Ed Marnane
With six weeks until the UAE 2000 Guineas, Godolphin’s Devon Island can advertise his claims for the opening Classic of the season by winning Race 8, the 1600m conditions race for two-year-olds on dirt on a bumper nine-race card at Meydan on Friday.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Devon Island caught the eye on his local dirt debut when defeating the reopposing Brotherly Love and nine others in a maiden at Meydan last month. Always handy, he stayed on strongly in the closing stages and confirmed the promise of his encouraging debut at Kempton in August.
He relished the switch to dirt, and it was no surprise, being by leading US dirt sire Practical Joke out of a mare that won on dirt in the US.
Bhupat Seemar took the training honours at Meydan last week, saddling three winners, and brings a big team to his local track. His best chance of winner looks to be Poster Paint, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea, in the finale, division 2 of the 1800m handicap on turf.
A winner over the course and distance in March last year, he has run well in defeat in two appearances since returning from his summer break and makes plenty of appeal from the foot of the weights.
Billy Loughnane, who rode his 200th winner in the UK this year on Monday, has flown out to the Middle East to ride the unexposed Mothecombe for Charlie Appleby. By exciting young sire Ghaiyyath, he overcame a 14-month layoff when winning a minor event at Newmarket in September having been gelded and fitted with a hood.
Mothecombe is open to plenty of improvement and demands plenty of respect on just his third start.
Do Or Do Not has joined Jamie Osborne and makes his UAE debut in Race 4, the 1400m maiden on turf. Formerly trained by Ed Walker, he was a consistent sort and made the frame in five of his seven races in the UK.
He ran second to Gstaad in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot before chasing home Zavateri in the July Stakes and Vintage Stakes at Newmarket and Goodwood. Rated 104, he clearly sets the standard and will take plenty of beating.
A full field of 16 contest Race 7, a 1200m handicap on turf. Manshod, trained by Michael Costa, will be popular under Silvestre de Sousa, the season’s top rider with 14 wins.
Now seven, Manshod made his belated racecourse debut at Abu Dhabi in October and impressed when winning a 1200m maiden. He followed up over the same course and distance on his handicap debut the following month, shaping like he had more to offer.
In a wide-open looking handicap, Markakol is one to consider from a yard in terrific form. He shaped nicely on his seasonal debut at Abu Dhabi and should be sharper for the race.
Of the rest, Vespasian merits respect for Simon and Ed Crisford. The father and son partnership have made a bright start to the season and Vespasian can boast winning form at Meydan last season, so clearly likes the track.
Racing gets under way with the Madjani Stakes, the Group 2 showpiece for Arabians. Last year’s winner, Unleashed, is back to defend his crown and impressed winning a recent barrier trial over the course. Trained by Jaber Bittar, he is the class act of the race and can give in-form Richard Mullen his first winner at Meydan this season.
Race 3, the opening maiden on the card, is a tricky contest. Whitegate, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash, gets a tentative vote on his first start on dirt.
He won’t lack for fitness on his third run of the campaign and if can dominate from the front, he should go well.
Race 5 is a 1600m handicap on dirt and Simon and Ed Crisford have booked James Doyle to ride three-year-old Royal Favour, an eight-length winner at this course when last seen in March. He has been off the track since and been gelded in the off-season.
Royal Favour is very unexposed, and I don’t fear fitness will be a negative back after his lengthy break.
BEST BET
Race 8 No 2 Devon Island
VALUE BET
Race 2 No 11 Eye On The Prize
BEST SWINGER
Race 9 13-Poster Paint and 7-Mothecombe
JACKPOT
(Races 4 to 7)
R48
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 3, 4, 5, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3
Leg 4: 5, 8, 9, 10