Fort George battles to Group 3 success at Dubai Racing Carnival

It was a brilliant night for international raiders at Meydan’s tenth Dubai Racing Carnival meeting of the season, highlighted by a thrilling win by Fort George in the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes.

Trained in the UK by Ed Walker, Fort George was on and off the lead in the 2000metre turf contest, losing it to Arabian Light inside the final 100metres, only to get back up on the line when that rival drifted right across the track.

It was a dramatic third win of the Carnival for jockey Kieran Shoemark.

A superb night for European raiders included a double for Denmark. Jockey Oliver Wilson celebrated his first Dubai Racing Carnival win and trainer Soren Jensen his second when Taifuu caused a shock in the Mawj Stakes [sponsored by DP World].

The three-year-old fillies’ contest, over 1400metres on turf, looked competitive on paper and it was the locally trained Miss Yechance who took them along, with favourite Dance To The Music looming up in the straight. Over the top of them all came Taifuu, who collected her third win in a row, beating Fairy Oak by three-quarters of a length.

Things got even better for Denmark when trainer Bent Olsen became a Carnival winner after a decade of trying thanks to Great Wish in the Listed Dubai Sprint [sponsored by DP World.]

Ridden by Mickael Barzalona, the five-year-old survived a bump at the start and settled just behind the pace, hitting the front more than 400metres from home and staying on well to beat Two Tribes by a length and a half, with G2 winner West Acre in third.

Title Role is highly regarded by trainers Simon and Ed Crisford and he made his second Meydan start a winning one in the opening Jumeirah Guineas Trial [sponsored by DP World].

Ridden by James Doyle, the Coolmore-owned colt was ridden up with the slow early pace from his wide draw in 10 and asserted 300metres from home. He crossed the line a length and a quarter ahead of the staying-on Sword Maker.

Salloom looks a UAE Derby contender after a devastating performance in the JAFZA Logistics Park Maiden, over 1600metres on dirt.

The imposing son of Authentic, ridden by Tadhg O’Shea for Bhupat Seemar, was quickly away and then content to dispute the lead with Music Lad. O’Shea hit the ‘go’ button at the 400metre and the colt responded well, powering away for a near seven-length win over National History.

Doug Watson unveiled another exciting dirt horse in Tap Leader, a Russian G1 winner, who made his UAE debut a winning one in the JAFZA Handicap, over 2000metres.

An eight-time winner in Russia, the five-year-old son of Tapiture came with a sustained run in the hands of Pat Dobbs to deny Generous Tipper close home.

The Crisfords enjoyed a double when Telemark collected his second win of the season in the DP World Logistics Handicap, over 1600metres on dirt.

Ridden by William Buick, he was positioned in midfield behind a fast early pace and came with a powerful late run to collar Mount Kosciuszko on the line.