Ed Marnane
Seven days after riding his 300th winner in the UAE, Pat Dobbs returns to Meydan on Sunday with a good book of rides, five for his main employer Doug Watson.
Dobbs best chance of riding a winner comes up in the 2000m handicap on dirt, Race 3, aboard Verboten, owned by Al Rashid Stables.
Winner at Jebel Ali on his seasonal debut, the son of No Nay Never bumped into the back-to-form Ajuste Fiscal over this course and distance last month, finishing 7.25 lengths behind the Julio Olascoaga-trained winner. The winner gave the form a boost, finishing fourth behind the smart Remorse in the Listed Entisar Stakes next time, before occupying the same berth in last week’s inaugural Thunder Snow.
Recent Jebel Ali maiden winners Green Jacket and Carpe Momentum, who are making their handicap debuts, head the list of dangers. They’re very unexposed and have claims.
It is significant Tadhg O’Shea has remained loyal to Secret Image, jumping off Green Jacket to ride the top weight, who made an encouraging start to his UAE career at Jebel Ali eight days ago.
He’s entitled to strip fitter for the race and merits respect if handling Meydan’s main track.
Grand Dubai bounced back to form at Meydan last Sunday, just failing to see off the late challenge of the Mulfit under a positive front-running ride. He had a hard race and will need to have fully recovered from his exertions to go one place better.
Vasilakos, winner at Al Ain on his dirt/local debut two months ago, steps into handicap company on just his third start in public. He found plenty for pressure despite showing signs of greenness to get the better of Arabian Gazelles, a performance that can be marked up having raced wide. He could run well at decent odds and can’t be overlooked.
Runaholic, trained by Fawzi Nass, caught the eye on his UAE debut in a maiden at Meydan a fortnight ago. Slowly away, he made eye-catching late progress to finish an unlucky second behind the enterprising ridden winner Persian Empire.
He gets his opportunity to make amends in the 1600m maiden, the opening race on turf. In a race that has attracted a maximum number of runners, it’s an obvious concern he’s drawn poorly out wide in gate No 15.
In a modest contest, he should be able to defy his awkward stall and open his account at the sixth time of asking in the hands of Adrie de Vries.
Nass and De Vries team up with the top-weight Kanood in the 2000m handicap on turf, Race 4. Narrowly beaten in his last two races, he sets the standard and holds leading claims in the 11-runner event.
He is clearly effective under these conditions and deserves a change of luck.
Of the rest, Dublin Pharaoh is one to consider switching to turf, a surface he’s unexposed having only run five times. His latest run behind the unexposed Justice Protecol at Jebel Ali was a solid effort, and his best run of the campaign to date.
Sense Of Wisdom, Charlie Appleby’s only runner, can win the 1800m handicap on turf, Race 5. The lightly raced son of Shamardal endured a troubled journey on his seasonal reappearance when beaten less than four lengths in a 16-runner handicap at Meydan. He met serious interference and with a clear run would have gone close to winning. He’s fancied to defy top weight and gain compensation.
He has the advantage of a ground-saving draw and will take plenty of stopping under William Buick.
Rounding off the card is a competitive 1200m handicap on turf. Most of the fancied horses are drawn low, including Rayig who went into many notebooks after a very unlucky run behind Nibraas.
Slowly into stride, he was well behind before coming home strongly in the closing stages. It can be argued with a clear passage, he would have won the race.
Maiden Harvest Gold, drawn next to Rayig, has improved since connections sent him sprinting and switching to turf. He comes in good heart and has the assistance of top French rider Mickael Barzalona.
It’s hard to fault Will To Win’s consistency. The six-year-old gelding ran well behind Leading Spirit last week and will be suited going up to 1200m, a trip he has won four times.
Persian Empire, the only last-start winner in the race, is vulnerable on his handicap debut stepping down in distance and makes little appeal.
BEST BET
Race 5 No 1 Sense Of Wisdom
VALUE BET
Race 3 No 5 Vasilakos
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 1-Sense Of Wisdom and 6-Poster Paint [Race 5]
JACKPOT
(Races 4-7)
R48
Leg 1: 1, 6, 8
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 3, 5, 8, 9
Leg 4: 11, 13, 14, 15