Good Morning & welcome along to my review of last nights Carnival action. We were treated to another top night of quality Flat racing action with the Irish dominating the first 2 races, a double from the expert trainer Mike De Kock & congratulations to Richard Fahey on finally breaking his Dubai duck with the mercurial talent of Gabrial.
Anyone who wants to know the Trakus Data then please follow this link dubaiworldcup
The opening 6f Tapeta handicap that opened the card looked tough on paper with most punters settling on Mike De Kock's Merhee who looked in need of the run, he ran a great race dictating on the lead & only just fading near the line as Jamesie powered past him to gain a deserved win after years of good efforts in top handicap company. This was his first win at 6f since Fairyhouse in 2011 & also surprisingly his first win on synthetics. He will find it tougher again now but has finally had his day in the sun as for Merhee even though he did have the run of the race this rates a fine first effort & he can only improve which should see him be able to capture a similar event over the next month. Masamah ran well once more but still has not won at 6f, Mujaazef ran his best race at Meydan but was always close to the strong pace.
Spirit Of Battle found the trip on the sharp side & could not go the early gallop, he covered more ground than most finishing strongly up the inside he may be one for one of the Saturday meetings aimed at the locals over the next few weeks. The Saudi horse Alraihjan was held up which was completely different to the tactics to what he had been doing in his home country when burning off his rivals, he didn't show anything to me to suggest he can compete at the Carnival.
The Emerald Isle's second winner of the night came courtesy of Certerach, he had run well on all 3 starts at last season's Carnival & was still fairly weighted. Always travelling well in mid division the race almost fell apart around him as my selection Dormello had made an early move before dropping away tamely in the straight, Certerach battled on to the line always holding the fast finishing Topclas from Ahmad Bin Harmash's stable (he really has got his selection of old boys in good form). Tanfeeth also ran an excellent race in 3rd & although he won;t be dropped for this he is another who perhaps if there is a suitable race can win at a Saturday meeting in the next few weeks.
The one to take out of the race is Excellent Result settled last from a pretty fast pace he was scrubbed along as the field prepared to turn for home looking likely to never get any closer yet once they straightened he ran on strongly to make all bar 1 of the 15 - 20 lengths he had given away, clearly in need of the run he has to win a Carnival handicap of his current mark.
Race 3 a 1 mile Tapeta handicap saw perhaps the winner that will go on the most through the Carnival in the shape of Mike De Kock's Alexandra Palace (see photo), he is the first the South African contingent that has been in quarantine to win first time out, usually the ones that can achieve this are pretty smart think Soft Falling Rain etc, it was a strong early pace that Alexandra Palace was more than capable of laying up with before it evened out, from his wide draw Soumillion didn't try anything fancy rode a lovely race as 7 horses quickened away from him in the straight he gathered AP & stayed on down the outside showing a bit of class to win cosily. On a second look the other horses all ran to their marks & basically could not go on so AP was given a chance but he clearly has more class than his opponents which makes him a horse to follow throughout the Carnival, I can certainly see him ending up in a race on the big night itself which one I am not sure but I see no reason why it could not be the big one.
Free Wheeling ran an excellent race & I think still can win from his mark as we have still not yet seen the best of him whereas the ones in behind might struggle to do any better than they did here.
The 10f Tapeta handicap was run at a fast pace set by old Izaaj until another Carnival regular Plantagenet took the bull by the horns dashing clear on the home turn, having his first start he couldn't maintain it but it was an excellent run from this 2 times Carnival winner & I see no reason why he cannot win again this year.
Windhoek (see photo) still remains with potential & showed guts to come from off the strong pace & then to hold on grimly, he needs to go on again now but it was an encouraging effort. Layali Al Andalus is a consistent animal who keeps running his race & impressing with his Trakus figures but he still struggles to win, figures do not always guarantee a win from a horse like this.
Zip Top returning from a mammoth break in truth was disappointing, he travelled well for 4f but then was scrubbed along & never picked up just staying on, he will hopefully come on but is best watched now. Daddy Long Legs is gone & should be retired.
Mutajare ran the best race on the figures giving away a lot of ground but still ending up only just being beaten & a similar event should be within his grasp. Banoffee looked very much in need of the run & so it proved, I would imagine she will step back into pattern company against her own sex next time.
The Big race of the night was the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort (see video) which I had not noticed had been dropped from 1 mile to 7f so apologies about that. The race had no obvious front runner so Jamie Spencer grabbed the advantage & set a slow even pace for the first 5f suiting his own horse Pearl Flute perfectly but not the winner in my book Mshawish who pulled for his head early. Eventual winner Anaerobio sat in the perfect spot from a slow pace in 2nd & as Jamie Spencer quickened the pace markedly 2f out, Soumillion easily chased him down quickening away to win the race well.
Mshawish however was caught in behind horses when the pace quickened & could not get out until too late, he closed the winner all the way to line & would clearly have won at the old trip of 1 mile, it was a cracking first effort leaving me in no doubt that he will win if the two meet again, Mshawish looks a massive player for races like The Zabeel Mile & the Duty Free on World Cup Night.
The final race of the night was a 9f Turf handicap which was won in sparkling style by Gabrial he got a peach of a ride from Jamie Spencer stalking out the back before weaving in between horses to win a shade cosily as I said after his last win he is a bit a dog but very talented & if he came on for his last run he would be hard to beat next time out granted a strong pace, so it proved. He has earned a step back up in class now & who's to say if he remains a happy horse that he won't be able to win again.
El Estruendoso ran his best race for awhile but he did sit close to the fast pace so had everything in his favour but still couldn't win. Tarbawi ran another cracking race for Bin Harmash's stable & is capable of winning certainly on a Saturday at Meydan.
The tall South African horse Sanshaawes is certainly the horse to take out of the race though, he was rated only 75% fit by his jockey & he sweated up before the off, he travelled powerfully in behind the strong pace before not being able to sustain his challenge to the line, he must win from his current mark. Vasily ran much better than I expected & was slightly checked as Gabrial sailed through. Elleval ran a super race on his return & will surely step back onto Tapeta next time. Fantastic Moon was however most disappointing, I thought everything about the Carnival would suit but he showed nothing.
Horses to Follow:
Merhee -
Will improve for the run & should be able to win a similar race
Excellent Result -
Ridden closer to the pace over 12f with improved fitness & he will win a Carnival Handicap
Alexandra Palace -
Looks decidedly useful, probably up in Grade next time & is a horse to follow for the rest of the Carnival
Plantagenet -
Well below his last Carnival winning mark & another who will improve for the race, should be capable of winning a similar event in the coming weeks.
Mshawish -
Looks a certain winner next time, possibly Zabeel Mile then Duty Free
Sanshaawes - Will improve for the outing & must win from his mark
Sanshaawes -
Will improve for the outing & can win from his mark
@fttfracing
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