Meeznah bids for Dubai success at Doncaster stakes showpiece
Three-year-old to make first start since Darley Oaks race
Dubai: Plucky Oaks runner-up Meeznah, whose connections are based in Dubai, bids to secure her maiden pattern race success when she contests the Group One DFS Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster today.
The three-year-old daughter of Dynaformer will race in the colours of Saif Ali and Saeed Al Tayer, Chairman of Meydan Racecourse, under the banner of Rabbah Bloodstock, which manages the interests of associates of the Maktoum family.
Trained by David Lanigan at Newmarket's Hamilton Road, which is home to more than 20 racing stables and is close to the Rowley Mile racecourse, Meeznah drops down in class but is being asked to step up in distance for today's 2,800 metre trip. This will be her first start since her fourth place effort in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) at York three weeks ago where she failed to cope with the soft ground.
Seasoned performer
Already somewhat of a seasoned Group race performer despite the fact that she is no more than a three-year-old, Meeznah is the 4/1 market leader for today's showpiece race.
Among her 11 opponents are Rumoush, who was fourth in the Oaks behind Meeznah and Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Dyna Waltz. Eastern Arias, who was bred at the Darley-owned Emirates Stud Farm in Dubai and Roses For The Lady, are two runners worth keeping an eye on.
The former won the Fillies' Stakes at Goodwood in July before finishing fourth to Peinture Rare in the Group Two Prix De Pomone-Haras D'Etreham at Deauville, France in the middle of August. She is trained by Mark Johnston and is owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Rumoush's trainer Marcus Tregoning is hoping for a good performance from his Rahy filly who chased Snow Fairy and Meeznah to the line at Epsom.
"Rumoush heads for the Park Hill Stakes and goes there in good form," Tregoning said on his website. "The hope is that she will get the extra two furlongs."
Murbeh, owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, takes on the exciting Wootton Bassett in the Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 (Dh1.6 million) 2-Y-O Stakes.
Meanwhile, Godolphin's 2008 champion two-year-old male Midshipman, has been retired from racing and will stand at Darley America in Lexington in 2011.
