Gerard Butler seeks a bounty

While most people's attention was firmly focused on Kempton Park on Boxing Day I hope the astute among you managed to watch the winner of the 1815 race at Wolverhampton the same day. The aptly-named Dubai Bounty just held on to score in the novice stakes at Dunstall Park and the two-year-old's trainer, Gerard Butler, is now hoping to aim his promising juvenile at the Dubai International Racing Carnival. We don't see too many carnival contenders making their debuts so close to a trip abroad, especially at a modest Wolverhampton - and at this festive time, but nevertheless, the filly by Dubai Destination looks a very promising individual and one expects Butler's charge to be aimed at something like the UAE One Thousand Guineas on February 11th.

Guns N' Roses

Official Classic trials have now also been added to the Meydan calendar so it's possible connections will opt to run in the fillies Guineas prep on the opening night of the carnival. Owned by the same partnership that enjoyed success at Nad Al Sheba with Jack Sullivan, they clearly know the type of horse needed to race at the carnival. Funnily enough there was another horse competing in the four-runner field and while she may not yet be a familiar name to race goers in the UAE (unless you're a fan of Guns N' Roses) Sweet Child O'Mine, owned by the Emirates Entertainment Racing Club, ran a respectable race to finish third having won on her racecourse debut at Southwell two weeks before. Maybe her owners will also consider a tilt at some of horse racing's most prestigious prizes at Meydan.

You see, it wasn't all about Kauto Star on Saturday….Okay, it was really!

What a great decision by the Dubai Racing Club to confirm the Dubai World Cup race day programme. After weeks of speculation as to whether the Golden Shaheen would be run on turf, officials have decided to run the valuable blink-and-you-miss-it contest on the all-weather surface, but add the G3 Al Quoz Sprint which will be run up the 1,200m straight. A fantastic result for racing in Dubai, and on a global scale as the best turf sprinters from around the world can now be given a fair crack at the whip; literally. Now an eight-race card with over $26 million in prize money, I cannot think of any place I would rather be on March 27th, as long as it's not in a car queueing to get in!

My eagle-eyed gallop watcher informs me that a certain Kieren Fallon was caught riding out for Metropolitan Stables trainer, Rashed Bouresly earlier in the week. Fallon who only returned to the saddle in September is over in the Emirates to ride most of Luca Cumani's carnival runners and has a long and successful association with the tracks here and his presence at Meydan will be a major feather in the cap of Dubai Racing Club. Big congratulations to Wayne Smith and fellow jockey, Lisa Jones who, if Facebook is to be believed, announced their engagement during the Christmas festivities. No more Smith and Jones jokes then!