There has to be a doubt about the meeting going ahead on Thursday
From Racing Post......
Now torrential rain hits Dubai
by Rodney Masters
.
FROM Newbury to Nad Al Sheba, torrential rain was causing a problem for racing on Tuesday.
Persistent downpours in Dubai are threatening Wednesday's opening meeting of the richly endowed Dubai carnival and there will be an inspection of the course on Wednesday to see if racing can go-ahead.
There was standing water on the turf course late Tuesday afternoon, and further rain was forecast. Dubai Racing Club chief executive Frank Gabriel, who is also clerk of the course, said the ground was “extremely soft” on the turf track.
“We will inspect the course on Wednesday and discuss prospects for the meeting,” he said. At one stage it was mooted the fixture may be rescheduled for Saturday, but last night that was looking a less likely option.
Lambourn trainer Stan Moore, who has a team of nine in Dubai, hopes to saddle Impeller, Final Verse and Azarole should tomorrow's card go ahead.
“We weren't expecting conditions anything like this and it has taken us by surprise,” he said.
“The rain has been non-stop since we arrived on Monday. The dirt course will be very sloppy and the turf will ride very, very soft. Apart from the rain, it's also far colder than we'd anticipated.”
If the weather does ease, the highlight of the six thoroughbred races on the opening day will be the first round of the Group 3 Maktoum Challenge over 1m on dirt.
Imperialista will attempt to record back to back wins. Last year, he was operating under the flag of Brazil, but was subsequently acquired by Godolphin andwill be ridden by Frankie Dettori. Imperialista represents Godolphin in preference to other entries, the ex-Roger Charlton-trained Third Set and Colorado Rapid.
Britain will be represented by Gerard Butler's seven-year-old Jack Sullivan (Mick Kinane) a winner at Lingfield last month, who will be seeking his fourth course success at Nad Al Sheba, and the Gay Kelleway-trained Vortex (Johnny Murtagh), who won a handicap at Nad al Sheba last winter.
Mick Channon has yet to travel his small but select team to Dubai, but he will work them at Kempton on Sunday. The trainer said: “The weather has been atrocious and there's a limit to what you can do with them at home when it's like that.”