Nad Al Sheba - Dubai Racing

Nad Al Sheba is Dubai's premier track and it's not hard to see why - the course is simply immaculate and as good as the very best in Europe and the States. One of the first things to strike punters though, is just how long the home straight is and, unsurprisingly, it hasn't proved much of a hindrance to the top European jockeys, who are used to three-furlong run-ins.Two of the riders who made an impact last year were Ryan Moore and Stanley Chin, and both have returned for the Carnival in 2005.Moore, who has been in Dubai for the last three seasons, talked to me about the configuration of the track, and explained: "The dirt track has a very long straight so you need a horse with a lot of pace so you can sit handy. It's definitely a galloping track and you need a horse with some early speed too."Chin, who won two decent races at last year's Carnival on Scott's View - whom he also partnered to finish third in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic - rates the track as the 'best in the world', and clerk of the course Kevin Greely explained what the dirt track consists of. He said: "It is composed of fine dune sand, silt and clay. We have added an inch of fresh dune sand since last year - it is not a fast surface but we don't want it fast. We water, roll and pack the track every day to keep it consistent."More funds have been ploughed into perfecting the turf track ahead of the Carnival. A mixture of Bermuda and Winter Rye grass had been sewn in the summer, Greely, who has been clerk at Nad Al Sheba for the past seven years, added: "All the trainers who have looked at the turf track are really pleased with it, so you can't say fairer than that." The one thing that keeps striking me - whether I'm talking to trainers, jockeys, track officials or representatives from Emirates Racing - is that everyone is brimming with enthusiasm about the forthcoming Carnival. It was refreshing to see such widespread eagerness to promote competitive racing and whether you're one of the fortunate few who will enjoy the Nad Al Sheba hospitality first hand or one of the many who will be able to see it all from the comfort of your armchair at home, you're in for a real treat of top-class Flat racing featuring stars, both equine and human, from around the globe.