The 12-furlong event is one of six stakes that compose the superb “Super Saturday” program at Meydan. The races serve as key preps for the $27 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) program on March 31.
Trainers Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmood al Zarooni will again be well represented when they saddle seven of the 16 horses in the field, led by group I winners Campanologist and Cavalryman. Campanologist, a 7-year-old son of Kingmambo, boasts four group I victories, including the Preis Von Europa (Ger-I) and Gran Premio Jockey Club Italiano (Ity-I) last year. This will be the seasonal debut for Campanologist, who will be ridden by Kieren Fallon for the first time.
Cavalryman hopes to start his 6-year-old season on a winning note. The bay son of Halling has not won since his sophomore season, when he captured both the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I) and Qatar Prix Niel (Fr-II). Olivier Peslier will be on board.
Silvestre de Sousa will ride Songcraft for bin Suroor and Godolphin. The 4-year-old gelding, who will be making his stakes debut, is undefeated in four career starts. He already has two wins this season over the Meydan turf course.
Viscount Nelson will be wheeling back on nine day’s rest for trainer Mike de Kock. The 5-year-old son of Giant's Causeway was never a factor when finishing seventh to Do It All in the Zabeel Mile Sponsored by Commercial Bank of Dubai (UAE-IIT). Prior to that, Viscount Nelson was impressive when winning the Al Fahidi Fort Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (UAE-IIT) Feb. 16. Kevin Shea will ride.
Also making a quick turnaround is Unusual Suspect, who returns after just a week’s rest. Unusual Suspect will be trying to reverse his recent form, after two disappointing efforts so far over the Meydan turf course. Jamie Spencer will ride.
The 8-year-old California-bred by Unusual Heat won the 2010 Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IT) when trained by Barry Abrams. Purchased by a syndicate shortly thereafter, Unusual Suspect was kept in training and sent to Australia, with the hopes of running in Emirates Melbourne Cup (Aus-I), which he did last year. Unusual Suspect finished ninth, beaten just 3 1/2 lengths, to Dunaden.
The other two group I winners in the field are Kreem, who recently notched a group I victory in Saudi Arabia, and Joshua Tree, winner of the 2010 Pattison Canadian International (Can-IT).
$250,000 Dubai City of Gold Sponsored by Skywards (gr. II, race 6, 10:30 a.m. EST), 3yos (SH-bred) and up, 12 furlongs (turf).
PP, Horse, Wgt., Jockey, Trainer
1. Mikhail Glinka (Ire), 126, R. Ffrench, H. Brown
2. Campanologist (KY), 126, K. Fallon, S. bin Suroor
3. Topclas (Fr), 126, P. Cosgrave, M. bin Shafya
4. Bronze Cannon (KY), 126, R. Moore, H. Brown
5. Once More Dubai (FL), 126, T. Durcan, S. bin Suroor
6. Kreem (GB), 123, R. Perez, B. Al Shaibani
7. Joshua Tree (Ire), 126, J. Murtagh, M. Botti
8. Cavalryman (GB), 126, O. Peslier, S. bin Suroor
9. Zanzamar (SAf), 126, R. Hills, M. de Kock
10. Shimraan (Fr), 126, L. Dettori, M. Al Zarooni
11. Indian Days (GB), 126, A. Munro, J. Given
12. Songcraft (Ire), 123, S. de Sousa, S. bin Suroor
13. Dubai Prince (Ire), 123, A. Ajtebi, M. Al Zarooni
14. Unusual Suspect (CA), 126, J. Spencer, M. Kent
15. Viscount Nelson (KY), 126, K. Shea, M. de Kock
16. Laajooj (Ire), 123, M. Barzalona, M. Al Zarooni