The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby is back in Dubai, and it's an exciting journey that's about to unfold! But here's where it gets controversial... or at least, a little unexpected. The Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes, taking place at Meydan Racecourse on February 20th, will be without the star colt, Six Speed, who has been creating quite a buzz this season in the Emirate.
Churchill Downs has amped up the Dubai series this year, adding two new races: the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3) and the Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes (formerly the Al Bastakiya). The UAE Derby (G2) has been moved out of the main qualifying series, becoming the grand finale of this Euro/Mideast Road.
Six Speed, a Not This Time colt, exceeded his trainer Bhupat Seemar's expectations by dominating the 1,600-meter Guineas on January 23rd. Seemar has decided to hold off on entering the colt in this race, opting instead to wait for the UAE Derby on March 28th, to see if he can handle the longer distance of 1,900 meters. The second and third-place finishers from the Guineas are also sitting this one out.
So, who's left? Well, the Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes will feature a field of 12 horses, with two non-runners declared from the original 14 entries. Six of these horses finished towards the back in the Guineas, three are yet to win a race (maidens), and five are trained by Seemar himself.
Seemar, a former assistant to the renowned Bob Baffert, is hoping for an improved performance from his horse, Salloom. Salloom, a colt by Authentic, finished last in the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) when ridden by Summer Is Tomorrow. Seemar believes Salloom is ready to take on the challenge, but there's one big concern: his behavior at the starting gate.
"Salloom is doing great and came out of his last race really well," Seemar said. "He's eager to go again, but I hope he behaves at the gate. That's the key to his success."
Any horse that shows improvement over the extended distance in this race will likely be considered for the UAE Derby. However, the UAE Derby is also a target for newcomers, including American horses, seeking a backdoor entry to the Run for the Roses. The UAE Derby offers a massive 100 points to the winner, virtually guaranteeing a spot in the first Saturday of May, regardless of what happens in the qualifying races. Friday's qualifying race will award points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers.
The Euro/Mideast Road continues its journey to England on February 25th with the Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at Kempton Park and then on to Dundalk on March 6th for the Patton Stakes, both on all-weather courses. And for those keeping track, the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby resumes on February 22nd with the Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse.
Over at Meydan, the UAE Oaks (G3) will feature a field of seven American-bred fillies. With the UAE Derby no longer part of the U.S. Road series, the UAE Oaks remains as part of the main Road to the Kentucky Oaks schedule, determining the field for the May 1st Kentucky Oaks (G1). The winner of the UAE Oaks will receive 50 points, putting them on par with seven other races in the Championship Series, currently led by Bella Ballerina with 60 points.
The UAE Oaks is set to be a rematch of the January 16th Cocoa Beach Stakes, with five of the top six finishers returning. This includes Labwah, a Charlatan filly, and Tjareed, a daughter of Yaupon. Tjareed led in the final 100 meters of the Cocoa Beach Stakes but was caught by Labwah in the closing strides.
The Balanchine Stakes (G2T), a 1,800-meter race on the grass for fillies and mares, will showcase three Godolphin runners: Dubai Beach and Dubai Treasure, both 5-year-olds, and Blue Nazare, a 4-year-old Dubawi filly. Dubai Beach and Dubai Treasure, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, finished first and third, respectively, in the Cape Verdi (G2T) in their last outing on January 16th.
The night's finale, the Nad Al Sheba Trophy (G3T), is a 2,810-meter test for potential candidates for the Dubai Gold Cup (G2T) on World Cup night. Eight horses are set to run, including By The Book for Godolphin, who are seeking their 12th win in this prestigious race.
