11 global G1 stars to collide in Meydan meet

11 Group 1 winners will battle for riches at Meydan’s superb ‘Fashion Friday’ meeting this weekend.

The Longines-sponsored nine-race card stages two Thoroughbred Group 1 races, including the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge, worth Dhs3,680,000, offering guaranteed entry to the winner for the $12million Dubai World Cup on 28 March. It features the last two winners Walk Of Stars and Kabirkhan, both trained by Bhupat Seemar, who has six of the nine runners.

“Walk Of Stars had a lot of weight to give away first time out, against horses who were race fit,” Seemar said of the gelding’s fourth in the Listed Entisar in December.

“He’s fit and off level weights so hopefully he’s going to give a good showing.”

Seemar also trains Artorius for owners Juddmonte, who finished second to Heart Of Honor in the Listed Entisar last time out.

Imperial Emperor was the impressive winner of the G2 Al Maktoum Mile last time out and steps back up in trip here.

Taking on the Seemar team is Heart Of Honor, who beat four of Friday’s rivals last time with a late run to secure victory in the Entisar.

“We know the style in which he’s going to race, it’s ‘win ugly’,” said trainer Jamie Osborne. “He certainly conserves energy on the way round, but that’s probably one of the factors which makes him such a strong stayer.

“As long as they go hard and turn it into a proper end to end, stamina-requiring race, then he’ll be coming into his own.”

The G1 Jebel Hatta [presented by Longines], race seven, looks to revolve around Opera Ballo, who was hugely taking when winning the G2 Rashidiya in December. Taking him on is stablemate Nations Pride, a four-time G1 winner, as well as G1 Canadian International winner Silawi, for trainer Hamad Al Jehani.

Midak, making his first start for trainer Ian Williams and owner Fitri Hay, looks a fascinating recruit having won a Group 3 in France last May, while last year’s third Holloway Boy and Charlie Fellowes’ Vafortino complete the line-up.

The G2 Al Fahidi Fort, race three, over 1400metres on turf, features a rematch between the last two winners; Mysterious Night, successful in 2024 and Marbaan, who beat him last year.

Trained by Michael Costa, Marbaan was third behind Mysterious Night in the Listed Business Bay Challenge in December, but the trainer issued an upbeat bulletin.

“It’s not often you get to say this in Dubai, but he didn’t appreciate the soft ground last start,” he said. “It was still his best performance on rain-affected ground and we expect to see him properly let down back on the good going this week.”

Witness Stand, winner of the G2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood in July, makes his local debut for trainers Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole.

The G3 Al Shindagha Sprint, race four, over 1200metres on dirt, is a fascinating affair, with G3 Dubawi Stakes winner El Nasseeb clashing again with second, third and fourth Mufasa, Colour Up and Dark Saffron.

Having his third run in this race, Colour Up represents Doug Watson, who gave an upbeat bulletin about the eight-year-old.

Seemar, who won this race 12 months ago with Tuz, runs three, including impressive last out handicap winner Drew’s Gold.