Suedois 'gave a lot of weight away,' but wins at Meydan nonetheless

The concluding one-mile turf handicap, the $135,000 Aliyah, on Thursday's Dubai World Cup Carnival card at Meydan produced a tight finish won by a fan favorite.

David O’Meara-conditioned Grade 1 winner Suedois, hero of the 2017 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland, fought to the wire to win by the scantest of noses over Simon Crisford-trained Epic Hero.

The winner was carrying 5 kilograms more than his rival and ran in this affair in lieu of next week’s Al Fahidi Fort (G2), which is at his beloved seven-furlong trip.

The 9-year-old stable star won for the 10th time from 49 starts for owners George Turner and Clipper Logistics. Danny Tudhope, coming off a stellar 2019 season, was in the irons.

“He’s a fantastic horse -- a Grade 1 winner and has won a load of prize money,” O’Meara said. “We’re delighted. I wasn’t sure we won it when he crossed the finish, but he ran a great race.

"I did think about running in the Group 2, but thought it would be a tougher race and he is well up to running in a handicap. He gave a lot of weight away, but good horses like him who have won a Grade 1, they can give weight away and still win."

O'Meara said connections will look next at the Zabeel Mile (G2) run in February.