Hello & welcome along to my review of Night 2's action from the DIRC 2014 on what is yet another wet & grey day here. Can it really rain anymore?
In my blog on Tuesday I predicted this week would be more about watching & noting horses for the future rather than a serious betting week, over the night I feel this was justified for how I like to bet. The racing again was excellent & I feel there are a few horses to go to war with over the next few weeks.
The opening Tapeta 11f handicap was turned into somewhat of a procession by the wildy impressive Cat O Mountain (see video below) who completed his hat-trick in style. Miles clear of his mark & in love with synthetic surfaces he will most likely step up in class after this with the 2nd round of The Maktoum Challenge looking an interesting port of call for him. Haafaguinea on his first run for Saeed Bin Suroor ran an excellent racing staying on down the outside to close on the eased down winner near the line Stablemate, in that run he has shown he can be competitive from his new mark & warrants respect wherever he turns up. Energia Davos ran a decent enough race but tired near the end & will most likely need a drop in trip. The Spanish raider Abdel got himself in a pocket in behind runners & was shuffled back on the turn for home, he was by no means unlucky as he stayed on one paced to the line. A big horse who will no doubt come on for the run but his problem remains is his high rating. Saxo Jack has gone into my notebook as a certain winner next time, he made an eye catching early move on the back straight to move up on the heels of the leaders within a matter of strides but as they turned for home he was swamped by Cat O Mountain & gradually faded away to finish 6th. He was in clear need of the run & his early move used up more of his fitness than his jockey would have imagined. Off his current mark I feel he is weighted to win a 10f Tapeta or Turf handicap during the coming weeks. Of the others it was no real surprise that Ralston Road struggled against better opposition & Great Hall was never going to be competitive at this distance while Mutin is clearly just a disappointing animal now who does not stay this far.
The first of the Guineas Trials came up next, on paper it was significantly weaker than the colts edition but it produced an exciting race none the less. Godolphin's Wedding Ring (see video below) running out an impressive winner proving me wrong for doubting that the surface would be in her favour.
The race was dictated by Tadhg O'Shea on Letterfromamerica who set a slow pace early before appearing to quicken it mid race onto the home bend this allowed the strong travelling South African filly Magrooma to travel through nicely & quicken clear however fitness told on her in the end as did he pulling in the early slow part of the race as Wedding Ring who herself took a stride or 2 to get going ran her down nicely looking as though the extra distance of the 1,000 Guineas itself would pose no problems but I feel she will have it all to do to hold off Magrooma next time who considering her slight advantage of being a few months older than her Godolphin counterpart is actually the smaller filly & she will clearly improve massively for the first outing.
The Colts trial produced a messy race to my eyes with the majority of the field keen to be near to the front, Silvestre De Sousa was at real pains to hold the keen Emirates Flyer back of the pace & was able to eventually loosen the reins as Pat Dobbs went on on My Catch. Dobbs set fairly even fractions gradually quickening the pace to suit his own mount which allowed him to sustain enough energy to still be in there fighting at the death, it was an unexpected run for me & puts him right in there for the big one in a few weeks. The 2 South African horses were niggled along once Dobbs did inject more pace as was the eventual winner Emirates Flyer. Local horse Najam Suhail & Safety Check appeared to be going best a length or 2 behind My Catch while the overrated Dolce N Karama was being scrubbed along on the outside of runners. De Sousa galvanised the incredibly tough Emirates Flyer to surge into the lead as My Catch started to get tired while Najm Suhail's effort also petered out, Safety Check however was given a funny ride clearly travelling the best yet Barzalona did not press the button clearly thinking he had more underneath him than he eventually did as fitness told & he came off the bridle, credit to the horse as he got to within half a length of Emirates Flyer. Of the 2 Safety Check has already won at a mile before & should turn the form around although I would not discount little Emirates Flyer staying due to his game attitude however I think that come Guineas day the South African Full Combat may be more of a threat as once they straightened up he really ran on powerfully closing to within 2 lengths of the front 3, he will appreciate further & looks a real contender for the Guineas & Derby.
The only race on Turf on Night 2 was a 10f handicap which saw the UK gain its first Carnival winner this year in the shape of the supremely talented Sheikhzayadroad who was given a fabulous ride by the ever improving Martin Lane, a tricky horse he appeared to love Dubai & will now have to step up in class with something like the Dubai City of Gold springing to mind before potentially having a go at the Sheema Classic. Energizer returning from an absence bolted away from the stalls looking as though his saddle had slipped slightly forward it was a credit that he stuck on for 6th, he will improve for this & it will be interesting to see where he ends up. With Energizer going so fast early the majority were off the bridle early notably the favourite Code Of Honor, Dabadiyan, Chapter Seven & Star Empire. William Knight's Aussie Reigns held up the eventual winner for a stride or two but he too came through the gap left by Energizer & battled on well to the line, this was a cracking effort from his new mark although it will be tough for him over the coming weeks. Tha'ir is a tough little sod who won't lie down easily & he adds substance to the form. Star Empire couldn't go the early pace but really came into his own in the straight chasing down the field for a fast finishing 3rd, he always win 2nd time out so is of obvious interest when stepped up in trip in the next few weeks although one word of caution he is 8 & his mark will not drop for this. One who is of much more interest to me is the Irish colt Dabadiyan (see below) who was with Star Empire at the back of the pack but whereas Soumillion went outside Foley went inside & although was never hampered he never got a real clear run, the staying races in the next few weeks will be more to his liking.
The Big race of the Night was the Listed Dubawi Stakes, it produced an excellent winner & equally excellent ride from James Doyle of Dhruba Selvaratnam's United Colour (see video below) who had been beaten by crack sprinter Muarrab at Jebel Ali last time. He tanked along behind a slow pace set by Irish raider Farmleigh House eventually pulling himself to 2nd place on the home turn & as FH dropped away he started to lengthen clear of his rivals for a comfortable victory.
Russian Soul ran his heart as usual & everything appeared to go well for him whereas Rafeej stepping up in class was clearly not suited by the slow pace as he pulled fiercely for his head similar comments apply to Balmont Mast & Kavanagh as all 3 were caught out once Doyle injected some dash into the race so in hindsight all 3 ran very good races. Rafeej is clearly worth another crack at this grade after acquitting himself very well, Balmont Mast will improve for this outing as will Kavanagh. Krypton Factor was disappointing on the face of it & was never a factor neither was last year's sprint champion Reynaldothewizard.
The Final race of the night was on paper a tricky looking 1 mile Tapeta handicap & it proved to be so with Zain Sharmadal providing Ali Al Raihe with his first Carnival winner of the season. It was another slowly run race which allowed horses drawn wide to get handy positions namely the winner & Intrigo. Nine Realms appeared not to enjoy sitting in behind the leaders. Lehaaf travelled beautifully in midfield just behind him was another powerful traveller Alnashmy. Track knowledge on further watching won this race however as the underrated Royston Ffrench gave his horse every possible chance by making his mind up for him driving to within a length on the lead on the home turn so while others sat & suffered due to the concertina effect of horses falling back on each other Royston was clear. Lehaaf made up 2 lengths quickly in the home straight but his challenge soon petered out, he will strip fitter next time & is a must from his lowly mark.
Alnashmy got in more trouble than most which cannot be completely down to Dane O'Neil as its how the horse likes to be ridden he, he was held up on his run slightly in the straight but whether that makes him a winner next time I doubt as he will always need luck in running. Robert The Painter deserves a mention as he was hampered in the inside & is better than his finishing position suggests. Intrigo was suited by how the race was run & so it would appear that he is in the handicapper's grip at present.
Horses to Follow:
Saxo Jack - Can win from his mark & will improve fitness wise next time
Magrooma - My idea of 1,000 Guineas winner & Oaks winner
Full Combat - Could be overpriced come 2,000 Guineas, certainly a type for a UAE Derby
Dabadiyan - Staying races in the next few weeks can see him get back on the winning trail
Lehaaf - Certain winner next time for me
@fttfracing
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