Ed Marnane
Frankie Dettori in his final year riding has an excellent book of rides at Meydan on Saturday, with Country Grammer in the Dubai World Cup the pick of his seven mounts on Dubai’s biggest night.
Trained by four-time Dubai World Cup winner Bob Baffert, he will try to join Thunder Snow as a two-time Dubai World Cup champion and victory for the six-year-old will provide Dettori with a record five wins in Dubai’s showpiece.
Country Grammer ran well in last month’s Saudi Cup, staying on strongly in the closing stages and just failing to catch the enterprisingly ridden Panthalassa. He will enjoy the step up to 2000m and is fancied to reverse form with the Japanese-trained winner, despite drawing an awkward gate.
It could be a dream send-off for Dettori, who has enjoyed many of his biggest days in the saddle in the Emirates, among the highlights was Dubai Millennium’s jaw-dropping victory in the 2000 Dubai World Cup.
Algiers, trained by the father-and-son combination, Simon and Ed Crisford could spoil Dettori’s farewell. By Shamardal, he has been a revelation this year and emerged a serious contender since bolting up in the opening two legs of the Al Maktoum Challenge.
He’s a strong-travelling type who has a potent turn of foot, two essential assets required on Meydan’s main track.
Panthalassa, one of eight runners flying the flag for Japan, is the first horse to attempt the lucrative Saudi Cup/Dubai World Cup in the same year. He is vulnerable stepping up in trip and drawing the widest stall is a massive setback. He’s readily opposed.
Japan’s Horse Of The Year Equinox has commanded plenty of attention since arriving in Dubai ahead of his run in the Dubai Sheema Classic. Regarded by many as the banker on the card, he will take plenty of beating in a race Japan have won four times.
He looked a special talent when winning the Arima Kinen in December and is fancied to justify his skinny odds.
Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Rebel’s Romance bids to provide Charlie Appleby with his third win, following victories of Hawkbill and Old Persian in 2018 and 2019. Winner of the 2021 UAE Derby on dirt, he has been unbeaten since connections switched him to turf, taking his tally to five when scoring at Keeneland in November.
He has had an interrupted preparation and that is clearly a worry, especially in what is a deep race.
Westover, the resounding winner of the Irish Derby after a luckless passage in the Derby at Epsom, arrives in Dubai without a prep race. The son of Frankel has the services of Ryan Moore, who enjoyed a Group 1 double at Rosehill seven days ago, winning the Golden Slipper and the Ranvet Stakes.
Mostahdaf, owned and bred by Shadwell, won’t lack for fitness, winning the valuable Neom Turf Cup in emphatic fashion under Jim Crowley four weeks ago. He represents a stable that has won the Sheema Classic three times, the most recent with Mishriff two years ago. He is tactically versatile and enjoyed the quick surface in Riyadh.
Returning after a three-year absence, Hong Kong is bringing a small team of five and their best chance of winner is the Australian-bred Sight Success in the Al Quoz Sprint, a race Hong Kong last won with Amber Sky nine years ago.
Trained by John Size, Sight Success is a smart, consistent sprinter and his second in the Hong Kong Sprint (Group 1), in December, is arguably the best form shown by any of the 16 horses declared.
Sprinters bred in the Southern Hemisphere have a decent record in the Al Quoz Sprint, winning six of the last 12 renewals since 2010. Confidence has risen in Sight Success now he has drawn gate No 13. The Right Man is sole horse in the last decade to have landed the Al Quoz Sprint from a stall drawn lower than No 7.
Al Dasim, the only three-year-old in the field, is unbeaten at Meydan and put up a dominant display in the Nad Al Sheba Sprint on Super Saturday. Trained by George Boughey, he overcame a poor draw when defeating Miqyaas and holds obvious claims.
By Harry’s Angel, Al Dasim has thrived since joining Boughey and in a weak renewal can provide the main threat to Sight Success.
Aidan O’Brien saddles favourite Cairo in the UAE Derby, a race the Irish trainer has won three times. He makes little appeal switching to dirt following an uninspiring comeback on the all-weather surface earlier in the month.
Many will point out his sire Quality Road is a top US dirt sire but his dam, by Galileo, doesn’t scream dirt. The Japanese-trained Dura Erede, winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, is the one to beat. He is the highest rated horse in the field, proven on dirt and is guaranteed to see out the 1900m, unlike many of his rivals.
Bathrat Leon is a worthy favourite to defend his Godolphin Mile crown. He took advantage of favourable inside draw when making all to defeat Desert Wisdom and 14 others 12 months, causing a massive shock at 66-1. He showed his versatility when winning the 1351 Turf Sprint, in Saudi Arabia, last month under a typical front-running ride. He will take plenty of catching and has leading claims of kick-starting a good night for Japan.
Desert Wisdom, who failed to recapture that form in his first two appearances this season, ran well in the Burj Nahaar, a key local trial. He wasn’t beaten far behind Discovery Island and if stepping up on that effort he appeals at big odds.
BEST BET
Race 4 No 11 Sight Success
BEST VALUE
Race 2 No 3 Desert Wisdom
BEST SWINGER
6 Dura Erede and 5 Derma Sotogake [Race 5]
JACKPOT
(Races 6-9)
R36
Leg 1: 2, 5, 7, 11
Leg 2: 3, 12
Leg 3: 7
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5