Nations Pride, fifth as the 5-2 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland last November, won his 4-year-old debut in Friday’s Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates. The win leaves Nations Pride on schedule for an expected start in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, a $6 million race at 1 1/2 miles on turf on March 25 on the same program as the $12 million Dubai World Cup on dirt. Earlier on Friday’s Meydan program, the California-based filly Ami Please finished a game second to local star Mimi Kakushi in the Group 3 UAE Oaks at 1 3/16 miles on dirt. Trainer Doug O’Neill said in a text message that Ami Please remains a long-term candidate for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs on May 5. Nations Pride, who paid $4 in American pools, won the $150,000 Dubai Millennium Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf by 1 1/4 lengths over 7-1 Zagrey, a stakes winner in France last year. Ridden by William Buick, Nations Pride raced behind the leaders and between horses to the turn before rallying wide to lead in the stretch. Nations Pride, owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by Charlie Appleby, won the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby in August and the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park in September in consecutive starts last year. :: Bet the races on DRF Bets! Sign up with code WINNING to get a $250 Deposit Match, $10 Free Bet, and FREE DRF Formulator.  Ami Please set the pace in the $150,000 UAE Oaks and was challenged by Mimi Kakushi in the stretch. Mimi Kakushi ($3.20) won by 1 1/4 lengths over 2-1 Ami Please. The UAE Oaks was the first start of 2023 for Ami Please, who was winless in three one-mile turf stakes in California last year, including a second in the minor Pike Place Dancer Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in October. Mimi Kakushi and Ami Please earned 50 and 20 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday. O’Neill said in a text message that he had not decided on Ami Please’s next start. There are no additional points races in the UAE for the Kentucky Oaks, leaving the possibility Ami Please could have another prep race in the United States in early spring. In the last two years, fillies have needed at least 26 qualifying points in 2021 and 50 in 2022 to gain a spot among the 14 runners in the Kentucky Oaks. The Godolphin-Appleby team won three of the six Thoroughbred races at Meydan on Friday. Siskany ($3.40) won the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy at 1 3/4 miles, a prep for the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at two miles on turf on March 25. Siskany was third in the Group 1 Preis von Bayern at 1 1/2 miles on turf in Munich, Germany, last November. New Kingdom ($5.40) won a one-mile turf handicap for Godolphin and Appleby. Buick rode all three winners. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.