The forthcoming 2011/12 UAE season will feature seven Group 1 contests with three races elevated to that elite status.
These are the Al Quoz Sprint, now the fifth Thoroughbred Group 1 contest on Dubai World Cup night, as well as Maktoum Challenge III and the Jebel Hatta which are part of Super Saturday, the recognised trial night for the World Cup meeting.
To be staged on Saturday, March 10, they will become the first Thoroughbred Group 1 contests staged in the UAE outside the World Cup card.
Maktoum Challenge III is over the same 1m2f Tapeta course and distance as the $10million (Dh36.7m) Dubai World Cup and was won last year by the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Twice Over who was subsequently ninth in the World Cup itself, while 2010 World Cup winner Gloria De Campeao was second to Red Desire in Maktoum Challenge III – the first year the races were contested at Meydan.
In total, there will be 26 Group races throughout the season, nine Group 2 and 10 Group 3, as well as eight Listed contests. “This is another significant step in the development of the sport of horseracing in the UAE,” said Malih Lahej Al Basti, Chairman, Steering Committee for the Emirates Racing Authority.
“The history of horseracing in this region is centuries old, and our efforts to upgrade our stakes is an example of our passion for the sport. This is a great gain for horseracing and all the UAE as this accomplishment will gain positive attention and attract visitors to come and share our enthusiasm for horseracing.”
Other notable changes include Maktoum Challenge 2, won last year by Bold Silvano, becoming a Group 2 contest. Both the Firebreak Stakes, over 1m on Tapeta and won in each of the past two seasons by Bin Suroor’s Skysurfers, and Nad Al Sheba Trophy have been elevated to Group 3 status.
The latter, over 1m6f on turf, went to Mahmood Al Zarooni’s Claremont last year The Stakes races are not all at Meydan and, as per last year, Abu Dhabi will stage a Group 3 and two Listed races on the Capital’s turf, with Jebel Ali hosting their traditional three Listed races on their dirt track.
