Meydan return for Comicas & Fly At Dawn

Comicas and Fly At Dawn return from time off as the UAE racing season steps up a gear at Meydan on Thursday, December 21. 

Both horses are trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, with Comicas lining up in the 12-runner Listed Garhoud Sprint over six furlongs on dirt in stall six. He finished second over the same course and distance in last season’s G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. 

The four-year-old, a six-furlong dirt handicap winner at Meydan in February, made two appearances on turf in the UK over the summer, including a good third in the G2 Duke Of York Stakes at York in May. 

Three-year-old Fly At Dawn, who runs on dirt in the 10-furlong Listed Entisar Stakes, has his first start since staying on well to take fifth behind Thunder Snow in the G2 UAE Derby over half a furlong shorter in March. 

The son of Discreet Cat was the comfortable winner of the seven-furlong UAE 2000 Guineas Trial last season and finished runner-up over the same trip on turf in the Listed Meydan Classic. He is due to take on 12 rivals.

Charlie Appleby said: “Fly At Dawn ran a creditable race in the UAE Derby, when he was putting in his best work at the end, and a mile and quarter should suit. 

“We gave him the summer off and he has had a good preparation. It is always a little tough taking on the older horses at this time of year but this will give us a benchmark of where we are ahead of the Carnival next month. 

“Comicas produced a career-best over this course and distance in the Dubai Golden Shaheen and will take a lot of beating if he can repeat that performance. 

“He put up a couple of decent efforts in Europe over the summer and had a nice break going into this.”