Arabian Light showcased his growing potential with an impressive victory at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai on Friday, claiming the featured Lord Glitters Handicap, sponsored by Azizi Developments. The Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old demonstrated his class under jockey William Buick, bouncing back from a third-place finish in the Lord North Handicap to secure a decisive win.
Despite an untidy start where he was slightly slow out of the gates and encountered early interference, the son of Kingman and Meydan Listed winner Pure Diamond displayed resilience. He surged ahead in the final 400 meters, fending off a strong challenge from the experienced Sean, who finished half a length behind.
“He wasn’t the quickest away, but I managed to get him into a good position behind the leaders,” said Buick. “He might have gotten a little lonely in front towards the end, but he’s still learning and developing.”
The first race of the evening saw an expertly timed ride from Bernardo Pinheiro, who guided Folk Festival to victory in the Azizi Venice Handicap over 1,600 meters on turf. Trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer, the four-year-old replicated his previous Abu Dhabi triumph, once again finishing ahead of No Retreat. Despite breaking from a wide draw, Pinheiro adopted patient tactics, allowing his mount to settle before launching a late surge that secured a half-length win.
“I know this horse well, and he’s improving quickly,” said Pinheiro. “He only started racing here 15 days ago, but he’s already showing great promise.”
The second race featured a clean sweep of the feature races for Godolphin, starting with Symbol Of Honour’s commanding performance in the Dubai Trophy, another event sponsored by Azizi Developments. The three-year-old grey colt, also trained by Appleby, entered the race as the favorite following his Al Wasl Stakes victory over the same distance of 1,200 meters, and he did not disappoint. Ridden patiently by Buick, Symbol Of Honour gradually closed the gap on early leader Dark Saffron before asserting dominance in the final strides, winning by nearly two lengths.
“His last run, where he beat a subsequent Group 2 winner, was a strong performance,” Buick noted. “Today, he confirmed his ability. He’s a professional horse and should be capable of stepping up to 1,400 meters.”
The third race paid tribute to the late Aga Khan, a prominent owner and breeder, with the Vazirabad Handicap, named after his three-time Dubai Gold Cup champion. The race marked Appleby’s third major success of the night, as Royal Power, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, edged out stablemate El Cordobes in a thrilling finish.
“William [Buick] mentioned before the race that Royal Power had improved from his last run, and that proved right,” said Barzalona. “Once I found clear space, he showed great determination to reach the line first.”
The fourth race saw jockey Adrie De Vries find redemption after missing out in the opener, guiding Moon Blade to success in the Azizi Mina Conditions race for three-year-olds. The Central Banker colt, trained by Marwan Al Baidhaei, thrived over the extended 1,600-meter trip, charging past Poet Orten and Galactic Star to score by a length.
“We always believed in his ability,” said De Vries. “His debut over 1,200 meters was too short for him, but tonight, the extra distance suited him perfectly. He has the potential to stay even further.”
One of the standout performances of the night came in the fifth race from Power Mode, who delivered a commanding victory in the Azizi Riviera Handicap over 1,200 meters. The Bhupat Seemar-trained runner, ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, dictated the pace from the start and left his rivals trailing, storming home three lengths clear of stablemate Jungle Mac.
“Things didn’t go our way in Abu Dhabi, but today was different,” O’Shea explained. “He was sharp from the gates, and once he hit the front, there was no catching him.”
The sixth race of the evening saw Elyabri add another win to Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s tally by taking the Burj Azizi Handicap over 2,000 meters on dirt. Ridden by Richie Mullen, the four-year-old positioned himself well before asserting dominance in the final stretch, outdueling Book Review by a length.
“The team had confidence in him, and he delivered,” Mullen remarked. “He had to dig deep in the closing stages, but he showed plenty of heart.”
The seventh race featured a hard-fought win from Sand Storm AA in the Azizi Wasl Handicap, a race reserved for non-winners of two. The Ernst Oertel-trained mare, guided by O’Shea, stayed close to the pace and displayed grit in the final stages to hold off Saafeer by a length.
“She’s always worked well at home, and we knew she had more to offer,” said O’Shea. “Arabians require a smooth ride, and she responded beautifully when I asked for an effort.”
Meydan Racecourse will resume action next Friday, February 14, with an eight-race card, promising another exciting night of racing under the Dubai skyline.
