Meydan Masters on Friday night?

Hope we have some betting?

Top jockeys set for Meydan Masters

SEVERAL familiar names headed by Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and Jamie Spencer look set to appear in a star-studded line-up of some of the world's top jockeys in the inaugural Meydan Masters in Dubai on Friday.


The five-race jockeys' competition, in which rides will be allocated by ballot, dominates Friday's card, which also features the Group 3 Zabeel Mile.

A 12-rider field also features Aaron Gryder and Kent Desormeaux from the States and both Olivier Peslier and Christophe Lemaire from France, plus Norohiro Yokoyama (Japan) and Corey Brown (Australia) alongside local stars Ahmed Ajtebi, Richard Hills and Ted Durcan.

Invitations were determined on the basis of big races won in 2009 - Gryder, for example, gets the call after partnering Well Armed to win the Dubai World Cup.

The recently retired Mick Kinane, who won two qualifying races (Derby and Arc), will be present in an ambassadorial role, while other commitments ruled out Johnny Murtagh, Mike Smith and Calvin Borel.

Spencer, Hills and Desormeaux were called up from the subs' bench.

What about Kev?

hibernia Wrote:

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> What about Kev?


You are joking.....right?

Why should Hibs be joking?

Is Kev not in the same league as the others in the list?

He's right up with the best. The results speak for themselves.

Yep and he is there,

you would have thought with South Africa owning them the last 2 months they wolud have used him aswell..

(tu)With his record in Dubai over the years I would say Kevin has every right to be part of something like this. And, as has been pointed out, he is already there.

SAf runners on the Meydan Masters card:

RACE 1: 95-110 handicap, $120k, 1200m
9 (5) [102] Lui Rei (Ity) -> Brown/Hills (58.5)
12 (7) [99] Warsaw (Ire) -> de Kock/Peslier (57.0)

RACE 3: 3 y/o conditions race, $150k, TURF 1600m
3 ( [98] Mr Crazy Boy (Arg) -> de Kock/Soumillon (61.0)
15 (?) [95] Jodi (Arg) -> de Kock/??? (57.0) RESERVE RUNNER

RACE 5: 95+ handicap, $150k, 2000m
1 (5) [112] Front House (Ire) -> de Kock/Durcan (62.0)
13 (?) [99] Jaroslaw (SAf) -> Simcock/??? (56.0) RESERVE RUNNER
14 (?) [98] Art Of War (SAf) -> de Kock/??? (55.5) RESERVE RUNNER
15 (?) [97] Red Rock Canyon (Ire) -> de Kock/??? (55.0) RESERVE RUNNER

RACE 6: Conditions race, $175k, TURF 1200m
8 (12) [108] Frosty Secret (USA) -> de Kock/Shea (58.0)

RACE 7: Zabeel Mile, GR2, $250k, TURF 1600m
6 (6) [108] Hunting Tower (SAf) -> de Kock/Shea (57.0)
10 (10) [115] Imbongi (SAf) -> de Kock/Soumillon (58.0)

Top jockeys line up for first Meydan Masters

Preview: Friday

Meydan Masters four-race jockeys' competition

SEVERAL familiar names headed by Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and Jamie Spencer feature in a star-studded line-up featuring some of the world's top jockeys in the inaugural Meydan Masters in Dubai on Friday.

The four-race jockeys' competition, in which rides will be allocated by ballot, dominates Friday's card,which also features the Group 3 Zabeel Mile.

A 12-rider field also features Aaron Gryder and Kent Desormeaux from the States and both Olivier Peslier and Christophe Lemaire from France, plus Norohiro Yokoyama (Japan) and Corey Brown (Australia) alongside local stars Ahmed Ajtebi, Richard Hills and Ted Durcan.

Invitations were determined on the basis of big races won in 2009- Gryder, for example, gets the call after partnering Well Armed to win the Dubai World Cup.

The recently retired Mick Kinane, who won two qualifying races (Derby and Arc), will be present in an ambassadorial role, while other commitments ruled out Johnny Murtagh, Mike Smith and Calvin Borel.

Spencer, Hillsand Desormeaux were called up from the subs' bench for the competition, in which points will be awarded according to finishing position, with 75 for the winner, 20 for second place, 15 for third and 10 for fourth down to just one for 12th.

All four race are Tapeta handicaps, and in the event of two or more jockeys accumulating the same number of points at the end of the four races, a countback will done with the jockey riding the most number of winners being declared the winner. If it is still tied then it will be most number of seconds.

De Kock chases Zabeel hat-trick with Imbongi

Preview: UAE, Friday 6.45pm GMT (live on ATR, RUK, Sky Sports)

Meydan: Zabeel Mile (Group 2) 1m, turf, 3yo+

THE Zabeel Mile, upgraded to Group 2 status this year, is the highlight of the three turf races at Meydan's final meeting before the Dubai World Cup on March 27 and the Mike De Kock-trained Imbongi looks to hold leading claims as he attempts to emulate Archipenko and Kapil who won the race for the yard last year and 2007 respectively.

Godolphin rely on Rio De La Plata, a Group 1-winning juvenile who was runner-up in the French 2,000 Guineas in 2008 but was off for over a year before three runs last season - showing he retains plenty ofability.

Snaafy (Musabah Al Muhairi/Richard Hills) is a course and distance winner bidding to advertise his Dubai Duty Free claims, while Summit Surge (Luca Cumani/Kieren Fallon) should appreciate the return to turf.

What they say. . .

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Rio De La Plata
"He was a very good juvenile when winning in Group 1 company and then ran very well in the French Guineas. He had problems at the end of that year but returned at the end of last season. He is ready for a run and pleasing us at home but he will come on from the outing."

Doug Watson, trainer of Echoes Rock and Kalahari Gold
"Echoes Rock is a new horse to us this season and we are learning as we go with him.

"Kalahari Gold is a horse we have always liked and ran a great race in this last year. We expect a similar bold showing."

Ryan Moore, rider of Dunelight
"He is a nice horse but has a bit to find with a few of these."

Richard Hills, rider of Snaafy
"He impressed most people with his course and distance victory and we are looking at the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night with him so this is an obvious race for him. He will run well."

Alan Munro, rider of Ocean's Minstrel
"He has been highly tried since arriving in Dubai and his last run was probably his best. The return to turf will suit but it isa tough race."

Mike de Kock, trainer of Hunting Tower and Imbongi
"Both are fit and well. Hunting Tower always runs a solid race but has ground to find with Snaafy.

"Imbongi has run two very good races so far and deserves a change of luck. He should go close."

Dhruba Selvaratnam, trainer of Yasoodd
"The conditions will suit as he is a real turf horse and the mile is ideal but he has a very tough task to reverse form with Snaafy. He is fit and well though and should run a nice race."

Luca Cumani, trainer of Summit Surge
"This is his third start for us and first on turf. He won at Nad Al Sheba on grass last year and was a Group winner in Ireland also. Hopefully the change of surface is very much in or favour and he should run well."

Jim Crowley, rider of Without A Prayer
"He ran very well first time and his best turf form would make him competitive in what looks a good race."

Fawzi Nass, trainer of Purple Sage
"We were delighted with her first run and we were left in front last time. That probably did not suit her so she should fare better but this is a better contest."

Bin Suroor and De Kock prime Classic runners

Preview: UAE, Friday 4.15pm GMT (live on ATR, RUK, Sky)

Meydan: Meydan Classic (conditions race) 1m, turf, 3yo

The Meydan Classic, for three-year-olds over 1m, has attracted a varied field with Godolphin well represented. Ahmed Ajtebi rides Frozen Power, on whom he was runner-up in the UAE 2,000 Guineas (on Tapeta) with Frankie Dettori on Tahitian Warrior, winner of his only start in his native America.

Interestingly, that was in January when the horse was trained by Danny Miller.

Mike de Kock saddles Mr Crazy Boy, who may show more back on turf than he has in two Tapeta outings although one was over an inadequate trip. The other was in the Maktoum Challenge II. A strong Brazilian challenge is headed by Real Secret, with Dubai Miracle (David Simcock/William Buick) the sole British interest.

What they say

Antonio Cintra Pereira, trainer of Real Secret, Talenta and Olympic Danz

"Real Secret is a Grade 1 winner back in Brazil and that was on turf so we are hoping for a better run now he is on grass.

"We were very pleased with Talenta's first run and she has run in boththe Classics since. Her Grade 1 win was also on turf so she should run well. Olympic Danz was also a grass performer at home and has not really adapted to the Tapeta.

"So, basically, we hope all three can improve on what they have shown at the Carnival to date."

Mike de Kock, trainer of Mr Crazy Boy

"He was very useful on turf in South Africa and needed his first run when seven furlongs was too short anyway. We tried him in the Maktoum Challenge II as we thought the trip would suit, but this is more realistic and he should run well."

Tiago Pereira, rider of Oroveso

"He ran very well first time and was certainly not disgraced in the [UAE 2,000] Guineas. He was a Group 1 turf performer in Brazil and the return to grass is a bonus."
Richard Mullen - August 2007

Richard Mullen: on alearning curve


Richard Mullen, rider of Anzas

"He is a new horse from France and has not been with us very long but he seems a nice type. We are learning about him but he worked well enough on turf the other day and his French form looks good."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Frozen Power, Tahitian Warrior, Black Snowflake and Coeur Loyal

"Frozen Power has run very well on both his starts, especially when second in the UAE 2,000 Guineas. He won on turf in France so that should not be a problem and I expect a big run.

"Tahitian Warrior is a new horse who won his only race on dirt and has been pleasing us at home. He should act on the turf, while Black Snowflake was a grass horse in the UK. Coeur Loyal is another making his turf debut but both were behind Frozen Power on their onlyCarnival outing."

( This has probably been said more than once already but Ajtebi must be the most improved jockey on the planet. That was another cracking ride.