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“Meydan Masters” jockeys’ challenge to enhance the global appeal of Dubai International Racing Carnival 2010

10. January 2010

Dubai, UAE, 10 January, 2010 - Dubai Racing Club announced the launch of “Meydan Masters”, an international jockeys’ challenge to be held on March 5, 2010 at the new Meydan Racecourse.

Held during the Dubai International Racing Carnival (DIRC), the “Meydan Masters” will add to its global appeal by featuring winning jockeys from the world’s 11 premier races of 2009. In addition to the winning jockeys of these leading races, the Dubai Racing Club will also issue a special invitation to another rider to bring the number to a perfect dozen.

“The races we have identified have been won by jockeys that are true masters of their craft and we are very excited about this initiative. We look forward to celebrating what will surely be a fantastic opening season at the Meydan Racecourse," said Dubai Racing Club CEO, Mr. Frank Gabriel.

He added: “The opening of Meydan will be history in the making and what better way to show that than by having 12 of the world’s best riders, who have excelled this year, all competing against one another at the Meydan racetrack. The Meydan Masters will be unique because of its group of cosmopolitan jockeys.”

The riders are:

Championship Race	Country	Horse	Jockey
Dubai World Cup	UAE	Well Armed	Aaron Gryder
Dubai Sheema Classic	UAE	Eastern Anthem	Ahmed Ajtebi
Kentucky Derby	USA	Mine That Bird	Calvin Borel
Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)	Japan	Logi Universe	Norihiro Yokoyama
Derby	GB	Sea the Stars	Michael Kinane*
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes	GB	Conduit	Ryan Moore
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe*	France	Sea the Stars	Michael Kinane*
Irish Derby	Ireland	Fame and Glory	John Murtagh
Melbourne Cup	Australia	Shocking	Corey Brown
Breeders’ Cup Classic	USA	Zenyatta	Mike Smith
Hong Kong Cup	Hong Kong	Vision D’Etat	Olivier Peslier
* St Leger	GB	Mastery	Ted Durcan
* Prix du Jockey Club	France	Le Havre	Christophe Lemaire

Meydan Board member Mr Malih Lahej Al Basti said that the Meydan Masters will be a competition with a difference: “With racing now being so international, it is difficult to establish a formula for which jockey should represent which country. Jockeys now don’t necessarily ride full time in their home country. For example, does Frankie Dettori represent Italy, or Darren Beadman and Douglas Whyte, who are so successful in Hong Kong, represent Australia and South Africa respectively?

“With the Meydan Masters, these world-class jockeys will represent themselves against their contemporaries from across the globe, those that excelled and triumphed on the biggest stage throughout 2009.”

Mr. Al Basti added: “Of course, there could be one rider fortunate enough to win more than one of the races we have identified, such as Frankie Dettori and Robbie Albarado in 2007, in which case we have identified alternate races in the same jurisdiction to invite another rider.”

“For instance, Michael Kinane was invited courtesy of his Derby win, but having also won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, we have had to go to the alternate French race, the Prix du Jockey Club and its winning rider, Christophe Lemaire.”

“His retirement means that we have also had to go to the alternate race in England which for 2010 was the St Leger and its winning rider Ted Durcan.”

The Meydan Masters will be held over four support races on the programme that features the recently upgraded Zabeel Mile, run for the first time in 2010 at Group 2 level. It will close the Carnival and build up to the US$10 million Dubai World Cup on March 27.

The Meydan Masters will conclude six weeks of quality international horse racing, comprising nine meetings and eighteen Group and Listed races, beginning with the opening round of the Al Maktoum Challenge on 28 January.

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