The 2026 Dubai Racing Carnival has launched with a bang, showcasing remarkable talent as international trainers deliver impressive performances, setting the tone for an exciting season filled with competitive races and high-stakes action across the event.
Dubai Racing Carnival Kicks Off 2026 With Powerful Performances From International Trainers.
International Powerhouses Set the Tone as Dubai Racing Carnival 2026 Roars Into Life
The opening night of the 2026 Dubai Racing Carnival delivered a powerful statement that resonated far beyond Meydan Racecourse. As the floodlights illuminated one of the world’s most iconic racing venues, it became immediately clear that the balance of power within the Carnival is shifting faster than ever before. Overseas trainers, armed with preparation, ambition, and elite equine talent, dominated proceedings in a way rarely seen in the event’s two-decade history.
What unfolded on Friday night was not merely a successful evening for international stables—it was a resounding declaration that the competitive gap between UAE-based handlers and their global counterparts is narrowing at remarkable speed. The results left little room for doubt: the international raiders had arrived not to participate, but to conquer.
At the forefront of this global charge were British trainers Jamie Osborne and the father-and-son partnership of Simon and Ed Crisford, each celebrating double victories on a night where British-trained horses repeatedly delivered under pressure. Their success was mirrored by wins from Newmarket-based George Scott and the formidable South American training duo Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga, further reinforcing the international nature of the triumphs.
Only a handful of established UAE-based trainers—including Charlie Appleby, Michael Costa, and Doug Watson—were able to prevent a complete clean sweep by overseas handlers. By the end of the evening, six of the nine races on a high-quality card, sponsored by Dubai Racing Club’s Pillar Partner DP World, had been claimed by horses trained outside the Emirates but operating from seasonal bases in Dubai.
A Carnival True to Its Global Vision
The Dubai Racing Carnival was launched in 2004 with a clear and ambitious vision: to create a truly international racing festival that would attract elite horses and trainers from across the globe well ahead of the Dubai World Cup. Over time, that vision has steadily evolved, but Friday’s opening meeting of 2026 may have represented its purest realisation yet.
With the Dubai World Cup now just two months away, international stables are no longer waiting until late winter to test the waters. Instead, they are arriving earlier, acclimatising their horses to both turf and dirt, and targeting Carnival races with intent and confidence.
“This is exactly what the Carnival was built for,” said one seasoned observer on the night. “If you’ve got the right horse and the right preparation, there’s no reason not to come early, get them adapted, and compete. It’s an international stage, and it needs international runners.”
Flying Comet Sparks Fireworks in Al Wasl Stakes
One of the night’s most dramatic moments came in the Al Wasl Stakes, where Flying Comet delivered a shock result that electrified the crowd. Sent off at odds of 19/1, the three-year-old defied market expectations to land the six-furlong turf contest in thrilling fashion.
Ridden with supreme confidence by champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa, Flying Comet surged late in a tightly packed finish, holding off the heavily backed favourite Words Of Truth and the fast-finishing Maximized. The victory marked a significant milestone for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, whose horses were a constant presence near the sharp end of races throughout the evening.
The win underlined not only the depth of international training talent at Meydan but also the willingness of connections to target Carnival races aggressively rather than merely using them as stepping stones.
Mothecomb Delivers Redemption for Godolphin
While international trainers stole many of the headlines, Godolphin ensured they remained firmly part of the narrative through Mothecomb’s polished victory in the Lord North Handicap, the evening’s feature race.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by Richard Mullen, the four-year-old made full use of a favourable racing position in the 1,800-metre contest. Having appeared somewhat unlucky on his Meydan debut in December, Mothecomb showed his true ability this time, quickening decisively to score by just over a length from Fort George, trained by Ed Walker.
Mullen, enjoying a highly productive season as a freelance rider, was full of praise for the horse’s development.
“He broke sharply and travelled beautifully,” Mullen said. “The decision to remove the hood really helped him relax. He’s a big, raw type—very much in the mould of his sire—and he’s only going to improve with time. He won’t show everything instantly, but once he learns how to race properly, he’ll stay much further.”
The victory hinted that Mothecomb could play a meaningful role later in the Carnival, possibly even beyond.
Osborne Team Enjoys a Memorable Double
Few trainers left Meydan on Friday night wearing broader smiles than Jamie Osborne. Bringing a strong team of 12 horses to Dubai for the 2026 Carnival, the Newmarket-based trainer saw his careful planning rewarded with two victories within the space of 35 minutes.
The first came courtesy of the veteran Sean in the DP World Digital Technology Handicap over 1,900 metres on turf. At nine years old, Sean may not fit the traditional profile of a Carnival winner, but under a perfectly judged ride from Saffie Osborne, he produced a late surge to secure a narrow but emotional victory.
“I’m absolutely over the moon,” Jamie Osborne said afterward. “He’s become a bit of a family favourite. When his previous owners talked about retiring him, we felt he still had something to give—and tonight he proved that.”
The celebrations barely had time to settle before Osborne struck again. Brotherly Love delivered the second success in the Mina Rashid Maiden over a mile on dirt, showcasing grit and determination in a demanding contest.
“He needed the pace to be strong,” Saffie Osborne explained. “I wasn’t confident turning in, but once he found his rhythm, he really battled. He’s an honest horse who deserves his moment.”
Jamie Osborne suggested the colt would be handled carefully going forward, with classic trials likely off the agenda in favour of a patient development plan.
George Scott and British Momentum Continues
The British surge continued in the fourth race, where Force And Valour justified his connections’ faith by landing a decisive victory for trainer George Scott. Now in his second Carnival campaign, the four-year-old showed maturity and resilience, responding well to pressure under the guidance of Billy Loughnane.
Loughnane, who enjoyed a record-breaking 2025 season with more than 200 winners, delivered a composed ride as Force And Valour pulled clear late to win by two lengths.
Not long after, the Crisfords doubled their tally when Ocean Viking powered home in the Mina Hamriya Handicap over 1,900 metres on turf. Making his debut at Meydan, the lightly raced five-year-old surged to the lead inside the final 200 metres and never looked back, finishing with authority under James Doyle.
De Sousa Adds to His Carnival Dominance
Silvestre de Sousa capped an outstanding evening by securing a double of his own. In addition to Flying Comet’s Al Wasl Stakes triumph, the multiple champion jockey partnered Molaqab to victory in the Jebel Ali Port Handicap over 1,400 metres on dirt for trainer Michael Costa.
The win further extended De Sousa’s lead at the top of the jockeys’ standings, where he now sits comfortably ahead of his rivals.
Sprinters and Specialists Shine
Elsewhere on the card, speed took centre stage as RRR Racing’s Cats By Five captured the DP World GCC Handicap over 1,200 metres on dirt. The US import produced a strong performance to defeat Group 1 winner Danyah, prompting jockey Pat Dobbs to praise the horse’s adaptability.
“He travelled better than I expected,” Dobbs said. “That made all the difference.”
The international theme continued when Miss Yechance delivered an impressive victory in the DP World Express Handicap over 1,000 metres on turf. Ridden by Brazilian jockey Francisco Leandro Goncalves and trained by Cintra and Olascoaga, the filly showed blistering speed and composure.
“She’s extremely quick,” Goncalves noted. “She was much more settled today and gave everything when it mattered.”
A Changing Landscape at Meydan
By the time the final race concluded, the message was unmistakable. International trainers are no longer guests at the Dubai Racing Carnival—they are central players shaping its narrative. For established local powerhouses such as Bhupat Seemar, Musabbeh Al Mheiri, and Ahmed bin Harmash, the challenge has never been greater.
Former UAE champion jockey Richard Mullen summed up the shift succinctly.
“It’s fantastic for the Carnival,” he said. “Yes, it makes life harder for local trainers, but the fact that overseas yards are now competing—and winning—on dirt as well as turf shows how far things have come. They’re giving it a real go, and it’s paying off.”
With Meydan set to host racing again next Friday, January 16, highlighted by the Group 2 Cape Verdi, the stage is set for another chapter in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Dubai Racing Carnivals in history.
If the opening night is any indication, 2026 may well be remembered as the season when global ambition truly met opportunity under the Meydan lights.
