Horseracing season begins on Oct.29 at Al Ain Racecourse

The fixture list of the 2020-21 UAE racing season has been approved by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Emirates Racing Authority (ERA).

Sheikh Mansoor said: “We are pleased to announce the ERA Race Fixture for the racing season 2020-21, which will provide the owners, trainers and fans an integrated season on the UAE’s 5 racecourses. Through this fixture, we offer Local and International races for the thoroughbred and Arabian horses”.

The season will offer 66 races dates and opens at Al Ain Racecourse on Oct. 29, 2020. Jebel Ali Racecourse and Sharjah Racecourse will commence their seasons on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. Meydan Racecourse gets underway on Nov. 5, while Abu Dhabi Racecourse will commence their season on Nov. 8.

Meydan’s season will have 19 meets, Abu Dhabi 15, Al Ain 14, Jebel Ali 11 and Sharjah 7.

In March this year, in light of the fast-developing coronavirus situation the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) cancelled the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Micheline seeks comfort in G3 Regret Stakes: Dual Stakes-winning filly Micheline goes in search of a first G3 win in the Regret Stakes over nine furlongs on turf at Churchill Downs in US on Saturday.

The Michael Stidham-trained three-year-old stayed on strongly for a decisive victory on her latest start in the extended-mile Honey Ryder Stakes at Gulfstream Park on May 2.

She also enjoyed Stakes success as a juvenile, showing a potent turn of foot to take the mile Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park in September.

Micheline was narrowly denied a victory at G3 level in the mile Sweetest Chant Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February, when she powered home from the rear of the field to finish a close second. Joe Bravo partners the daughter of Bernardini.

Michael Stidham said: “Micheline has been training really well since she won the Honey Ryder Stakes. We have been looking for a race like this that gives her the chance to stretch out a little further in trip, which we think will play into her hands.

“Her only disappointing run this year came in the Florida Oaks, when the jockey came back and said he got a horrible trip. We drew a line through that race and she proved that it was a one-off when coming back to win at Gulfstream Park.

“Joe Bravo got to know the filly when he rode her last time out and I think that we are in a good spot.”

Elsewhere, closely matched seven-furlong specialists On The Warpath and Mubtasim square off again in the G3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket in UK on Saturday.

The Charlie Appleby-trained duo have twice fought out the finish to handicaps over the same trip, with On The Warpath scoring by a length at last year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival in February, 2019. The exact margin separated the pair in a Newmarket handicap two months later, when Mubtasim prevailed.

On The Warpath (William Buick) subsequently posted a decisive win in a six-furlong handicap at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting last May and the five-year-old makes his G3 debut after coming home fourth in a Meydan handicap over seven furlongs in February.

Mubtasim (James Doyle) also wintered in Dubai, following up a good third in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan with a head second in the inaugural 1351 Cup at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the end of February.

Charlie Appleby said: “On The Warpath’s preparation has gone well since he came back from Dubai. He won a six-furlong handicap over this course last year and deserves a chance at this level.”