Wherever it comes from, it will be nice to have some racing this weekend, and while there was never going to be any such concerns about the weather thwarting the racing from Abu Dhabi last Sunday, it has been a completely different matter in the UK where even the all-weather tracks fell foul of the dreaded North Pole conditions.
The traditional Boxing Day fixture from Kempton was abandoned twice after racecourse officials braved the elements in the hope of the turf track thawing in time for Kauto Star's attempt at a record-breaking fifth King George VI Chase, however, all being well, the meeting is rescheduled to take place on January 15.
With Arctic England expected to come out of the cold from next week, the top-class jumps card should go ahead and all the staff at Kempton have done a fine job of keeping everyone updated with the conditions of the ground. Being a Clerk of the Course must be a nightmare of a job, and with such unsettled weather to deal with, it's hard to appreciate the amount of work involved when we are in a part of the world where luckily the chance of racing doesn't hinge on whether the weather is hot or whether the weather is cold!
Coming back to Abu Dhabi and McCartney led home a Satish Seemar one-two in the Listed President's Cup under a fine ride by rising star Harry Bentley. Formerly handled in the UK by Mark Johnston, the son of In The Wings appeared to sprout wings down the Abu Dhabi straight and beat stable mate, Escape Route, by two lengths. Clearly right back to his best, the German-bred five-year-old (who'll be six on Saturday) looks a very smart prospect and will be an exciting Carnival prospect, while his jockey, should also have no problem adding to his Meydan winning tally.
Plate prowess
Talking of jockeys, Kieren Fallon proved his prowess in the saddle is not just reserved for the Thoroughbreds as the former Champion steered home a double of Purebred Arabian winners on the same card. A man who has eaten his fair share of humble pie down the years (not too much of course - he does have to watch his weight) Fallon has not lost any of his power in the plate and when interviewing him for Dubai Racing Channel earlier in the year, he said that regaining his position at the top of the jockeys' table was his main ambition and I have little doubt that his mission will be accomplished once again.
Amazingly, his association with Dubai World Cup hope Gitano Hernando has come to an end after Team Valor, the horse's owners, opted to give the leg-up to Weichong Marwing when he races at the Carnival. I'm not saying Marwing doesn't know his way around the racecourses of the UAE, but it does seem a little strange that Fallon should be given the heave-ho despite partnering the four-year-old to three pattern-race successes, highlighted by the Grade One Goodwood Handicap at Santa Anita last season. It's a funny old game this racing lark, isn't it?
