Hello & welcome to all to the first of my reviews of the action from Dubai's International Racing Carnival at Meydan & what a first night of action we were all treated too.
The change to dirt surface had been a moot point among most racing fans but so far it has been holding up well & providing some cracking finishes unlike conventional dirt surfaces.
The opening race provided the one real surprise of the night as Saeed Bin Suroor's dirt debutant I'm Back battled bravely to the line to eventually collar & pass the admirable Henry Clay. The race was run at a moderate pace early as the field packed up on the first turn where all the action took place as Mikael Barzalona attempted to pull back the free going dirt debutant Torchlighter but in doing so the mercurial frenchman impeded Almoonqith who clipped heels which resulted in a concertina effect with Farrier the worst sufferer thus ending any chance he had.
Once Henry Clay got settled into a rhythm it was clear nothing from too far of the pace would be getting involved & so it proved as the well ridden I'm Back went with the leader Henry Clay & the two had a prolonged battle down the straight, I'm Back showed a liking for dirt that we were unsure of at the start but overall all his best form has come on non turf surfaces, after all he was once 2nd to Soft Falling Rain here a few years ago.
He will be raised a few lbs after this effort & will need to improve again if he is to win once more at the Carnival but now he has shown a liking for dirt that could easily happen & his forward run style is a huge bonus.
Henry Clay now off a career high mark continued to show that this dirt surface holds no fears but he wears his heart on his sleeve & will always be vulnerable to a horse coming from just behind him.
La Bernardin & Busker were the only 2 horses to come from of the pace, La Bernardin met plenty of trouble in running & did well to finish so close but will continue to struggle from his new mark while Busker really needs to break better if he is to get involved on this surface.
Perhaps the horse to take out of the race is Dragon Falls who travelled sweetly encountering dirt for the first time just behind the leaders, he tried to go with the front two & eventually failed through lack of stamina so dropped back to a 7f dirt race he is more than capable of winning of his current mark.
Torchlighter was a big gamble on the tote boards before the off which seemed strange to say the least he ran far too free to get home especially on his first start for some time, worth another chance but his mark could still be a stumbling block.
Farrier also deserves a mention as he was the biggest casualty of the early scrimmaging & could never recover, he handles this surface fine & can remain competitive in a similar race.
None of the others appeared to handle the surface.
Few will have begrudged the admirable Hototo a win in the 5f dash, the race was run at a good clip with Caspian Prince doing what he does best point & shoot. Beforehand I had expected Hototo to wilt with another front runner taking but far from it he travelled sweetly in 2nd & showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals to quicken away for a comfortable win. It was a career high for him & he will be hit with another rise in the weights which will surely end his chances of backing this up.
Old Fityaan ran a storming race to grab 2nd on the line, he was on the inside of the pack of runners well of the pace & appeared to be struggling but in the last furlong he found a big finishing kick to suggest he has a race in here especially from his current mark.
Caspian Prince has shown his hand now in Dubai with this run, all he knows how to do is go from the front & from his mark he looks vulnerable to any horse with a finishing kick.
Ajeeb the ex Australian will have gone into many peoples notebooks after what appeared an eye catching run in 4th after being outpaced on his 5f debut (the closet he had run in Oz was just over 5.5f when he won at a provincial track called Seymour). But for me having watched the race a few times it was a false effort for me as he was entitled to finish with a rattle as he has plenty of form over further & all the horses in front of him collapsed a point backed up by the Trakus data. He will be shorter than he is entitled to be next time as a result & will be worth taking on.
Saayerr caught my eye more as he showed good early speed only to collapse mid race & run on again at the finish, clearly a tricky horse but there is no doubt ability remains. Ahtoug ran up to his mark finishing off his race well but will be better in a conditions event of level weights as he is too high in the handicap at present.
Ajjaadd struggled as I had eluded to before the race with his mark appearing to hold him back whilst both Speed Hawk & Sir Maximilian were disappointing with no obvious excises. Think we all new Mushir had gone at the game.
Faulkner's rapid progression continued with a classy, game & determined performance from in behind in the 7f dirt handicap. He broke tardily as he has done on both his previous yet was soon switched to the rails from his wide draw & it was clear how easily he was travelling on the surface, as they turned for home he still had plenty to do & had to be switched from the rails to come down the centre of the track with the closing Tamarkuz but still more drama awaited him as the Scandinavian Giftorm veered of a straight line knocking him sideways & well of his stride, most normal horses would have succumbed then but Dobbs grabbed hold of him gave him a few smacks of the whip & he went back through the gap to win going away, overall it was an extraordinary performance from a clearly above average individual whose short time in handicaps is now over.
On that run the handicapper will have him somewhere between 108 - 112 which puts him right amongst the Group animals so you would imagine that races like Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge in early Feb would come into the equation but perhaps more likely would be The Firebreak the week after followed by the Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday.
Tamarkuz has always had plenty of ability but has taken over a year to show it in Dubai, he also broke tardily & was well behind Faulkner early but travelling equally as well as the winner, he came on the heels on Faulkner in the straight & lengthened well for his first try on dirt & was only just beaten in the end, solid effort but can he be trusted to back it up.
Shaishee ran a superb race, he was part of the ludicrous early speed set by Figure Of Speech but was travelling well within himself & on the home bend he pulled clear only to fall in a hole a furlong out, he will find easier opportunities & can win again.
Giftorm found the pace of the race too hot to handle but showed grit & determination to stay involved over a trip shy of his best, not one to give up on over slightly further.
Master Of War stayed on at his after being up there early, he will be hard top place. Bannock gets too far back in his races to get involved.
Similar comments apply to Spirit Of Battle.
Decathlete never faced the kickback & despite running on a little at the finish would be seen to better effect on grass. Figure Of Speech & Frontier Fighter paid heavily for their early dual whilst none of the others figured.
The first of the night's feature events saw a sparkling performance from one time Derby candidate True Story on his first Dubai start after being gelded, he looked well physically beforehand & never had a moment's worry in the race breaking well to sit in 2nd off a fast pace set by Warbird he took it up early in the straight & quickened well clear of his rivals to win handsomely.
It would not be the biggest surprise were he to head for the Zabeel Mile next at the end of Feb if not the Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday before a tilt at the Dubai Duty Free would seem most likely.
Old Mushreq gives the form a very solid look to it with a good 2nd while Pilote appeared to run well after meeting some interference when finishing 3rd but I would personally like to see him do that again before thinking about backing given his overall profile. Sanshaawes needed the run badly but still only ran with a modicum of promise, he is worth trying on dirt.
Samurai Sword ran well once more but it doesn't help his handicap mark & he won't be winning a pattern race anytime soon.
The feature event on night one saw Surfer cement his place as one of the leading dirt performers in the UAE with a strong performance to land Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge, always close up to the pace he doesn't do anything quickly or flashy but he does possess the power to grind out on this surface over the mile. Round 2 followed by the Burj Nahaar & the Godolphin look his targets for the remainder of the carnival, he will be hard to beat wherever he goes.
Biggest surprise of the race went to the 2nd placer Frankyfourfingers who had never run in this grade before or tackled a dirt surface before yet he travelled best of all into the straight & was actually half a length up on Surfer before fitness told. It was some first effort & he is one to keep a serious eye on for the remainder of the Carnival as he will improve massively from that first effort.
Old Haatheq came from well out the back to stay on past beaten horses for a good 3rd, will do well to better this run as the races get deeper from now on.
Gold City is an improved performer who stuck on well up the inside for 4th, another likely to struggle throughout the rest if the Carnival if kept to this grades but on saying that the Firebreak can often be a weak race so that may represent his best chance all season.
Emirates Flyer settled in mid division travelling well & came into the race on the home turn looking as if he may play a part, he stuck on really game in the straight before tiring late on which he was entitled to do on only his 2nd run since last March.
Has kept surprising me & I see no reason why he cannot win on this surface after that with the Firebreak a tempting option before having a go at the Godolphin Mile.
My wildcard selection Zambucca actually didn't finish last as I thought he would at one stage, he was slowly away struggling to go the pace early & was last after a furlong but as on his last run seemed to be travelling well within himself, he looked to be going nowhere as they turned for home but as stragglers fell past him, he started to pick up before being baulked by Empire Storm which took him a few strides to re-adjust & in the last 2 furlongs he passed 5 horses to only be beaten about 6 lengths at the line.
He clearly handles the surface but needs further & is not one to give up on for the longer dirt races like the the next 2 rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge.
Capital Attraction was on the speed early as expected but soon came under pressure & dropped away tamely after being slightly squeezed by Frankyfourfingers, he'll come on for that but will need more to win.
Royal Ridge held every chance as they turned into the straight after travelling well into the race but he hit a brick wall in the straight & almost stopped to a walk to finish last. Outstrip as I expected hated the dirt & the experiment did not work, if he is seen again it will be on turf.
Grand Salute an ex Uruguayan Grade 1 found the strong pace unsuitable for him & was never a factor. The other runners were outclassed.
The final race of the night saw Safety Check produce a cracking performance to run away with what looked a competitive handicap, he will go up to the low 110's now & its back up into Group company for him next with the Al Fahidi Fort over the 7f in 2 weeks an obvious next starting point, he will be a danger to all in that on this run.
Another Party got the run of the race but it was a solid effort on his first start for a while, he would not want to go up by much but should remain competitive.
Music Theory the better fancied of the Appleby pair didn't get the best of runs stuck in behind a wall of horses, in the straight he was slightly held up by the weakening grey Tamaathul & that just cost him valuable momentum, he can win next time.
Old Iguazu Falls ran another solid race at the Carnival bit will always be vulnerable at his age.
Modern History stuck on well enough after being up there early but is another who will need help from the handicapper.
Tawhid will remain hard to win with as long as he races as he does with his head to one side.
Merhee did too much early on his return from a break up in trip & paid for that late on as he was swamped near the finish.
Short Squeeze was mulish at the start & raced with the choke out throughout the first 4 furlongs & found little as you would expect at the finish, he will come on for that & is one to bear in mind for a mile handicap later in the Carnival.
None of the others got remotely competitive.
Horses to follow:
Dragon Falls - back to 7f on dirt should see him win.
Fityaan - Similar 5f race should be within his compass.
Giftorm - Between 1m - 1m1f on dirt can see him win.
Frankyfourfingers - Worthy of respect wherever he goes next after a great first effort.
Zambucca - As the Al Maktoum Challenges go up in distance he becomes more interesting.
Music Theory - Clearly capable of a Carnival win at 7f on turf.
Short Squeeze - Pulled too hard on his first run, back up to a mile of turf next time can see him involved.
@fttfracing
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