Middle East

Japanese Derby hero Danon Decile is the latest to skip the Dubai World Cup night at the end of the month in favour of a target closer to home, Keiba Lab reported on X. Connections have indicated the G1 Osaka Hai on April 5 is his aim. He joins Masquerade Ball (Duramente) and Jantar Mantar (Palace Malice) in defecting from the March 28 meeting due to the ongoing conflict in Iran and surrounding countries. "Danon Decile, the 2024 Derby winner who dominated in last year's Dubai Sheema Classic, will skip...

After another big week of Kentucky Derby preps and with the Dubai World Cup on the horizon, there was plenty to unpack in this week's TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland. The trio of Zoe Cadman, Randy Moss, and T.D. Thornton broke down the weekend's biggest performances. Cadman made sure to school her American colleagues on the correct pronunciation of The Puma (Essential Quality), the winner of the GIII Tampa Bay Derby. "He is named for Gustavo Delgado Sr., because apparently that's what they call him and I can kind...

Despite the current conflict in neighboring countries, G2 1351 Turf Sprint winner Reef Runner has been training in Dubai to make his next start on Dubai World Cup day. Owner Alex Lieblong joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to talk about his decision to soon be joining his stable star in Dubai.

Godolphin's Group 1 scorer Tornado Alert (Too Darn Hot) will be freshened for the rest of the summer with the G2 Bahrain International Trophy in November penciled in as a long-term target, according to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. A winner at two, the son of Bint Almatar (Kingmambo) ran fourth in the G1 2000 Guineas in May and was sixth to Lambourn (Australia) in the G1 Derby at Epsom in June. Wheeled back in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, the bay was second that day. He was...

4th-Jebel Ali, AED60,000, Maiden, 2yo, 1000m, 1:00.21, ft. RAZEEN DUBAI (c, 2, Frosted--War Poppy, by Discreet Cat) opened his account in promising fashion at first asking Friday at Jebel Ali. Given a positive ride by Royston Ffrench, the Pennsylvania-bred stayed on strongly up the rise through the final stages to defeat Classic City (Constitution) by a convincing five lengths. The winner's dam, a daughter of the classy War Thief (Lord At War {Arg}), was purchased for $85,000 in foal to Animal Kingdom at Keeneland November in 2017. She is also...