With the spotlight moving onto Meydan for this Saturday, it’s the Emirates Super Saturday now with US$2.3 million spread across seven black type thoroughbred races.
In a re revised 2023-24 Dubai World Cup programme it’s the Group 2 Al Maktoum Classic Sponsored by Emirates Airline of 1800m that’s a ‘win you’re in’ for the $12m Emirates Dubai World Cup.
Now highly fancied, its Franz Strauss who is race-fresh coming off a second to the Kazakhstan owned Kabirkhan in the Al Maktoum Challenge Presented by Longines, is in Barrier 9 in a field of 13.
To be again ridden by Richard Mullen for Dubai trainer Bhupat Seemar, he’ll be racing in the orange and white silks of singer-song writer Greg Bryce, and be carrying the standard set weight of 57kg.
With this being his second start this season, last year as a 4yo Franz Strauss won twice at Meydan over 1800 and 2000m, having winless as a 3yo but placed twice in six starts, having won at two.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden for Godolphin until a mid 3yo, he was purchased by Greg Boyce and sent to Bhupat Seema in Dubai, having been a 80,000 Gns Tattersalls December Foal Sale buy.
Sired by Horse of The Year in Golden Horn, he’s from the stakes winning Dansili mare Favulusa, being a half-brother to the Haydock Sprin Cup winner Regional, family Derby Italiano hero Tokyo Gold.
However, it’s the 6yo Regional who’s first up in the Al Quaz Sprint on Emirates Dubai World Cup Night, having last year won 3 from 4 races for trainer Edward Bethell including the Achilles Stakes.
Sired by the Prix Jean Prat winner Territories, he was originally a 35,000 Gns Tattersalls December Foal, then a 120,000 Gns October Yearling before selling for 3,500 Gns at the Tattersalls July Sale.
With many starters of the Al Maktoum Challenge Presented by Longines now lining up in the Al Maktoum Classic, it was news for other owners and trainers that Kabirkhan was now not starting.
In opened to opinion, it’s the Al Maktoum Challenge third placing Clapton for William Buick who is the race top-pick having won the Lucas Classic in September, followed by local hope Military Law.
And what of the Carnival talk-horse, the Kazakhstan-Russian 4yo Kabirkhan who scored a comfortable 4¾ length victory in the qualifying Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Presented by Longines.
Now with direct entry into the Dubai World Cup on winning the Challenge, he is two-from-two in Dubai having defeated the Russian Derby winner Hero Mo in the Dubai Islands Handicap of 2000m.
In fact, with both 4yo colts being Kentucky bred and both nominated for the Breeders’ Cup, both are graduates of the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and are now in Dubai via Russia.
Kabirkhan was a $12,000 buy for agent Nadir Khassanov, sired by the twice US Horse of The Year California Chrome from the stakes winning Castledale mare Little Emily, family of Deceit Dancer.
In Kazakhstan he won all three starts at two, before being purchased by TV host Tlek Mukanbetkaliyev, and in Russia with Arslangirey Shavuyev the Derby was his only defeat in six race starts.
In winning 8 from 9 starts at 2,3 years in Russia, Hero Mo was a $27,000 buy at the 2021 September Sale, by the Hollywood Derby winner Mo Town from the winning Hard Spun mare Rockin.
Following their exciting home-straight battle in the Russian Derby, with victory to Hero Mo, both horses were shipped to Doug Watson at Meydan with Kabirkhan now in the Dubai World Cup.
As Meydan said previously ‘Super Saturday brings the world’s attention to Dubai as the contenders and their connections look to prove they are ready for the Emirates Dubai World Cup.’
‘Each day, Emirates Airline brings the world together, and through their partnership with Meydan for Super Saturday and the Dubai World Cup, they help to bring the world of racing together.’
‘Emirates has a long standing partnership with the Dubai Racing Club and has been Title Sponsor of the Dubai World Cup since the first running in 1996 when it was won by the great Cigar.’