Ed Marnane
Smart Meshakel, runner-up in the 2021 UAE 2000 Guineas, makes his welcome comeback following a lengthy layoff in the 1400m handicap, Race 5, at Meydan on Friday.
Trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, he must concede weight to his eight rivals on his first appearance since winning a minor event at Meydan 610 day ago.
Meshakel, winner of two of his eight races, was narrowly denied Classic glory in the UAE 2000 Guineas when caught in the dying strides by Muheeb, with subsequent Platinium Jubilee (Group 1) winner Naval Crown 0.75 lengths adrift in third.
Meshakel, a confirmed front-runner with bags of early speed, looks attractively treated on his handicap debut off a rating of 104, and is fancied to defy his big weight of 62kg and kick off his campaign in style in the hands of Royston Ffrench.
Richard Mullen-ridden Celtic Prince, third behind Pitcher’s Point here seven days ago, won’t lack for fitness and warrants respect for trainer Rashed Bouresly, who has made a fine start to the new season and has his horses in good order.
Celtic Prince has an impressive record on dirt at Meydan, winning twice and not finishing worse than third in nine appearances. He has a good draw in stall No 5 and rates the biggest threat to Meshakel.
Alkaamel, one of two runners representing Shadwell, has the services of Dane O’Neill, a rider who has made a blistering start to the season with four winners already on the scoresheet and operating at impressive strike-rate of 24%.
Trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, the son of Havana Gold has only enjoyed success at Meydan since arriving in the UAE in 2019, winning handicaps over 1600m and 1400m. Alkaamel has a good record fresh but racing off a career-high mark, he looks vulnerable.
Raaeb, sporting the second silks of Shadwell, makes his local and dirt debut for Al Mheiri and Antonio Fresu is booked to ride. By Raven’s Pass, a sire with a decent record on dirt in the Emirates, he was a useful sort for former trainer Saeed bin Suroor, winning four times. Fitted with a first-time cheekpieces, he’s best watched for his new yard back after an eight-month absence.
Ray Dawson and Ahmad bin Harmash were among the winners at Meydan’s opening fixture of the season. Island Rule, who makes his seasonal debut, represents the pair on his first outing in 266 days, and is one to consider.
The No Nay Never gelding impressed on his racecourse debut at Jebel Ali 12 months ago, readily coming clear of Yurman and six others. He was highly tried afterwards in stronger company later in the campaign, highlighted by his narrow second to the 108-rated Mubakker over today’s course and distance.
He’s lightly raced horse who is open to plenty of improvement on just his seventh lifetime start.
Zero To Hundred, trained by Bhupat Seemar, has the assistance of the in-form Tadhg O’Shea. A winner on dirt here on his seasonal debut last winter, he was a consistent performer all season and demonstrated his versatility when winning a 14-runner handicap at Meydan in March.
An inside draw may not suit the son of Dubawi, as he tends to be ridden patiently and it’s easy to oppose the six-year-old.
Earlier on the card, Seemar and O’Shea team up with US import Green Jacket in the 1400m maiden, Race 3. Formerly trained by Chad Brown, he failed to land a telling blow on his only start when fourth of seven at Belmont Park in October of last year.
He was tardy at the gates and conceded several lengths to his rivals before making late headway to finish seven lengths behind the winner. It’s no surprise Seemar has fitted blinkers on the son of Curlin for his local debut.
The South American Long Kiss is an interesting runner for trainer Antonio Cintra and top Uruguayan rider Jose da Silva, who teamed up to win the final race with the impressive Upper Class at Meydan last week.
Long Kiss, the sole three-year-old in the line-up, wasn’t beaten far in a maiden at Maronas in August, stepping up on his pleasing debut at the same venue three weeks earlier. Getting 3kg from his rivals, he looks the likely winner in a race that doesn’t look strong.
Ten unraced juveniles have been declared for the two-year-old fillies maiden, over 1200m on dirt, Race 2. Seemar holds a typical strong hand, saddling four runners with stable jockey O’Shea choosing to ride Bijjlee, a daughter of War Front that cost her owner £231,000 (R4.7m) at Newmarket in April.
She’s bred for the underfoot conditions, her dam, by Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags, was a Grade 1 winner on dirt.
Doug Watson introduces Awasef for the season’s leading owners, Al Rashid Stables. By Cairo Prince out of a three-time dirt winner Darling Sky, she fetched $100,000 (R1.7m) at OBS, in Florida, earlier in the year.
It’s encouraging stable companion Nyaar ran a creditable race on his debut in the opening two-year-old race here last week. Historically, Watson has a decent record with his juvenile fillies at Meydan.
Riding arrangements suggest Here We Are is pick of Salem bin Ghadayer’s two runners, with Royston Ffrench aboard the daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Super Save.
She was sold for €130,000 (R2.3m) at Goresbridge breeze-up sale in May and is bred for dirt, being out of Chosen Road, by top US dirt sire Quality Road. Her granddam was a multiple winner including at Grade 3 level.
It would be foolish to ignore the claims of More Ginebra. Her trainer, Ahmad bin Harmash, took the opening two-year-old race of the season last week with Sharp Army, who overcame an awkward draw when finding plenty for pressure to prevail in a tight finish.
More Ginebra, owned by Abduallah Menahi, was cheap purchase at OBS, in Florida, in June, costing just $12,000 (R212,924).
Twelfthofneverland, who has a fine record at Meydan, makes a quick reappearance in Race 6, the 1900m handicap. He ran a creditable race seven days ago on his seasonal reappearance behind Book Review, keeping on for pressure in the closing stages behind the enterprisingly ridden winner. He should be sharper for the race and looks the one to beat.
Unexposed First Of November, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, makes plenty of appeal. He made a pleasing comeback at Jebel Ali when third behind Tapitution in an eight-runner handicap, leaving the impression he will improve for the race.
He’s ideally berthed in stall No 3 for a confirmed frontrunner and having only made four starts remains open to further progress, unlike most of his rivals.
BEST BET
Race 3 No 9 Long Kiss
BEST VALUE
Race 4 No 9 Triple Venture
BEST SWINGER
Race 6 1-Twelfthofneverland and 2-First Of November
JACKPOT
Races 4 to 7
R24
Leg 1: 4, 5, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 2, 3, 7