Ed Marnane
Back to Meydan on Sunday for another seven-race programme and Desert Destination gets the vote to finally make the breakthrough in the 1600m maiden, the first race on turf.
Trained by Osama Refai, he was sent off second favourite to win a competitive handicap at Meydan last month and posted a fine effort to finish a close second to Untold Secret, who was given an inspired ride by top French rider Mickael Barzalona.
Desert Destination, who has improved since switching to turf, will appreciate stepping down in class and this looks a good opportunity to finally open his account at the 12th time of asking. The application of a first-time cheekpieces looks a positive equipment change and likely to spark further improvement in the son of Night Of Thunder.
Refai, who started trained in the UAE this season, may be unfamiliar to many but he has made bright start since joining the training ranks and has done well with his small team.
It is hard to ignore the claims of Sari Dubai in a contest that very few really appeal. Doug Watson’s four-year-old has been knocking on the door since making a pleasing comeback, occupying the runner-up berth on his last two starts, both on dirt, at Meydan. The switch to turf is unlikely to be a negative and he should be thereabouts under Pat Dobbs.
Watson and Dobbs team up with the progressive Al Nayyir in the 2000m handicap on turf, Race 4. A winner on dirt earlier in the campaign, he showed his versatility when a well-backed winner of a 10-runner 2410m handicap on turf at Meydan last time.
He looked an unlikely winner when badly boxed in but once finding room, he quickened impressively to snatch victory in the dying strides under Sam Hitchcott, and delight his supporters.
The son of Dubawi, a bargain AED 40,000 (R184,000) purchase at the 2012 Racing in Dubai Sale, has sound claims of following up and will take plenty of beating. The step back to 2000m isn’t a concern, as Al Nayyir is a strong-travelling type who possesses an electric turn of pace.
Open Mind, Saeed bin Suroor’s only runner on the card, faces 10 rivals in the 1400m handicap on turf, Race 5. Owned by Godolphin, he’s a lightly raced gelding and is likely to prove popular on his UAE debut.
Winner of a decent three-year-old handicap on Chelmsford All-Weather when last seen in action in September, he is a consistent performer and looks ideally drawn to save ground, jumping from stall No 1.
The Bhupat Seemar-trained pair, Western Symphony and Ranchero, are the main dangers, with marginal preference for the former. The son of Kodiac, the mount of Pat Cosgrave, has run well in defeat in a couple of competitive races this season, leaving the impression he will be primed and ready to strike. He will be favoured by stepping back down in trip and is nicely drawn in stall No 5.
Western Symphony, a wide-margin winner on dirt at Meydan on his seasonal reappearance, has lost little in defeat in two runs since, and understandable why Tadhg O’Shea remains loyal. The switch to turf is unlikely to prevent the son of Shamardal mounting a bold bid.
Seemar and O’Shea have sound claims of winning the 1900m handicap on dirt, Race 6, with recent Jebel Ali scorer Ghost Of The Mambo. He found plenty for pressure to see off Zucchini in a driving finish and 3kg rise in the ratings is unlikely to anchor him.
Michael Costa, who has made a fine start as private trainer for Sheikh Ahmad Al Maktoum at Jebel Ali, saddles Seyaasi and the lightly raced four-year-old merits respect. The US-bred colt caused a massive shock when winning a maiden, over the same course and distance, in early December, taking a big step forward on previous form.
An opening mark of 76 on his handicap debut looks fair and having his fifth run of his career, he is open to further improvement.
BEST BET
Race 2 No 4 Desert Destination
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 3 Ranchero
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 7-Al Nayyir and 3-Mordin
JACKPOT
(Races 4-7)
R48
Leg 1: 7
Leg 2: 2, 3, 6
Leg 3: 2, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5