Dubai carnival a long-range goal for Shaf

Races during next year’s Dubai carnival loom as a long-range target for sprinter Shaf.

The five-year-old gelding registered his fifth 1100m win from eight attempts at the distance when he chased down Sunday Escape in Saturday’s Arvanitis Philanthropy Plate.

Co-trainer David Hayes said plans were taking place to race Shaf and others in Dubai next year.

Shaf is raced by Sheikh Hamden’s Shadwell Stud.

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“He’s a horse we might put aside now and give a good break,” Hayes said.

“And Sheikh Hamden is keen to have some of these Australian high-raters to go over for the carnival.

“Not necessarily for the super races there, but I think he’ll be a nice easy horse to train there.”

The Dubai carnival at Meydan starts annually in January and runs until World Cup night at the end of March.

“We might put him aside and bring him back in late spring, race into summer and have him in form to hit Meydan hard in early January,” Hayes said.