Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort ( MDK 3 runners )

2014 Al Fahidi Fort winner, Anaerobio in the Meydan Racecourse parade ring

Credit: Dubai Racing Club //Andrew Watkins

Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort Highlights Gulf News-Sponsored Race Evening

Popular Turf Contest in Second Season at 1400m Distance

UAE daily newspaper and Meydan Pillar Partner, Gulf News returns to Meydan Racecourse this Thursday, January 22, 2015, for a quality Dubai World Cup Carnival card featuring the Group 2 US$250,000 Al Fahidi Fort turf race.

The prestigious contest, which had been run at 1600m until it was revised to 1400m last season, was won by the Mike de Kock-trained Anaerobio in 2014.

A long-term Meydan Pillar Partner, Gulf News is the US$2m Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsor, a high class sprint race run on Dubai World Cup day, and is also the Official Newspaper of the Dubai Show Jumping Championships taking place from January 29- 31 at Emirates Equestrian Centre.

The newspaper will also return to the racetrack on Thursday February 14 for a Valentine’s Day Racing at Meydan card.

“The race meet on 22nd January is going to be one of the highlights of the 2015 racing season and we are truly excited to be title bearers of all the races on the card” said Duleep George, Executive Director – Strategy & Marketing, Gulf News. “This is also a very special lead-up to the 20th Dubai World Cup as we too celebrate our twenty year association with this prestigious event.”

Malih Al Basti, Meydan Group Board Member and Chairman of Meydan Racing Committee said: “Gulf News has been a long-term and much-appreciated sponsor of not only our racing but also other horse sport at Meydan Group. It is always a pleasure to welcome our media partners to the track and we look forward to this first visit of Gulf News on Thursday.”

Entries and racecards for all Meydan Racecourse meetings can be viewed at www.emiratesracing.com .

Admission is free to the public areas of Meydan Racecourse, gates open at 5pm and the first race starts at 6.45pm. For further details and hospitality ticket packages please contact: +971 4327 2110 or ticketoffice@dubairacingclub.com.

Get interactive with us on Twitter via @DRC_Meydan or @DWC_Meydan or on Instagram @drc_meydan and like our Dubai Racing Club or Dubai World Cup Facebook pages. We’ll keep you posted with behind-the-scenes news and pictures.

Red Ray To Challenge Anaerobio’s Al Fahidi Fort Title

Two Mike de Kock Runners Face Off in Group 2 Feature

South Africa has a remarkable record in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort, the turf feature at Meydan Racecourse’s Gulf News-sponsored meeting of the 2015 Dubai World Cup Carnival on Thursday.

Trainer Mike De Kock has saddled the winner in each of the last three seasons and six times in total, while compatriot Herman Brown won the race in consecutive years with Linngari.

De Kock saddles three of the ten declared runners this year, including Anaerobio, winner of the race last year when it was contested over 1400m for the first time – the trip having been reduced from 1600m.

Stable jockey Christophe Soumillon rides him with Wayne Smith aboard stable companion Zahee. However, it could be Red Ray, the trainer’s third runner, who will prove the best of the trio throughout the season.

“Red Ray was with Joey Ramsden and is, hopefully, the ideal type for the Dubai World Cup Carnival,” said De Kock. “He is a Grade Three winner at home and finished last season with two seconds in Grade One company.

“Anton Marcus knows him very well and flies in to ride. The horse has always had a big reputation and has shown us plenty in his work.

“That said, he has shipped in from South Africa and our new arrivals have been needing a run. However, he seems in really good form.

“Anaerobio is just a tough and genuine horse. He has had a nice break since last season and will run his usual honest race.

“Ignore Zahee’s last run as he did not take to the dirt. He will run much better back on turf.”

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Godolphin’s Safety Check is already a Dubai World Cup Carnival winner this year having landed a course and distance handicap two weeks ago.

“The handicapper put him up to 110 for that win,” said Appleby. “So basically we have to try him at this level. He won well and has been working nicely since so we just need to see where we stand with him.

“The 1400m on turf appears ideal so this was the obvious race for him.”

Stable jockey, William Buick, takes over from apprentice Cam Hardie.

Paul Hanagan rides Shaishee for his main employer, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trainer Musabah Al Muhairi. Winner of his first two starts this season, he was an excellent third on his most recent outing.

Those three outings were all on the Meydan dirt and this, interestingly, will be his first turf start in the UAE and since July 2013 in England.

Connections could have aimed him at Friday’s Jebel Ali Mile but he does appear to relish this 1400m trip and he has a great draw in stall one.

Irish challenger, Eastern Rules, was a dual Carnival winner for Michael Halford last year, including over course and distance and will, as usual, be ridden by Shane Foley.

“He has been in good form in his work,” said Halford. “This looked a good spot to bring him back out. It is a good race as you would expect but he should run well.”

Hoping Red Ray will reproduce his best form and give me something to look forward to seeing at the carnival. Not sure how many races there are for him though. Can he win at a mile at top level ?. If he doesn't take to dirt I don't see where the next race is for him? I think a 1200 m in the UK might be his thing though but will have to impress to get a run in major races.

Anyone priced Red Ray up yet?

3 in the top 5

Nice place value on Zahee

And last years winner Anearobia

Red ray 5/2

SportingBet has priced up Red Ray at 2/1.....if anyone's interested

Ricky Sin 14-10..... :huh: took a bit there with henry clay and ukrainian

Disappointing . RR looked uncomfortable 1/2 way around the bend and didn't kick at all.

drdom wrote: Disappointing . RR looked uncomfortable 1/2 way around the bend and didn't kick at all.

first run and should probably be sprinting anyway, will see a different horse next run