Dubai Beach best in Balanchine

Ed Marnane

First run in 2004, the Group 2 Balanchine Stakes, named after the Oaks and Irish Derby winner, headlines Friday’s eight-race card at Meydan.

Dubai Beach, owned and bred by Godolphin, is aiming to become the 10th horse to successfully complete the Cape Verdi/Balanchine double and provide her trainer Saeed bin Suroor with his first success since Promising Run won the race eight years ago.

The daughter of Blue Point was a well backed favourite in the Cape Verdi, when getting the better of the former South African filly Quid Pro Quo and Dubai Treasure in thrilling finish to the Group 2 event.

The runner-up, who was formerly trained by Barend Botes before moving to Jerome Reynier after being sold to race for Team Valor International, was ruled out of the Balanchine after sustaining a setback which will put her on the sidelines for the immediate future.

Dubai Beach will renew rivalry with her stable companion, Dubai Treasure, and she will need to raise her game to confirm the form as she is 1kg worse off. Dubai Treasure, the mount of Irish-born Oisin Orr, is fitted with a first-time hood and holds sound claims.

Charlie Appleby’s unbeaten Blue Nazare enters calculations under William Buick, the most successful jockey in the history of the Balanchine, on her UAE debut.

By Dubawi, she created a big impression on her racecourse debut at Yarmouth last October, easily going clear of her eight rivals to score in grand style. She is highly unexposed and clearly has more to offer.

Appleby has dominated the Balanchine in recent years, winning the last six renewals.

Simon and Ed Crisford are represented by Fairy Glen, winner of the Listed Eden Stakes on the polytrack surface at Lingfield in November before being shipped out to Dubai.

She’s a strong stayer and may find the 1800m on the sharp side but will be aided by a strong pace.

Six days after winning the Red Sea Handicap on the Saudi Cup undercard with Sons And Lovers, Joseph O’Brien is chasing another big staying prize in the Middle East when he saddles Aeronautic in the Nad Al Shea Trophy, the final race on the card.

The Group 3 event over 2810m on turf, is a key local trial for the Dubai Gold Cup and Aeronautic caught the eye on his Meydan debut in a handicap last month. Ridden by Ben Coen, he endured a troubled passage, suffering interference off the home bend but he kept on nicely in the closing stages to finish a close third French Duke.

He is entitled to strip fitter for the run and should go well under new rider Tom Marquand.

Sunway was given a fine front-running ride by Silvestre de Sousa when winning the Al Khail Trophy, over the same course and distance, four weeks ago. He is unlikely to enjoy an uncontested lead again and may struggle to follow up.

By The Book, representing Appleby and Godolphin, began his season by easily winning a handicap at Meydan in December, a performance that impressed many on just the fourth run of his career.

He was well held in the Dubai Millennium Stakes, finishing third behind Fort George when a heavily backed favourite. He remains open to plenty of improvement and I don’t fear he won’t see out the 2810m trip, his first start over the distance.

Of the others, Nayyir makes most appeal back at venue he likes. He is a useful stayer and is a two-time winner over the track. Now eight, he lacks a recent run and is likely to be better for the race off a 182-day break, as the Dubai Gold Cup will be his main objective this winter.

Race 3, the UAE Oaks, has drawn a small field of seven and Bernardino Pinheiro-ridden Labwah, winner of two of her three races at Meydan, will be hard to beat. She impressed in the Cocoa Beach, showing battling qualities to prevail in a tight finish with Tjareed, the pair pulling six lengths clear of Dozalla.

Labwah is likely to have the measure of the reopposing Tjareed and Dozalla, especially as the step up to 1900m will suit Salem bin Ghadayer’s progressive filly.

The card gets underway with a 1400m maiden on dirt and Hidden Secret, a beaten favourite here seven days ago, can finally open his account at the tenth attempt for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash.

The Dubawi gelding will be suited steeping down in distance and this looks a golden opportunity to compensate his backers last week.

Dividend, trained by Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, confirmed the promise of his encouraging run behind Folk Festival on his UAE debut when winning a handicap at Meydan earlier in the month.

He was given a patient ride by Rossa Ryan and the fitting of first-time cheekpieces paid dividends, excuse the pun. He will be hard to beat in Race 4, the 1900m turf handicap.

Champion trainer Bhupat Seemar has found Meydan a happy hunting ground this season and he holds a strong hand in Race 5, the 1400m handicap on dirt. He saddles Shaq Diesel, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea, and Zandvoort.

The last-named, owned by Abubaker Kadoura, an emerging owner in the UAE who has invested heavily in young stock, can exploit a low draw and step back in trip. He’s a strong travelling colt and can register his second success at Meydan since joining Seemar at Zabeel Stables having begun his career in the USA with Steve Asmussen.

BEST BET

Race 1 No 2 Hidden Secret

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 6 Zandvoort

BEST SWINGER

Race 7: 1-Salloom and 6-Omaha Front

JACKPOT

(Races 4 to7)

R24

Leg 1: 2, 10, 12

Leg 2: 6, 7

Leg 3: 3, 6

Leg 4: 1, 6,