Tuz To Rocket

Golden Shaheen winner on track as Sword Of Honour meeting ushers in the New Year

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A loaded card brings in the New Year at Meydan Racecourse on Jan 3, when a bunch of Group 1 performers line up on the eight-race Sword Of Honour race day.

While the highlight is the 850,000 dirham (S$316,000) Group 2 Zabeel Mile (sponsored by Phi Advertising), the buzz will be around Tuz.

The US-bred Oxbow eight-year-old is the leading dirt sprinter in the United Arab Emirates, backing up his 2024 Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1,200m) success with another demolition job in the Listed Garhoud Sprint (1,200m) at Meydan on Dec 6.

He defends his title in the 700,000 dirham Group 3 Dubawi Stakes (sponsored by Binghatti Developers) over 1,200m on dirt, and has scared off all bar five rivals.

"Tuz is one of the fastest horses in the world and is in good form. He's his usual self so all is good with him," reported trainer Bhupat Seemar, who also won this race in 2023 with Switzerland.

Tuz's rivals include Desperate Hero, who makes his dirt debut for Salem bin Ghadayer having been trained in the UK by Jack Channon, and Colour Up, second to Tuz in the Garhoud Sprint.