El Nasseeb confirmed his status at the top of the United Arab Emirates sprinting community with a decisive victory in the Dubawi Stakes (G3) over 1,200 meters (approximately 6 furlongs) on the sand.
The 5 year old Profitable the whole thing lurked well behind the early leader, winner of the 2025 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) Dark saffron who, for the second race in a row, finished before the 1,000 meters had been completed. Dark Saffron gave way to Mufasa a 6 year old van Practical joke who seemed to have the race wrapped up until El Nasseeb and jockey Silvestre De Sousa blew past and went on to win by 3 lengths.
Mufasa had a lead of 4 3/4 lengths Color up at the finish, as Dark Saffron faded to finish fifth, beaten by 10 lengths in his second straight disappointment.
El Nasseeb was a minor player in the UAE in the 2024/25 season but has started the current season with a bang. He won his first attempt, the Al Garhoud Sprint, on December 5, in similar fashion to the Dubawi attempt, hanging on as Dark Saffron led a suicidal battle in the lead. Color Up finished second and Mufasa fourth.
American fans will remember Mufasa as the winner of the Vosburgh Stakes (G3) and Mr. 2024 Prospector Stakes (G3) op Gulfstream Parkin which he defeated White Abarrio then trained by Ignacio Correas IV.
De Sousa, who leads the 2024-25 UAE season, said he was “delighted when I took (El Nasseeb) back. In the 1,000 meters he changed the lead and took off. He is a beautiful horse going forward.”
Asked if El Nasseeb could wield the Golden Shaheen this year, De Sousa said: “I think so. He is a big player.”
Quddwah takes Zabeel Mile
Quddwah with James Doyle replacing trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, chasing Audience at deep stretch in the Zabeel Mile (G2T) and ran on to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Aomori City keen audience for second place.
Quddwah, a 6 year old son of Kingman racing for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, was last seen finishing well above the course in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse in October. He previously finished second in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2) at Longchamp.
His mother, Sajjhaa won the 2013 Dubai Duty Free (G1T), now the Dubai Turf, in a campaign for Godolphin that took her as far as Italy and Hong Kong. Doyle and Ed Crisford agreed that Quddwah had the potential to follow in her footsteps, at least as far as the Dubai Turf.
“He’s won a Group 2 before,” Crisford noted. “Hopefully he has bigger and better things ahead. There are races (before the Dubai Turf). There is a race in Abu Dhabi. We’ll see how far we get and if we go through to World Cup night.”
Doyle warned that Group 1 will face a tougher assignment in March.
“It would be tough for him. In such a race we have Japanese horses and horses from all over the world.”
Not this time, Colt will start the Guineas trial in the UAE
Six speeds A Not this time Colt, who featured prominently in the Two Thousand Guineas Trial in the UAE, took the lead with a move down the rail in the stretch and pulled away to win by 3 lengths Legalized. William Buick rode for trainer Bhupat Seemar as Six Speed, bred in Kentucky by KatieRich Farms, won for the second time in three starts.
“For a horse that went from six furlongs to seven furlongs, he was very strong at the finish,” Buick said. “He is a worthy candidate for the (UAE) Two Thousand Guineas.”
Six Speed wins the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Trial at Meydan Racecourse
The event was sponsored by Churchill Downs and 12 of the 16 runners were of American descent.
Northern champion led deep into the Jumeirah Stakes for 3-year-olds over 1,400 meters on the turf and narrowly surrendered the lead to the favourite, Catullusbut found a final burst to take the lead again at the finish with a short head. The Wootton Bassett colt, trained by Ed Walker, made his seasonal debut.
“My boy was brave and showed a lot of determination today,” said winning rider Kieran Shoemark. “He’s an intriguing horse.”
The last race of the evening continued Square a 5 year old Frankel gelding whose last start yielded a 10th place in the Melbourne Cup (G1), also ahead of Sheikh Ahmed and the team of Simon and Ed Crisford.
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