MESHTRI SET TO DEFEND DUBAI CREEK MILE CROWN

UAE leading trainer Costa’s 2024 winner to face Desert Wisdom in Listed race re-match

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2024 winner Meshtri will attempt to make history and become the first horse to win the 500,000 dirham (S$178,000) Listed Dubai Creek Mile (1,600m) twice at Meydan on Nov 21.

Trained by the leading trainer in the UAE, Michael Costa, the Medaglia d’Oro five-year-old showed his tenacity under Ben Coen when he held off Walk Of Stars in the same race on Nov 22, 2024.

Meshtri scaled great heights after that victory, going on to beat Qareeb - who also finished third in the 2024 Dubai Creek Mile — at his next start in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Mile (1,600m) at Meydan on Dec 21, 2024.

After an unplaced run in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes (1,600m) on Jan 25, the three-time winner was spelled for 10 months until the start of Dubai’s new racing season.

The 2025-26 Dubai Racing Carnival at Meydan runs from November 2025 to March 2026, kicking off with seven races at their first meeting on Nov 7, and will culminate with the US$30.5 million (S$39.8 million) Dubai World Cup meeting on March 28, 2026.

Costa is confident his charge is primed for his title defence in the highlight of the seven-race meeting.

“Meshtri is back to his best,” said the Australian trainer.