Ed Marnane
Meydan stages a cracking seven-card on Friday, week five of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival.
Algiers emerged a Dubai World Cup candidate when a sensational winner of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Round I) last month, a performance that suggested he was worthy of a crack at Dubai’s showpiece next month.
Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, he bids to follow up in Race 5, the second leg of the three-race series, over 1900m on dirt. He looks the one to beat under James Doyle and become the first horse since North America landed the opening two rounds in 2019.
First run in 1994, this year’s renewal has attracted a quality field and Salute The Soldier is a major player after an impressive comeback in the inaugural Thunder Snow Stakes. Given a fine front-running ride by Adrie de Vries, he ran out a comfortable winner and demonstrated he was back to his best and recapturing the form he showed in 2021 when winning Round III of the Al Maktoum Challenge, Group 1. He’s entitled to come on the race having been off the track 314 days.
Remorse, representing Bhupat Seemar, is the choice of Tadhg O’Shea and was one of the most improved horses in training in the Emirates last season, winning a handicap at Jebel Ali on his seasonal reappearance before rounding off his campaign by finishing creditable sixth in the Dubai World Cup.
He confirmed his well-being on his return last month, defeating stable companion Bendoog and First Constitution in Entisar Stakes. With the benefit of the race, it is hard to seen First Constitution and the runner-up, Remorse’s stable companion, the mount of Ryan Moore, turning the tables.
The pick of the action on turf is the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes, named in honour of the 1997 Dubai World Cup winner. Saeed bin Suroor, Godolphin’s longest serving trainer, has won the race four times, the most recent with Benbatl three years ago.
He saddles Desert Fire and Dubai Future, winner of the Bahrain International Trophy in November. He ran well to finish second to Valiant Prince in the Al Rashidiya, over the same course and distance, last month.
In an open race, he should go well under new rider Adrie des Vries, replacing Danny Tudhope who is claimed to ride Shelir for his main employer, David O’Meara. Tudhope and O’Meara combined to win the 2022 renewal with Lord Glitters, who was completing back-to-back wins in the race.
Shelir has obvious claims on the back of two solid runs in defeat at Meydan last month. Two weeks ago, Shelir arguably put up a career best when a close second to Master Of The Seas in the Zabeel Mile, leaving the impression he can improve going up to 1800m having kept on well from the rear and putting in his best work in the closing stages. He can’t be overlooked and makes plenty of appeal.
Charlie Appleby, chasing his first Singspiel Stakes, is two-handed, with Al Rashidiya winner and third Valiant Prince and Ottoman Fleet. It looks noteworthy William Buick has remained loyal to Ottoman Fleet, who is 2kg better off with the winner, and has big chance of reversing the form with his stable companion. Ottoman Fleet is entitled to be sharper for the race and is likely to be thereabouts.
Valiant Prince, the mount of James Doyle, is unbeaten in three runs at Meydan and holds the mile track record. He must carry a penalty for winning the Al Rashidiya and may have to settle for minor honours in strong renewal.
Soft Whisper, winner of the Ipi Tombe Stakes when justifying strong market support on her seasonal debut, faces 11 rivals in the Cape Verdi, seven trained overseas. Winner of nine of her 18 races, including the 2021 UAE 1000 Guineas, she merits respect as she bids to give her trainer a sixth victory in the Group 2 contest.
With The Moonlight, winner of the Saratoga Oaks, spearheads the Charlie Appleby challenge under William Buick. By Frankel, she can boast Grade 1 form in the USA and is unlikely to lack for fitness on her first start of the year.
The pick of the international challenge is the Spanish mare Samedi Rien, trained by Guillermo Arizkorreta. She caught eye in the Ipi Tombe when staying on strongly to finish a close third behind Soft Whisper having been well behind turning for home. Her performance deserves plenty of credit as she lost a shoe in the race. She can’t be discounted at big odds and has each-way claims.
Doug Watson’s progressive Al Nayyir can see off a three-pronged Godolphin assault in the Vazirabad handicap, named after top French stayer who won three Dubai Gold Cups in a star-studded career.
He has thrived since switching to turf, winning his last two races and comes here in the form of his life. The draw and has been kind and this well-bred son of Dubawi is fancied to continue his rise up the ranks of the staying division.
BEST BET
Race 6 No 6 Ottoman Fleet
VALUE BET
Race 2 No 10 Al Nayyir
BEST SWINGER
Race 6: 6-Ottoman Fleet and 8-Shelir
JACKPOT
(Races 4 to 7)
R24
Leg 1: 8, 9, 11, 12
Leg 2: 1, 6, 7
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 4, 8