Chiquitin, ridden with authority by Mick Kinane, made all the running to win the third-round $300,000 Al Maktoum Challenge (UAE-II) over the Dubai World Cup course and distance at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse at the 2005 Dubai International Racing Club Saturday. Trained by Saudi Arabia-based Jerry Barton, the Argentine-bred 4-year-old Chiquitin, who was 1 1/4 lengths behind the winning Jack Sullivan in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge, improved on that run with a 3 1/4-length win Saturday. Richard Hills, aboard the Doug Watson-trained Elmustanser, ran on for second with Godolphin's 2004 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) runner Grand Hombre, the mount of Ted Durcan, finishing third.The $6 million Dubai World Cup picture remains clouded with the Mike de Kock-trained Yard-Arm finishing in fifth place, just behind the Frankie Dettori-partnered Cherry Mix.Jack Sullivan, trained by Gerard Butler and the mount of Eddie Ahern, got up in a thrilling three-way battle earlier in the evening to win the 150,000 Maserati Burj Nahaar (Listed), the prep race for the $1 million Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) on March 26. Parole Board now looks likely to be favorite for the $2 million UAE Derby (UAE-II) on Dubai World Cup day following his runaway win in the second leg of the Dubai Triple Crown, the $150,000 Areej Al Bastakiya over 1,800 meters on the dirt.
Greys Inn, trained by de Kock and ridden by Marwing, showed his class by claiming his sixth career win from 10 starts when landing the $200,000 AATI Dubai City of Gold (UAE-III), the prep race for the $2 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) over 2,400 meters on the turf.Mark Johnston's Pearl Of Love set the pace before weakening in the straight with the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Pugin picking up the pace. Greys Inn was always going well and stepped up a gear to lead 400 meters out, running on to a 4 3/4-length win. Tycoon, Durcan up, chased the winner home to take second with Pugin in third.Al Shindagha Sprint (Listed) winner Estimraar, trained by Al Kurdi and ridden by Richard Mullen, bounced back to form to win the $200,000 Ferrari Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-III), the lead-in race to the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) on World Cup day.
Estimraar was on the pace and took the lead from the Satish Seemar-trained Chaplinesque just over 200 meters out, running on to a 2 3/4-length win. Godolphin's Botanical, the mount of Dettori, stayed on for third.History was not to be made at Nad Al Sheba, with Conroy, who was going for his fourth successive win in the Mahab Al Shimaal, unable to get on terms with the rest, finishing last.Alkaadhem, trained in Britain by Marcus Tregoning and ridden by Hills, became the 16th British trained winner of the 2005 Dubai International Racing Carnival when claiming the $250,000 Bvlgari Jebel Hatta (UAE-III) over the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) trip of 1,777 meters on the turf. Alkaadhem, a son of Green Desert, began to make progress from the 400-meter post and was clear 200 meters out. Right Approach, winner of the 2004 Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) came with a late run to finish second, beaten three quarters of a length. Right Approach was giving the winner three kilos and could be a real danger to Alkaadhem in the Dubai Duty Free at level weights.