Rich Lyke Me Back in Winners Circle For G1 Maktoum Challengen R1

22 December 2023, Dubai, UAE ~ It’s been a busy start to the season for RB Rich Lyke Me. The G2 Madjani Stakes winner backed up two weeks later and successfully defended his title in the G1 Maktoum Challenge for Purebred Arabians.

Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Group 1 Purebred Arabian For 4YO+ 1600m DIRT AED 500,000

Winner of the race in 2022 and earlier this year, the Fawzi Nass-trained grey had to dig deep this time, however, duelling throughout much of the race with stablemate Hiab Al Zaman. Seeing off that rival in the straight, he was then able to hold off Falaah by a length and a half, and Hiab came in third.

“He had to work hard today,” said winning rider Adrie de Vries. “He was backing up quickly after two weeks and wasn’t that sharp out of the gates today. There was a lot of pressure on my inside, too.

“I’ll leave [future plans] up to Fawzi Nass and [owner] Sheikh Nasser, but the smart thing to do would be to keep him here and work back from the Dubai Kahayla Classic.”

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