Honour for Appleby at Meydan

Ed Marnane

Charlie Appleby has his team firing on all cylinders and continues to bang in winners, First Conquest, winner of the Dubai Millennium Stakes (Group 3), was the highlight of a spectacular four-timer at Meydan seven days ago.

The Godolphin trainer returns to Meydan on Friday and is represented in four of the eight races.

In Race 3, the Dubai Trophy, Appleby saddles Symbol Of Honour, who looks to follow up his recent win in the Al Wasl Stakes. The form of that race was boosted when runner-up West Acre defeated his elders in the Blue Point Stakes (Group 2).

Symbol Of Honour is hard to oppose and can give Godolphin and Appleby back-to-back wins in the event, 12 months after the favourite, Great Truth, won.

Rebel Diamond, a three-time winner in Ireland, including at Listed level, is an interesting runner and represents Wathnan Racing, an emerging power in world racing.

He joined Qatar-based French trainer Alban de Mieulle after being sold at Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale and has won one of his two starts at Doha since arriving in the Middle East. He looks the chief threat to Symbol Of Honour and will be suited stepping back to 1200m, having campaigned over further in Qatar.

Bhupat Seemar’s Galactic Star makes his Meydan debut in Race 4, a 1600m conditions race on dirt, 20 days after winning a minor event over trip 1200m, on his racecourse debut at Jebel Ali.

The son of Improbable, a three-time Grade 1 winner on dirt, is held in high regard and caught the eye the manner he stayed on in the closing stages when defeating the reopposing On My Way and six others, suggesting he will relish stepping up to 1600m.

Racing opens with a competitive 1600m handicap on turf and first reserve King’s Fountain makes most appeal, having secured a place in the line-up following the withdrawal of Ajwad.

Trained by Ahmad bin Harmash for Sky Racing, this son of Too Darn Hot has been running consistently well in competitive dirt handicaps, the latest when beaten four lengths at Meydan seven days ago. He’s very unexposed on turf and can finally make the breakthrough at the 10th time of asking.

In an open-looking race unexposed Arabic Art, Folk Festival and No Retreat on their handicap debuts head the list of dangers.

The final race, the Vazirabad Handicap, named in honour of the outstanding French stayer who won the Dubai Gold Cup three times, was won by Appleby for the last two years and he holds strong claims of landing the prize, once again.

He is three-handed with Endless Victory, Royal Power and El Cordobes, the choice of William Buick who is operating at 22% strike rate at Meydan in 2025.

By Frankel, El Cordobes caught the eye on his first run since being gelded following a 261-day break when staying-on second of 15 behind Asaassi last month. He is very unexposed, and I expect will improve going up in distance.

Twelve months ago Saffie Osborne made history by becoming the first female rider to ride a winner at Meydan when Ouzo landed the Lord Glitters handicap. Trained by her dad, Jamie, Ouzo is back to defend his crown and is among a full field of 16 declared for the 2000m event on turf.

It’s easy to forgive his sixth, over the same course and distance, last month having endured a trouble passage. In an open-looking race, he commands respect.

In the same race Galen, trained by Joseph O’Brien, shaped nicely on his UAE debut, keeping on to finish a creditable fourth, despite having had a tough trip from his wide draw. He could reward each-way backers.

Arabian Light, sent off surprisingly a heavy odds-on favourite, finished a head in front of Galen and was a big eye-catcher, having had difficulty obtaining a clear run. The lightly raced son of Kingman remains open to further improvement on just his fifth run. He will be hard to beat.

Last season’s UAE 2000 Guineas winner, Mendelssohn Bay, is among 14 set to face the starter in Race 7, the 2000m handicap on dirt. Trained by Seemar, he is a quirky performer and has plenty to prove after failing to impression behind Violent Justice at this venue last month.

Prince Rouz, Mendelssohn Bay’s stable companion, is an interesting runner and makes his UAE/handicap debut and Tadhg O’Shea rides the six-year-old. Winner of eight of his 11 races in Russia, he arrives in the Middle East with a smart profile and if the market speaks in his favour, he warrants respect.

Dangers are aplenty, led by course winners Violent Justice, Elyabri, Lahresh and Lion’s Mane. Top-weight New London, a rare runner on dirt for Appleby, is a useful stayer and was a Group 3 winner in July, 2022 at Goodwood.

He’s unproven on dirt but, being by Dubawi, fuels optimism he will handle the conditions. He has the benefit of a recent run and the draw has been kind.

BEST BET

Race 6 No 6 Thunder Of Niagara

BEST VALUE

Race 7 No 13 Lion’s Mane

BEST SWINGER

Race 1: 17 King’s Fountain and 8 No Retreat [Race 1]

JACKPOT

(Races 5 to 8)

R48

Leg 1: 1, 5, 12

Leg 2: 2, 6

Leg 3: 1, 6, 8, 13

Leg 4: 5, 8