Godolphin’s Measured Time can enter the history books as the first horse to win the Group 2 Al Rashidiya for a second successive time at the Dubai Carnival’s Festive Friday at Meydan.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Frankel colt was an outstanding victor of the 1,900-metre prize 12 months ago and the connections are hopeful the four-year-old can recreate that run following a campaign in the USA.
Measured Time finished fourth in the Group 1 Dubai Turf on the night of the Dubai World Cup after winning the Al Rashidiya and the Group 1 Jebel Hatta.
After defeating stablemate Nations Pride in the Group 1 Manhattan at Saratoga, he went on to record his first US victory. In August, he finished second to Far Bridge in the Sword Dancer Stakes, also held at Saratoga.
Appleby stated on Godolphin’s official website that “Measured Time didn’t quite see out the mile and a half in the Sword Dancer.” We are happy with his preparedness, and he has had a pleasant break.
Over this course and distance, he has clearly displayed excellent form, and as we look to a winter program akin to last season, we hope he can end the year on a positive note.”
Appleby’s other runners are Native Approach in the Listed Business Bay Challenge, Passion and Glory in the Listed Entisar, and Royal Power and Flying Honours in the Dubai Racing Club Classic handicap rated 85-105.
In order to finish Godolphin’s campaign that evening, Movie Maker and Ghaly are both entered in the Business Bay Challenge by Godolphin’s Emirati trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
The nine-race card for Festive Friday includes the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 for the Purebred Arabians, along with six pattern prizes. However, the Dh1 million Group 2 Al Maktoum Mile—a precursor to the Godolphin Mile and Dubai World Cup—is the official feature.
The six-runner field includes the Dubai World Cup-winning trainer Bhupat Seemar’s exciting new recruit Artorius. The five-year-old son of the 2017 Dubai World Cup winner Arrogate has won three times from 11 starts when trained by Chad Brown back in the US.
He then moved to the Zabeel Stables in Dubai and will be in action for the first time in more than five months. “Artorius won the Curlin Stakes in America, but hasn’t been here that long, so we’re still finding out about him,” Seemar said of the Juddmonte Farms-owned runner.
