Henny Hughes headlines early entries for Thursday’s Dubai Carnival opener

Henny Hughes could make his next start as early as Thursday  (Lauren PomeroyHorsephotos.com)

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile S. (G1) runner-up HENNY HUGHES (Hennessy) is among the
early entries for the 1ST race at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday, the opening day of
the Dubai Carnival. Thirty-five other Northern and Southern Hemisphere-bred
three-year-olds are also preliminary acceptors for the seven-furlong conditions
race on the main track.

Contrary to previous reports, the impressive Saratoga Special S. (G2) and
Tremont S. hero has not joined the Godolphin banner but rather is still running
in the name of Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Moreover, his trainer is
the accomplished South African Alec Laird, who has taken over headship of
Millennium Stables in Dubai, formerly run by the now suspended Mazin Al Kurdi.

The Sheikh Rashid/Laird team have listed 13 other sophomores as possibles.

Godolphin has nominated three Saeed bin Suroor trainees to the same race —
two former Eoin Harty pupils, Grey Breeders’ Cup S. (Can-G3) victor UNIFICATION
(Dixie Union) and sharp Belmont maiden winner TESTIMONY (Yes It’s True), most
recently 10th in the Iroquois S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The third Godolphin
possible is English stakes-placed EMIRATES GOLD (Royal Applause [GB]).

Thursday’s featured 6TH race is Round 1 of the Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al
Maktoum Challenge (UAE-G3), contested at one mile on the main track for a purse
of $200,000. Defending champion GRAND EMPORIUM (SAf)
(National Assembly) tops the list. Now racing for Sheikh Rashid and Laird, he also
captured last year’s Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) and was a multiple Group 1 king in
his homeland.

The top three finishers from the 2004 UAE Derby (UAE-G2) could
renew their rivalry, led by winner LUNDY’S LIABILITY (Brz) (Candy Stripes). A multiple Grade 2 hero in the United States for Bobby Frankel, Lundy’s
Liability has not raced since his seventh in last year’s Dubai World Cup
(UAE-G1). He has since rejoined trainer Mike de Kock, with whom he enjoyed
success in Dubai in 2004. PETIT PARIS (Chi) (Hussonet), now with trainer Ian
Jory, and LITTLE JIM (Arg)
(Roar), respectively second and third in the 2004 UAE Derby, are also early
entries, although Little Jim is also cross-entered in the 2ND race on the card,
a nine-furlong dirt handicap.