There were wild celebrations at Meydan Racecourse after Kabirkhan stormed into the Dubai World Cup picture with a runaway victory in the $1million G1 Maktoum Challenge – the feature race of the new ‘Fashion Friday.’
That was special
Kabirkhan brilliantly preserves his unbeaten Meydan record in the Al Maktoum Challenge presented by @Longines
What a horse …
#FashionFriday | #DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/h9jWut1TmU
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) January 26, 2024
The Kazakhstan-owned colt had 30 supporters from his home country on course to witness his four and three-quarter length demolition job which gave Champion Trainer Doug Watson a first Thoroughbred Group 1.
Ridden by Pat Dobbs, this was an effortless victory which earned the four-year-old – a handicap winner just two weeks before – an automatic starting place in the $12million Dubai World Cup on March 30th.
This is INCREDIBLE!
Watch KABIRKHAN make his debut at Almaty Hippodrome in Kazakhstan in 2022…and then watch his runaway G1 win in the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan @RacingDubai last night!
pic.twitter.com/Z6jKSZtLwp
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) January 27, 2024
“He might be the best mile and a quarter horse I’ve ever trained,” said Watson. “We’ll see what the owners want to do next but I’m glad he’s in our yard. I’m delighted for our team, Pat and of course everybody in Kazakhstan.”
"It's massive for everyone."
Pat Dobbs adamant that Kabirkhan is the real deal following his awesome success in the Al Maktoum Challenge presented by @Longines
What an exciting prospect for the Dubai World Cup
#FashionFriday | #DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/kXTS9oboEk
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) January 26, 2024
Dobbs, riding his first Thoroughbred G1 winner in the UAE, added; “this is massive for everyone, especially Doug. He’s such a good mover, he [Kabirkhan] doesn’t feel like he’s doing the times he is. Doug has a smile on his face whenever he sees him.”
