Dubai Golden Shaheen:

Location: Meydan Racecourse

Total Prize: US$2,000,000

Official Website: http://www.dubairacingclub.com

First run: 1993 (formerly Nad Al Sheba Sprint )

Qualification: 3yr olds and up by invitation only.

Distance: 1200 metres

Race Record: 1:08.10 Big Jag 2000

Track: Tapeta (synthetic all-weather), left handed.

Track Bias: this synthetic Tapeta track was used for the 1^st time for the running of the 2010 Dubai Gold Cup. So far, it seems on pace runners usually have an advantage, particularly in sprint events, and some horses that go well on dirt do not handle the synthetic surface as well, while horses that have performed well on grass often do better. Previous versions of this race have been held down the straight but since 2010 on the new track includes one corner, an inside draw is an advantage and on pace or leading is the best place to be in the home straight.

History: First run as part of the Dubai World Cup meeting in 1996 with the inaugural race won by Kassbaan, an American bred horse trained by Saeed Bin Suroor and owned by Maktoum bin Rashin Al Maktoum. Along with other family members he was the founder of the now world famous Godolphin Stables and behind the establishment of thoroughbred racing in Dubai and the establishment of the state of the art Meydan Racecourse complex. In the next 2 years the race would be won by British bred horses but since 1999 all winners have been American bred horses where dirt racing is more common than in other countries.

Past Winners: Kinsale King 2010, Big City Man 2009,  Caller One 2001-2002, Mud Alley (GB) 1998, Atraf (GB) 1997

Lead Up Form: Formerly the dirt track sprint specialists, usually from U.S.A. or American bred, were dominating this race but since the change to Tapeta they have had less success. As always in sprint races speed will tell the story.

Related Races: The Dubai Golden Shaheen is a featured race on Dubai World Cup night which also includes the US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic and Dubai Duty Free, the Group 3 Al Quoz Sprint, worth US$1 million, to be run over 1200m on turf, the UAE Derby worth US$2 million, and the US$1 million Godolphin Mile. The evening kicks off with the Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians.

Top Jockeys & Trainers: Gary Stevens and Alex Stevens have each ridden 2 winners, Dhruba Selvratnam and James Chapman have each trained 2 winners.

About the Track: "Meydan" is the Arabic word for meeting place. The grandstand is the longest in the world at 1.6km. There are no on course tote or bookmaker facilities as gambling is not permitted in the UAE. Punters who live outside of the UAE can bet on Dubai racing with our recommended online bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au.