The depth and quality of Dubai’s winter programme will be on full display this weekend when Meydan stages its much-anticipated Fashion Friday meeting, a nine-race card bringing together 11 individual Group 1 winners across dirt and turf. With championship implications, returning stars, and emerging contenders, the evening promises to shape the narrative of the season as it edges towards March’s global showpieces.
At the heart of Fashion Friday sits the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge, a contest that not only carries a purse of AED3,680,000 but also offers its winner a guaranteed place in the Dubai World Cup. This year’s renewal has drawn a compact yet formidable field, led by the previous two winners Walk Of Stars and Kabirkhan, both trained by Bhupat Seemar, who is responsible for six of the nine runners.
Seemar believes Walk Of Stars can take a significant step forward from his seasonal return. The gelding finished fourth in December’s Listed Entisar under a hefty weight burden, but conditions look far more favourable this time. Stablemate Kabirkhan, meanwhile, is expected to sharpen considerably with blinkers applied after an untidy start compromised his local debut. “He’s an older horse now and he’s getting a bit clever,” Seemar noted, “but the ability is still very much there.”
Also representing the Seemar yard is Artorius, racing in the colours of Juddmonte. The former US performer has gradually found his rhythm since arriving in Dubai and was second to Heart Of Honor in the Entisar. Ten furlongs appears his optimum trip, and improvement is anticipated now that he meets rivals on more even terms. Imperial Emperor, winner of the Group 2 Al Maktoum Mile, returns to this longer distance, while Killer Collect, a Listed winner last season, seeks to rebound after a disrupted run last time.
Standing in opposition is Heart Of Honor, trained by Jamie Osborne, whose late surge carried him past several of these rivals in the Entisar. Osborne is unapologetic about his horse’s racing style, describing it as efficient rather than elegant, but believes a strongly run contest will once again play to his strengths.
Opera Ballo Heads Jebel Hatta Feature on Fashion Friday
The second Group 1 on the card, the Jebel Hatta, brings together a fascinating mix of proven champions and upwardly mobile talent. Opera Ballo, trained by Charlie Appleby, made a deep impression when landing the Group 2 Al Rashidiya in December, showing both class and adaptability around Meydan.
Stablemate Nations Pride, already a four-time Group 1 winner, adds further intrigue. Appleby reports the seasoned campaigner has tightened up since his return and is expected to be more incisive this time. The pair will face resistance from Silawi, winner of the Canadian International, while Midak arrives with strong European form as he makes his first start for Ian Williams. Holloway Boy and Vafortino complete a compact but high-quality line-up.
Elsewhere on the card, the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort offers a compelling rematch between Mysterious Night and Marbaan, the last two winners of the race. Marbaan’s trainer Michael Costa believes a return to faster ground will suit his charge, while Appleby expects Mysterious Night to strip fitter for his seasonal return despite a wide draw. Adding further spice is Witness Stand, a Group 2 winner in Britain, making his Dubai debut.
The sprint division is well represented in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint, where El Nasseeb renews rivalry with familiar foes including Colour Up, Mufasa, and Dark Saffron. Seemar fields three runners as he seeks to defend the title he won last year, with Drew’s Gold stepping up after an authoritative handicap success.
Classic aspirations also come into focus in the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas, which has attracted a competitive field of 16. Appleby’s Devon Island arrives unbeaten on dirt, while Brotherly Love, Six Speed, and a host of international recruits add depth and uncertainty to the mile contest, now an established pathway towards major spring targets.
Later on the card, West Acre returns to defend his crown in the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint, while the supporting programme features the Firebreak Stakes, the Al Khail Trophy, and the opening Group 1 Maktoum Challenge Round 2 for Purebred Arabians, where established champions and fresh challengers collide.
Taken as a whole, Fashion Friday stands as one of the most concentrated evenings of quality seen at Meydan this season, blending proven Group 1 class with the promise of horses still on the rise. The outcomes across the card are likely to resonate well beyond Friday night, shaping the months ahead.
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