Al Quoz Sprint: won by J J The Jet Plane in 2009, revamped for 2010
PICTURE: Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins$1m turf sprint added to Dubai World Cup card
A $1 MILLION turf sprint has been added to the card for the inaugural Dubai World Cup meeting at the new billion-dollar Meydan racecourse on Saturday March 27.
The Group 3 Al Quoz Sprint will be run over the straight course, which distinguishes Meydan from the Nad Al Sheba track that was used for 14 years.
The traditional 6f race on the card, the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, worth $2m, has been retained as part of an eight-race card.
Despite speculation to the contrary, the race - formerly a straight 6f dirt contest - will be run on the inner Tapeta all-weather circuit, around a bend.
The Al Quoz Sprint was a race formerly held earlier in the carnival, with a purse of only $200,000 when it was won by J J The Jet Plane in February 2009.
Meydan board member and racehorse owner Malih Al Basti said: “The highest-rated sprinters are predominantly turf horses, and with the rich history of the Golden Shaheen attracting the best from the US, we will now attract the best turf sprinters in the world with the addition of the Al Quoz Sprint.
“The new race is positioned perfectly on the international calendar to enable horses to run in Dubai and then go on to international sprints either at Royal Ascot or Singapore.”
Talks between racing officials from the UK, Australia and Hong Kong are expected to take place in Dubai in March to determine whether the Al Quoz Sprint should become part of the Global Sprint Challenge at a later stage.
With the Dubai World Cup raised to $10m for its 15th running and a seventh race included for thoroughbreds, the card will offer a total of $26.25m in prize-money.
The other alterations from previous years, due to the configuration of the new course, are that the Dubai Duty Free will be run over 1m1f instead of its previous 1,777m, and the UAE Derby will be extended by 100m from its traditional 1m1f distance.
Meydan is due to open on Thursday, January 28, for the six-week, nine-meeting carnival.
The scheduled programme includes four turf races over the minimum 6f trip.
Meydan chairman and chiuef executive Saeed Al-Tayer said: “This year’s running of the Dubai World Cup will not only be a milestone for the sport in the UAE, but also for the rest of the world, as Meydan begins to fulfil its core mission - to be the thoroughbred destination of the world.”
Dubai World Cup night programme - Saturday March 27 2010
Dubai World Cup (Group 1), $10m, 1m2f, Tapeta AW
Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1), $5m, 1m4f turf
Dubai Duty Free (Group 1), $5m, 1m1f, turf
Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1), $2m, 6f, Tapeta AW
UAE Derby (Group 2), $2m, 1m1½f, Tapeta AW
Godolphin Mile (Group 2), $1m, 1m, Tapeta AW
Al Quoz Sprint (Group 3), $1m, 6f, turf
Dubai Kahayla Classic for purebred arabians (Group 1) $250,000, 1m2f Tapeta AW
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