Al Maktoum Mile Explained

Surface:Dirt
Class:Group 2
Horse Race:Al Maktoum Mile
Location:Meydan Racecourse
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Inaugurated:1994
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Distance:1,600 metres
Track:Left-handed
Purse:$250,000 (2015)

The Al Maktoum Mile, is a horse race run over a distance of 1,600 metres (1 mile) in late December on dirt at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Previously known as the Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 1 it was the first of three races in the Al Maktoum Challenge series which serve as trial races for the Dubai World Cup.

It was first run in 1994 on dirt at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. It was transferred to Meydan in 2010 where it was run on the synthetic Tapeta Footings surface. In 2015 the synthetic surface at Meydan was replaced by a dirt track.[1]

The race began as an ungraded stakes race before attaining Listed status in 1996. The race was elevated to Group 3 level in 2002 and became a Group 2 event in 2013.

The distance of the race changed from 1600 metres (8 furlongs). For the 2023–24 racing season the event was renamed to the Al Maktoum Mile and moved to be held in late December.[2]

Records

Record time:

Most wins by a horse:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
1994Red Rainbow6Johnny MurtaghDhruba SelvaratnamJaffar Ali1:39.20
1995Halling4John CarrollSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:38.40
1996Tamayaz4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:37.18
1997Kammtarra4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:35.62
1998Wathik8Paul EdderyPaddy RudkinSaeed Al Ghandi1:37.63
1999Spindrift4Gary HindSaeed bin SuroorRashid bin Mohammed1:35.48
2000Siege4Sylvain GuillotSaeed bin SuroorHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:35.70
2001China Visit4John CarrollSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:36.12
2002Skoozi6Wayne SmithAllan SmithRashid bin Ahmed Al Mualla1:35.99
2003Estimraar6Wayne SmithMazin Al KurdiRashid bin Mohammed1:36.81
2004State Shinto8Ryan MooreMazin Al KurdiRashid bin Mohammed1:37.37
2005Grand Emporium4Weichong MarwingMike de KockA Geemooi1:39.92
2006Blatant7Richard HillsIsmail MohammedPrincess Haya of Jordan1:36.71
2007Imperialista3M CardosoCosme MorgadoEstrela Energia Stables1:35.96
2008Happy Boy4Jose Aparecido da SilvaP Nickel FilhoRoberto A L Reichert 1:36:37
2009My Indy4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:36.52
2010Gloria de Campeao6Tiago Josue PereiraPascal BaryEstrela Energia Stables1:38.48
2011Mendip4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:36.45
2012Musir5Christophe SoumillonMike de KockMohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum 1:35.85
2013Barbecue Eddie9Dane O'NeillDoug Watsom1:37.24
2014Shuruq4Silvestre de SousaSaeed bin Suroor1:35.84
2015Surfer6Richard MullenSatish SeemarZabeel Racing International1:38.21
2016Le Bernardin7Tadhg O'SheaAli Rashid Al RaiheAhmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:37.12
2017Le Bernardin8Tadhg O'SheaAli Rashid Al RaiheAhmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:36.67
2018Heavy Metal8Mickael BarzalonaSalem bin GhadayerHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:37.80
2019North America7Richard MullenSatish SeemarHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:35.88
2020Kimbear6Pat DobbsDoug WatsonRashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi1:37.56
2021Military Law6Antonio FresuMusabbeh Al MheiriNasir Askar1:36.42
2022Golden Goal8Sam Hitchcott Doug WatsonDale Brennan1:37.90
2023 (Jan)Algiers6James DoyleSimon & Ed GrisfordHamdan Sultan Ali Alsabousi1:35.88
2023 (Dec)Isolate5Tyler GaffalioneDoug WatsonRRR Racing1:37.21

See also

References

  1. Web site: Dirt to replace Tapeta at Meydan for next season. https://web.archive.org/web/20140518010703/http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/uae-dirt-to-replace-tapeta-at-meydan-for-next-season/1656516/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews. dead. 18 May 2014. Peter Scargill. Racing Post. 14 May 2014.
  2. Web site: 2023-2024 Dubai Racing Carnival Brouchure . 30 January 2024 . 12-14 . 2023.