Ed Marnane
Punters will be spoiled at Meydan on Friday with a star-studded card, headlined by a pair of Group 1s — the Jebel Hatta and the Al Maktoum Challenge — on a bumper nine-race programme.
The Jebel Hatta, a key local trial for the Dubai Turf, sees the welcome reappearance of Mawj, Saeed bin Suroor’s top-class filly. Winner of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last May, she makes her first start since getting caught in the final strides by Master Of The Seas in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Mawj, one of four runners representing Godolphin, has the assistance of regular rider Oisin Murphy and looks the one to beat, getting weight from her eight rivals.
Spirit Dancer, partly owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, heads the international challenge. He was highly progressive last year and rounded off a wonderful campaign when causing a big upset in the Group 2 Bahrain International Trophy under a great ride from Oisin Orr.
Trained by Richard Fahey, he’s an uncomplicated type, a strong stayer and clearly merits plenty of respect.
Charlie Appleby holds a strong hand with three runners and unexposed and progressive Measure Time, the choice of William Buick, makes most appeal of the trio. Winner of four of his five races, he impressed when winning the Al Rashidiya Stakes on his Meydan debut. He remains open to further progress and is a leading player.
San Donato, representing the in-form Doug Watson, was given a brilliant ride by Pat Dobbs when winning the Group 2 Zabeel Mile. He was ridden with supreme confidence and was delivered fast and late from the rear to defeat Marbaan and 11 others.
Stepping up to 1800m is a slight concern in this grade, but he shouldn’t be overlooked at decent odds.
Watson and Dobbs team up with the exciting Kabirkhan in Race 6, the Al Maktoum Challenge. A multiple winner in Russia and Kazakhstan, he landed a big gamble on his Meydan debut when winning a 2000m handicap two weeks ago, bolting up by a comfortable four lengths from stable companion Hero Mo.
Now rated 109, the second highest ranked runner in the field, he will need to jump sharply from his inside stall having been tardy last time or will face plenty of kickback. He looks a serious player again with the prospect of more to come.
On ratings US runner Clapton may be the chief threat for trainer Chad Summers, who is no stranger to Group 1 success in the Emirates, winning back-to-back runnings of the Golden Shaheen with Mind Your Biscuits in 2018.
Winner at Grade 2 and 3 level last year, he flopped in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November, trailing in a remote 11th behind White Abarrio. He will need to bounce back to his best on his UAE debut to play a leading role.
Of the rest, admirable Atletico El Culano is one to consider five weeks after enjoying his only success in the Emirates when winning the Entisar Stakes (Listed) over the same course and distance.
He was given a quiet ride, dropped in early before being brought with a well-timed challenge to catch Military Law close home. He will need to raise his game stepping up to Group 1 level but holds each-way claims.
The UAE 2000 Guineas, Race 8, has attracted a small field of eight three-year-olds. The most interesting runner is Oasis Boy, winner of three of his four races in Argentina. By Asiatic Boy, winner of the 2007 Dubai Triple Crown, UAE 2000 Guineas, Al Bastikiya and UAE Derby for Mike de Kock, he impressed winning the Clasico Miguel Cane when staying on strongly in the closing stages.
The Grade 2 contest was won by former UAE 2000 winners Little Jim and Not For Sale. The booking of Christophe Soumillon is eye-catching for the Julio Olascoaga-trained colt.
Quartier, Olascoaga’s second runner, went into many notebooks on his UAE debut in the trial, making striking late headway from the rear to finish an encouraging second to red-hot favourite Me Yetal, hailed by many observers as the top three-year-old seen in the Emirates this season. He’s entitled to step forward for the race and should be in the mix.
Military Artist, trained by Fawzi Nass, has been kept busy in recent weeks. Having his third start in month 14 days ago, he won a minor event in comfortable fashion, giving the form of the UAE 2000 Guineas trial a timely boost.
He has the services of Adrie de Vries, who continues to bang in the winners. He rode a double at Jebel Ali and won the inaugural Cocoa Beach Stakes on smart Manama Gold.
Tuz, a wide-margin winner of the Dubawi Stakes, wasn’t declared for the Al Shindagha Sprint and the 1200m dirt event now looks wide open. Formerly trained by Bob Baffert, Laurel River, the choice of Tadhg O’Shea, makes his UAE debut for Bhupat Seemar, one of three runners for Zabeel Stables.
Owned by Juddmonte, he has to defy a 516-day absence but it looks significant O’Shea has been booked ride the six-year-old.
Leading Spirt and Colour Up are closely matched on their running behind Tuz and should go well. The pair are proven under the conditions and have been good form since returning from their summer break.
Last season’s Dubawi Stakes winner Mouheeb completes the shortlist on his seasonal debut for Michael Costa, the season’s top trainer. He has a good record off a break and should appreciate drop in class, having failed to make any impression in the Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup undercard, 307 days ago.