UAE 1000 Guineas challenge led by Really Special

Really Special headlines three Godolphin contenders in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas, with Calare and Voice Of Truth also lining up in the mile feature on dirt at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, February 9.
 
All three fillies contested the seven-furlong trial for the Classic on January 19, when Really Special maintained her unbeaten record with an impressive victory. Calare and Voice Of Truth came home fifth and 10th respectively. 
 
Really Special, by Shamardal, was a decisive winner of a mile Listed race on turf at Newmarket last season, while Calare was also victorious at Listed level over the same distance on turf when scoring at the Curragh, Ireland, in October.
 
Saeed bin Suroor said: “Really Special is an unbeaten filly who won the trial for this race well.
 
“She is stepping back up to a mile now and is ready to go. She has been working nicely and has the class to run another big race.
 
“Voice Of Truth tries hard in her races but doesn’t show a great deal when working in the mornings.”
 
Charlie Appleby commented: “Hopefully, the experience of running on dirt and the step up in trip will see a bit more improvement from Calare.
 
“Her best run was over a stiff mile with a bit of juice in the ground at the Curragh, and the drop back to a quick seven furlongs in the trial was always going to be hard work for her. She didn’t disgrace herself and kept at it after getting outpaced.
 
“I have been pleased with her preparation and she should be thereabouts.”
 
Voice Of Truth is drawn one of the 11 runners, with Calare coming out of stall eight and Really Special nine.
 
A busy night for Godolphin on the first day of a Dubai World Cup Carnival double-header this week also sees G2 Al Fahidi Fort runner-up Flash Fire drop back down in class for the 10-runner Range Rover Handicap (21.25hrs), in which he is top-weight and drawn three, over seven furlongs on turf.
 
Emotionless, sixth in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1, continues on dirt in the 10-furlong Range Rover Sport Handicap (19.40hrs) and the four-year-old, the joint top-weight, is joined in the 10-furlong contest by Alabaster, who steps up in distance after finishing third over a mile at Meydan on January 26.

Listed winner Best Of Times, who also jointly heads the weights, last season’s Lincoln handicap scorer Secret Brief, recent Meydan handicap second Folkswood and Classic Collection, who made a winning seasonal reappearance at Meydan on January 28, all go on turf in the nine-furlong Jaguar F-Type Handicap (22.00hrs).

Progressive dual All-Weather winner Commander Cole and UAE 2000 Guineas Trial third Top Score both return to turf for the Meydan Classic Trial Sponsored By Jaguar XF (19.05hrs) over seven furlongs.