Dominant win for Dubai Future in Listed Dubai Racing Club Classic

Dubai Future enhanced his excellent record at Meydan with a comprehensive victory over Star Safari in the Listed Dubai Racing Club Classic on week one of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Friday, 14 January.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained son of Dubawi had chased home Walton Street in the same race in 2021 before going on to capture the Listed Meydan Cup, take second in the G2 Dubai City Of Gold and finish fifth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

After racing in mid-division for much of the 12-furlong contest, Dubai Future showed superb acceleration in the straight, quickening between horses to hit the front over a furlong from home. Dubai Future soon streaked clear for Pat Cosgrave, coming home five and a quarter-lengths ahead of Star Safari.

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Dubai Future won nicely and we will look for a Group race for him now. I think this distance of a mile and a half is best, although he could go a mile and six furlongs as well. He needs a break between races and always runs well fresh, so we will see how he comes out of this and look at running him back in Group company.”

Pat Cosgrave added: “I rode Dubai Future a couple of starts ago at Kempton, when he was very keen, and I learned from that day. I left him alone in the gates today and he relaxed better. I was looking for room turning in and, when I got it, he took off. He was very impressive.

“I think he really likes this track. There is a little bit of give underfoot and the style of racing suits him. He has won off 108 today and there is nowhere else for him apart from going into better races again. The way he won today, I think he is ready to step into the top level.”