DUBAI : It is one of the busiest weekends of the UAE racing season but Jebel Ali on Friday and Abu Dhabi on Sunday cannot hope to compete with the media bandwagon which will surround the opening meeting of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival tonight.
It is a date that will be heralded in the history of UAE racing as it marks the opening of Meydan, the eagerly anticipated new flagship racecourse for the Emirates.
Those fortunate enough to be present at the track last Tuesday for four trial races were privileged to enjoy a taste of just what the state of art track will provide.
Maktoum challenge
The first official race on the new Tapeta surface will be the Group 1 Purebred Arabian version of the Maktoum Challenge I and the Doug Watson-trained Kandar Du Falgas will bid to make history by winning the race for a third year.
However, he is owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, whose retained jockey Richard Hills elects to ride UAE debutant No Risk Al Maury, trained by Gill Duffield.
Hills explained: "They are both good horses and these are never easy choices. We are all really looking forward to racing on the new Meydan course and the whole place is amazing."
The Group 3 Thoroughbred Maktoum Challenge I, like its Purebred Arabian counterpart, over a mile, looks highly competitive with last year's winner, Godolphin's My Indy, attempting to win the race for a second time - something no horse has achieved previously.
However, stable jockey Frankie Dettori elects to ride Midshipman. Trainer Saeed Bin Surour said: "Hopefully they will both run well and the new surface should not be a problem for either. They have both wintered well."
Pascal Bary trains Gloria De Campeao, a Group 1 winner in Singapore after his second in last year's Dubai World Cup. According to the ratings, he is the one to beat, though it has to be mentioned he was behind My Indy in this last year.
The UK has yet to win this race but field a strong challenge this year with Jeremy Noseda's Forgotten Voice, Mark Johnston's Lovelace, John Ryan's Ocean's Minstrel, Chris Wall's Premio Loco and Ralph Beckett's Without A Prayer all holding chances.
Throw in Ireland's Philario, Saudi Arabia pair Al Samha and Consul General, as well as Dhruba Selvaratnam's Otaared and Musabah Al Muhairi's Tam Lin and it is surely the most open renewal of a race first run in 1994.
Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali's Friday meeting is highlighted by the Listed Jebel Ali Mile and Jet Express, trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe, will be a popular choice to extract revenge on Erwan Charpy's Golden Arrow who beat him narrowly in this last year.
Tonight's action
Meydan's first race will be at 6pm tonight.
There is an eight-race card, all to be run on the Tapeta synthetic track.
The last race is off at 11.05pm
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