Watson triggers $12m Dubai World Cup dream for Russian connections

Eight-time UAE champion handler Doug Watson has made a reputation for himself as a go-to trainer for East European-raced horses and he demonstrated just why when he sent out two exciting Russian-owned gallopers to finish one-two in the Dubai Islands handicap Presented by Nakheel at Meydan on Friday.

Kabirkhan, a Kentucky-bred son of former Dubai World Cup (G1) scorer California Chrome, eclipsed a quality field to win the 2,000 metres dirt contest in telling fashion under Watson’s long-time stable jockey Pat Dobbs.

What was particularly impressive about the performance of the four-year-old who was making his Meydan debut, and first start after a gap of 132 days, was how he coped with a less-than-favourable run.

Forced to race wide after a poor start, Kabirkhan made good progress at the top of the home straight and once asked for his effort he produced a set of gears that saw him dominate what was left of the contest to cross the line four lengths clear of stable companion and fellow Russian raider, Hero Mo, under Sam Hitchcott.

Watson revealed that the owners of Kabirkhan, a $12,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, had aspirations for the Dubai World Cup on March 30.

"That's what they brought them over here for," the trainer said at Meydan. "I'd love to run in it but let's see what happens in the next few weeks. I think they'd both do well in the second leg of the Maktoum Challenge (Jan. 26). I think they'd be competitive in that."

As the new-look Dubai World Cup Carnival gathered more pace Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby and stable jockey Williams Buick combined to take out the Al Wasl Sakes, a six-furlong turf contest, with the homebred filly Star of Mystery.

Buick’s mount delivered a solid effort to have the measure of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) third, Starlust.

Buick commented: “Star Of Mystery jumped slowly, but she was in the stalls for a while and had not run for some time either. I didn’t really mind because she does like passing horses.

“She is a strong traveller and I managed to find the horses that she had to beat. I was quite taken with the way she travelled to the furlong-and-a-half pole. She has plenty of energy but, when she can channel it in the right direction, she is a very good filly.”

Lesser fancied Border Edge won the Palm West Beach handicap Presented by Nakheel under former champion apprentice Andrew Slattery from Ireland while Tadhg O’Shea opened his account for the day aboard Webinar in The Palm Crown handicap Presented by Nakheel.