Meydan's Super Saturday to take place behind closed doors due to coronavirus

The Super Saturday meeting at Meydan this weekend will take place behind closed doors due to the global coronavirus outbreak.

There have been 28 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates with the nation’s Health and Community Protection Ministry on Thursday warning its residents not to travel abroad.

Super Saturday, the second biggest meeting of the year at Meydan, takes place three weeks before Dubai World Cup night on March 28.

Meetings at Al Ain, Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi will also take place without racegoers this week.

A tweet from the Emirates Racing Authority read: “In accordance with public safety measures pertaining to the proliferation of the coronavirus disease, Emirates Racing Authority will contest the race meetings at Al Ain (March 5), Jebel Ali (March 6), Meydan (March 7) and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club (March 8) without attendees.

“Though without spectators, all races will be contested and regulated in a standard fashion and results will be recorded in an official capacity. The horse connections, sponsors and media personnel will only be allowed to attend the races.”

Super Saturday card

The Saturday card includes the Group 1 Jebel Hatta in which eight of the 13 runners are trained in Britain or Ireland, including 2017 St James’s Palace Stakes scorer Barney Roy.

The Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge has attracted eight runners including the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Desert Fire, while Coronation Cup winner Defoe, Desert Encounter and Pablo Escobarr are among the British-trained runners in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold.

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