Hello & welcome along to all my readers, the declarations are through so its a good time to look ahead to Thursday's racing from Meydan. As the cold weather has arrived in the UK bringing back unprepared roads & untreated pavements my eyes really are focused on the sunnier climate of Dubai. Oh to back out there instead of being here; January really is a depressing month.
On Thursday the feature races are the Trials for both the UAE 2,000 & 1,000 Guineas plus the newly named Dubawi Stakes for the sprinters on the Tapeta.
It is a cracking card once more albeit one at first glance that is a lot harder to find strong fancies & may in the long run be best for future purposes than on the night gain.
If last week told us anything than it is that Godolphin are just as strong in both camps & that the De Kock horses who have stayed in Dubai are to be feared. The European raiders did not strike last week so we will see what this week's runners can do.
The night kick's off with a 10f Tapeta Handicap in which Mutin one of my horses to follow after last week steps out once more. He has tried the trip once before in France but was most disappointing finishing last, that can't alone be put down to the trip but it was an inauspicious first attempt. He shaped as if needing the run last week but whether he truly wants the distance I am unsure as on breeding its not cast iron that he'll get it but Mike De Kock knows what he's doing so I have to give him one chance that he'll stay.
Abdel represents Spain who have done well at the Carnival in recent seasons. On his European form he is smart winning 3 Listed Races but never any higher as such he is quite harshly weighted in what looks a good quality handicap on his first try on Tapeta.
Balladry was quite an average horse in the US & cut no mustard in the UAE last year on one run however he has had the summer to adjust to the Emirates so he may well do better but he will have to as he is another who is harshly handicapped. Burano was beaten out of sight last week & remains hard to place.
Energia Davos ran an eye catching race on his first UK start behind Dick Doughtwyile recently, on his only UAE start last season he was most disappointing. Previous to those runs he had been in Germany for another disappointing spell while all his South American form appear to be on Turf so Tapeta is an unknown but it has to be encouraging he ran so well on Lingfield's Polytrack.
Haafaguinea is another newcomer to Godolphin bought with Carnival races in mind, he won what is usually a hot Newbury handicap back in September he races from a career high mark now but he may still be improving.
Ralston Road's owner Jimmy Long has invested heavily in recent seasons with his Black, Yellow & Red colours becoming a familiar site in the UAE & Europe. Ralston Road (see below) has been out in Dubai for a while now & won a conditions event over course & distance in December beating old Izaaj & triple Group 1 winner Meandre. That form however has to be taken with a pinch of salt as Meandre simply isn't a genuine Group 1 horse who doesn't act on Tapeta while Izaaj is now 7, Ralston Road was weighted to win that day & to me faces a big task on Thursday. The horse also has the Melbourne Cup as his long term even though he would have to improve a massive amount judged on his performances finishing nearer last than first in 4 attempts at Group company last season.
The other Godolphin runners are Sadeek's Song who is a decent animal but still above his last winning mark, the improving Cat O'Mountain who is on a Hat-Trick after 2 wins at Kempton the end of last season winning both times in the style of a horse who could do well at the Carnival & Saxo Jack (see below) whose last start was an unlucky fast finishing fourth to Thursday's rival Haafaguinea the pick of Silvestre De Sousa he looks sure to run a huge race.
Great Hall from the Brian Meehan stable is a useful horse who has it all to do from his mark & stepping down in trip.
The first of the Guineas Trials features the usual battle of De Kock V Godolphin. The South African maestro saddles Magrooma & Magroora.
Magrooma is the choice of stable jockey Soumillion however her South African form falls a long way short of former winners from this stable as she finished 8th on her final start when she was sent off at 66/1 in the Grade 1 Golden Slipper although she is expected to appreciate the extra distance & more improvement is expected. Magroora has also just a maiden win to her name. They are clearly are entitled to respect but I wouldn't be jumping on either of their bandwagons.
The Godolphin duo are Autumn Lily & Wedding Ring, both have yet to win in Pattern company & both ended their seasons winning big field Newmarket races with Autumn Lily in handicap company & Wedding Ring 2 of the big Tattersall's Sales races. Of the 2 Autumn Lily would be my choice for handling the Tapeta better as she is by Street Cry & Wedding Ring is out of Oasis Dream.
Anwar Dubai & Wish Me Luck both make their debut's while Max Beauty had her first start earlier this month at Meydan finishing down the field. Letterfromamerica represents won a poor Roscommon maiden last term while More Aspen won on the AWT at Wolverhampton last year before being beaten twice.
Oxsana could prove the danger to them all she has twice finished in behind Wedding Ring in the Newmarket sales races (2nd beaten a neck & 4th beaten 2 lengths) on her final start she finished a neck 2nd to Aqlaam Vision in a Listed event at Newbury. She is bred to appreciate the Tapeta & can turn the form around with Wedding Ring at least.
The 2,000 Guineas Trial follows featuring a strong looking 14 runner field headed by Mike De Kock's Sheikh Hamdan Colt Full Combat (see below) who like his filly compatriots in the 1,000 Guineas Trial has not yet set the world alight winning a maiden before disappointing when favourite for a Group 1 last July. After his maiden success De Kock was quoted as saying “Full Combat is by Go Deputy and he's a horse that should improve over ground, so is one to keep an eye on.”
He has been reportedly working well ahead of this assignment. The other De Kock runner is Journeyman who made an impressive winning debut before finishing a close up 3rd in Group 2 company next time out. Antony Delpech his winning rider on debut said “He's a big horse with a lovely action. His quality came through tonight,”
My Catch has his first start for Doug Watson but faces a tough task up in trip against good quality horses. Chord Chart is an ex Godolphin lesser light with just a Wolverhampton win to his name.
Dolce N Karama came from 4th in a Wolverhampton maiden to finishing 4th in The Racing Post Trophy that form just cannot be taken literally for all he should act on Tapeta. Dubawi Fun is another with just a lowly course maiden win to his name this time at Southwell, he improved afterwards to finish 4th in a Listed Race at Ascot in the summer another with it all to do.
Emirates Flyer, The rogue Figure Of Speech & Safety Check represent Godolphin. Emirates Fyler (see below, nearest) is a good handy horse who will run his guts out but may lack the class of the South African's.
Figure Of Speech looked a very good horse on debut but temperament issues seem to have set in while Safety Check is another hardy individual but surely below this class.
Make It Reel finished in behind My Catch as a juvenile & will do well to turn that form around. Man Amongst Men ran in a cracking maiden at Newbury last season finishing behind Championship & in front of the fantastic Berkshire but since that run he has been a bitter disappointment so cannot be fancied on Thursday. Najm Suhail has a Dundalk maiden win to his name & not alot else while Nezar is another to have been put in his place in Group company last season. Vigor has a Brighton maiden win to his name & has been beaten twice in the Emirates.
We have a 10f Turf handicap to get our teeth into next featuring some more excellent animals. Star Empire has won at the last 2 Carnivals but seems to need a run before being ready, he is quite high in the handicap as well. So Beautiful has not yet won in the Emirates despite a couple of decent efforts. His stable form is my main worry so I would want to watch before beating.
Sheikhzayadroad is a very decent handicapper who improved greatly last season despite being a hard ride. He has yet to win of this new higher mark but is the type who should enjoy Dubai. Chapter Seven is another good handicapper who can mix in minor pattern company, ground is the issue for him as all his best form has come with cut.
Code Of Honor (see below) was a heartbreaker for me last season all bar winning the Cambridgeshire, he has the potential to improve further & I expect him to do well at the Carnival.
Dabadiyan is a useful Irish colt who won Her Majesty's Plate at Down Royal last season over 12f, he looks a stayer to me so I would imagine the 10f here will be against him.
Energizer returns after his enforced long absence & like last week's runners will likely need this. Sahawar was last seen finishing down the field in Treve's Arc, he has useful form from the French provinces & has a handy racing weight from a decent draw.
Sefri could well be the interesting horse in this race, with Jean Claude Rouget last season he was favourite in 2 Group races when finishing down the field once behind Triple Threat, he will find this much easier & could easily go well.
Aussie Reigns progressed last season culminating by winning the Listed Wildflower Stakes at Kempton, he is higher in the weights on Thursday but he must have chances if the trip is not to short. Tha'ir was a model of consistency last season for a horse of such small stature & he has been given a great chance in this race from the plum draw. Old Pisco Sour has not been the same horse since first being taken by Godolphin & now in the care of Satish Seemar.
The newly formed Dubawi Stakes is a Listed event over 6f & has attracted a fine field of Sprinters on the Tapeta.
Old Hitchens leads the field he has an Al Shindagah sprint to his name from 2012 when he defeated another of Thursday's rivals Krypton Factor. He has been in ok form recently but is getting on now & must be vulnerable to younger legs. The aforementioned Krypton Factor ran good races in Dubai last year without getting his head in front, he is class on Tapeta on a going day & it would not surprise me if he did not bounce back. Reynaldothewizard is the defending Golden Shaheen Champion (see below) after an unbeaten season last year, again he is a year older so it will be harder this time.
Refeej couldn't win last week in handicap company & has no hope in this. Kavanagh has had a very busy time of it since last year's excellent Carnival & is best watched. Russian Soul tries Tapeta for the first time after a string on consistent efforts in the Top Turf Sprints at last season's Carnival, a good horse on his day I am sure he will be in there fighting.
Balmont Mast who excelled himself on World Cup night finishing 2nd to Reynaldo has gained a Listed Race win in the European season but all has been geared towards another attempt at Dubai, he must go close if fit & ready.
Farmleigh House is yet another Irish sprinter to have a go at this race & perhaps is the most interesting as he is yet to race in Dubai, he has numerous wins to his name at Dundalk & has raced on English Polytrack at Lingfield, his form last season was arguably the best of his life so he comes here at the top of his game. I think he could well surprise his opponents on Thursday. Lastly United Color who is a very decent animal in his own right, he finished a neck 2nd to arguably the most exciting Emirati Sprinter around in the shape of the improving Muarrab (see below, a name to remember) last time.
The last race on the card is a 1 mile Tapeta handicap featuring Carnival regulars & first timers. 3 excellent young handicappers that add spice to this closing event are Nine Realms, Validus & Intrigo.
Validus has still not won from his new mark but at least should handle the surface. Nine Realms has often looked Group class & surely has more to give from his lowly handicap rating from a plum draw. Intrigo is still fairly weighted & should handle the surface but has a nightmare draw.
Ocean Tempest ran poorly last week & has a bad draw, Robert The Painter is an unknown on the surface & is quite high in the weights.
Chilworth Icon is a decent horse who has often been over faced so in truth this handicap represents a fairly decent chance for him from a cracking draw.
Mike De Kock's Lehaaf (see below) won a Listed event on his last start in South Africa last summer & looks fairly weighted on that evidence from a good draw, he would be my idea of the winner.
Hope you enjoy another excellent Dubai International Racing Carnival Night & check back for my review later in the week.
@fttfracing
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