Star Empire gets up late for 2nd in the Gr2 $1m Dubai Gold Cup

Star Empire, the game 8 year old, ran on well yet again to snatch 2nd place in the $1m Dubai Gold Cup over 3200 metres on the World Cup card. He had no chance with the winner, Brown Panther, but went one place better than his 3rd place finish of last year.

Star Empire places 3rd in the Gr3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy in Dubai

Having placed 2nd and 3rd in the same 2810 metre turf event in the last two years, the 8 year old Star Empire stayed on to finish a clear but comfortably beaten 3rd in the 2015 Nad Al Sheba Trophy.

Connections will be hoping he can once again take up a place in the Dubai Gold Cup on the World Cup card.

Vercingetorix far too good in Dubai Gr2

Vercingetorix, son of champion sire Silvano, returned to the track tonight for the first time since his 3rd place finish at Sha-Tin in April 2014.

He faced a small field in the $200,000 Gr2 Al Rashidiya on the turf over 1800 metres (9 furlongs) which included the Godolphin horse True Story (GB), an impressive winner in a stakes event three weeks ago over the same trip.

Vercingetorix proved simply far too good in this line-up, cruising past True Story in the home straight. He took his career record to (9) 7-1-1 and became the 4th SAf-bred to win this race in the last 11 years.

Where to next? My guess is he'll go for a repeat in the Gr1 Jebel Hatta before heading into the big race on World Cup night.