LORD NORTH IS RIGHT ON FLIGHT PLAN PATH AT MAIDEN DUBAI TRIP

Horses from eight countries add global appeal to nine-race card

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Horses trained in eight different countries clash on a bumper nine-race card at Meydan racecourse on Jan 9, headed by the Lord North Handicap and Al Wasl Stakes.

The featured AED350,000 (S$122,000) Lord North Handicap has garnered a field of 12 for the 1,800m turf trip.

As a Group 2 winner, Flight Plan deserves top billing in the race named after the three-time Dubai Turf winner.

A winner of the Group 2 Dulling-ham Park Stakes (1,600m) at Leopardstown in 2023, Karl Burke’s five-year-old makes his Dubai debut off the back of a fifth to stablemate Holloway Boy at Kempton in December.

“Flight Plan looks great, I’m really happy with his condition since he arrived in Dubai,” said Burke. “He looks really well, has worked really well, got a good draw (1) and we're looking forward to seeing him run.

“He’s run over nine furlongs (1,800m) before when he finished third in the (2023 Group 3) Strensall at York, so the trip holds no fears although he’s just as effective at a mile.”