Halford looking forward to Meydan The action goes up a gear at Meydan today and three Irish-trained horses line up for the Listed Dubawi Stakes including Michael Halford’s Russian Soul. The six-furlong event carries over £90,000 in prize-money, and Halford is looking forward to getting the six-year-old gelding started in Dubai after a number of placed efforts on turf there last year. “It’s his first run on Tapeta. He’d a great season here last year without winning. He ran so consistently and then went home and had a great summer winning a Group 3 and a Listed race. “It looks a particularly strong race but he’s in good form and we’ll certainly know where we are going for the rest of the carnival after this.” Eddie Lynam is represented by Balmont Mast, while Willie Martin sends out Farmleigh House – the mount of Niall McCullagh. Shane Foley will also be on board Dabidiyan in the Dubai Duty Free Gold World Cup (Handicap), although Halford admits the ten-furlong trip could be a bit short of his best. “He’s a smashing horse and did very well for us last season winning four races. He’s the first four-year-old we have trained for his His Highness. He’s very well and is a progressive horse. Hopefully there is plenty to come from him out in Dubai. “We were keen to get him started but it would be no surprise to see him step up in trip.”
