Ed Marnane
First run in 2004, the Cape Verdi, the Grade 2 showpiece of Meydan’s bumper nine-race card on Friday, has been dominated by Godolphin in recent years, winning four of the last five renewals.
Charlie Appleby, seeking a fifth Cape Verdi, is responsible for three of the eight runners and William Buick has chosen to ride English Rose, the only unbeaten horse in the line-up.
Winner of a maiden at Newmarket on her debut last May, she overcame a lengthy layoff when easily landing a minor event at Kempton 74 days ago. By the mighty Frankel, she is an exciting filly and looks the one to beat.
Mystic Pearl, trained by William Haggas, heads the overseas challenge on her Meydan debut and is the main danger to English Rose. The daughter of Invincible Spirit caused a shock when winning the Listed Coral Distaff at Sandown in July.
She demonstrated that Sandown victory wasn’t a fluke when finishing a close third in the Grade 3 Prix de Lieurey - Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at Deauville, next time. She’s an admirable, tough filly and should be thereabouts under the talented Tom Marquand.
The inaugural running of the Cocoa Beach Stakes, named in honour of the 2008 UAE 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine, is the pick of the undercard. Run over a mile on dirt, the race has drawn a field of 10 fillies and exciting Manama Gold will hard to beat.
Trained by Fawzi Nass, she created a big impression on her racecourse debut at Meydan four weeks ago. Always handy, she travelled strongly and ran on strongly in the closing stages, crossing the line comfortable 2.50 lengths ahead of Frost At Dawn in the hands of Andre de Vries.
Wild Goddess, a rare runner on dirt for Appleby, makes her debut on the surface and is closely matched with Manama Gold on official ratings. By Camelot, her pedigree doesn’t offer encouragement she will take to dirt and the Godolphin-owned winner of two of her four races in Britain last year, makes little appeal.
Race 2, the opening thoroughbred race – a 1200m maiden on turf – is a wide-open looking contest that has drawn a full field of 16. Michael Costa has booked Marquand to ride Ghaaleb, replacing suspended Ben Coen.
The New Zealand–bred gelding has been beaten as favourite twice since a pleasing debut earlier in the season. He’s vulnerable stepping down in distance and switching to Meydan’s turf track.
Doug Watson introduces Chandigah, the highest rated horse in the field with a lofty mark of 99. The Irish import showed a decent level of ability last year, highlighted by his third in the Grade 3 Round Tower Stakes. He’s favourably drawn in stall No 5 and won’t be far away on his Meydan debut.
Race 3 is the opening handicap and sees recent winner Mr Kafoo and Mojeyrr clash in the 1200m event on dirt. The latter, trained by Costa, made a successful start to his UAE career, slamming his 14 rivals in a 1200m handicap at Jebel Ali. He’s a lightly raced gelding who has improved for the switch to the Middle East. If he can translate that form to Meydan, he sets the standard and will take plenty of stopping.
Despite obvious concerns of a double-figure draw, Mr Kafoo has bags of early speed and is likely to force the pace. He comes off the back of a maiden win over the course and distance two weeks ago and could be hard to peg back if allowed an uncontested lead.
Sari Dubai, trained by Doug Watson, caught the eye on his seasonal debut on the back of a 320-day break and can win Race 4, a 1900m handicap on turf. Ridden by Pat Dobbs, he made late progress from the rear to finish two lengths fourth behind Made In Dubai. He will relish the step up in distance and is very unexposed on grass, having just his fifth start on the surface.
Race 7, the second handicap on turf over 1400m, looks fiendishly difficult as one can expect with a big field of 16 declared. Joint top-weight Mysterious Night, trained by Appleby, showed improved form in the Business Bay Challenge (Listed), having been bang out of form last year. If he can take step forward, he should be in the shake-up.
George Boughey has his team in great order and runs Koy Koy and All The King’s Men, with preference for the latter. He has improved since joining Boughey and impressed when winning on the All-Weather at Wolverhampton two months ago. He’s a progressive gelding and should be equally effective on grass.
Top French rider Mickael Barzalona is a notable booking for Mount Tambora in the finale, a 2000m maiden on turf. Trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, he was an unlucky loser on his UAE debut at Abu Dhabi eight days when enduring a troubled passage.
He stormed home once finding room but failed to catch Arabian Tale in a driving finish, going down by a short head. Rated 90, he clearly sets the standard in a race that hasn’t much depth.
He looks hard to beat.
BEST BET
Race 5 No 7 Manama Gold
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 7 Keffaaf
BEST SWINGER
Race 3: 7-Mr Kafoo and 2-Almoreb
JACKPOT
(Races 6 to 9)
R36
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5
Leg 2: 1, 4, 8
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 7