Lord Glitters Shines Opening Night of Dubai Carnival

The Dubai World Cup Carnival is expected to shape up fields for the big night at Meydan Racecourse in March but the opening salvo on Jan. 21 produced some mixed results. Eight-year-old Lord Glitters (FR) ended a long losing streak, winning the evening's turf feature with style while Military Law (GB) posted a mild upset in the night's biggest race on the dirt. Favorites fared less well. Lord Gitters could see all 10 rivals through most of the evening's turf feature, the Singspiel Stakes Sponsored by Riviera by Azizi (G2), then launched a bid exiting the turn. As the early leaders hit a stiff breeze whipping down the Meydan straight, he got by all of them to draw off and win by 3 lengths. Godolphin runners Zakouski (GB), Dream Castle (GB), and Art Du Val (GB) filled the next three placings but well-fancied Military March (GB), making his first start after finishing fourth in the Qipco Two Thousand Guineas (G1) last June, folded his tents in the lane and finished eighth. "It probably did not go totally to plan because we missed the break a bit," winning jockey Adrie de Vries said. "But after that, it all went smoothly. I just took my time, and, in the straight, he just powered home in the style of the very good horse we know he is." Lord Glitters, a light gray Whipper gelding, had not visited the winner's enclosure since June of 2019 when he won the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. He was ninth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita Park that year. On the Meydan dirt, Military Law came from a pace-stalking trip, found a gaping opening at the top of the stretch, and went on to win the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 Stakes Sponsored by Mina by Azizi (G2) by 1 1/4 lengths from Thegreatcollection. Salute The Soldier (GER) was a similar margin farther back in third. The favorite in the international markets, Capezzano, showed the way early and faded through the lane. Military Law, a 6-year-old Dubawi (IRE) gelding, finished second in both Round 2 and Round 3 of the 2020 Maktoum Challenge before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1). He was not listed among the likely starters for the 2020 World Cup but now is an early candidate for this year's renewal. "This is just a lovely horse," rider Antonio Fresu said of Military Law. "We only ran him four times last season, and he was progressive over further. But we thought they would go quick here, which would bring his stamina into play. Luckily, that proved the case. "It is particularly special for me because I ride him every day, so I knew he was a lot stronger and, basically, a better horse this season. So we waited for this race," Fresu added. Thegreatcollection, Capezzano, and Salute The Soldier finished first, third, and fourth, respectively, in the Dubai Creek Mile Presented By Longines Dec. 17 and all are likely to see further action during the Carnival. The evening also marked jockey Frankie Dettori's seasonal debut—a night that started on a slow fuse but ended with a bang. Out of the frame on his first three mounts, including the disappointment on Military March, Dettori won the evening's last two races, the Al Fahidi Fort Sponsored by Creek Views by Azizi (G2) on Land Of Legends (IRE) for Godolphin and the program-closing handicap aboard Equilateral (GB) for trainer Charlie Hills. The Al Fahidi Fort, at 1,400 meters on the turf, is a pointer to the Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1) on World Cup night and Land Of Legends, a 5-year-old Iffraaj (GB) horse, could be a candidate for that race. Land Of Legends' trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, said, "Isn't it great to see Frankie back, winning races and as well as ever? We have been friends for about 27 years." Dettori, never at a loss for words, added, "Honestly, I'm delighted." Trainer Doug Watson, whose powerhouse stable has been unable to race for weeks during a COVID-19-related quarantine, finally was allowed to send horses back on track. The horses were handed off from Watson's staff to substitutes for their appearances at Meydan. The plan paid off quickly as the Watson-trained Golden Goal roared home a 3 1/2-length winner in the 1,400-meter (about 7 furlongs) handicap that opened the night's program. Watson also conditions Thegreatcollection, second in the Al Maktoum Challenge and Waady, second in the Dubawi Stakes Sponsored by Park Avenue by Azizi (G3). The Carnival continues Jan. 28 with the UAE One Thousand Guineas and the Cape Verde Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares at one mile on the turf as the highlights.