Opera Ballo to call the tune at Meydan

Ed Marnane

With just over 10 weeks to the Dubai World Cup, Friday’s cracking nine-race card at Meydan should provide some clues for UAE’s showpiece fixture in late March.

Exciting Opera Ballo, trained by Charlie Appleby, can advertise his claims in the $5m (R16m) Dubai Turf by winning the Jebel Hatta, Race 7, one of three Group 1 races on the card.

Owned and bred by Godolphin, he created a big impression on his local debut last month, winning the Al Rashidiya Stakes, Group 2, on his first appearance in 84 days.

By Ghaiyyath, he travelled powerfully before readily accelerating clear of stable companions Nations Pride and First Conquest, taking his record to five wins in just seven appearances since making his racecourse debut 12 months ago.

Opera Ballo, the mount of William Buick, has nothing to fear from reopposing veteran Nations Pride, a multiple winner at the highest level. Opera Ballo can justify short odds and give Godolphin a record 10th and Buick a fifth Jebel Hatta.

Champion trainer Bhupat Seemar is enjoying a terrific campaign, especially at Meydan and he holds a strong hand in the Al Maktoum Challenge (Group 1), the dirt showpiece and a key local prep for the Dubai World Cup.

He is responsible for six of the nine runners and last year’s winner, Walk Of Stars, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea, holds sound claims of giving Zabeel Stables back-to-back wins in the Group 1 event.

He was entitled to need his recent comeback when chasing home Heart Of Honor and Artorious, an encouraging effort off an eight-month break. He is weighted to reverse the form with the winner and runner-up and is nicely drawn for a confirmed front-runner.

Race 8 is the UAE 2000 Guineas, the opening classic of the season, and has drawn a maximum field of 16. Appleby-trained Devon Island will have plenty of supporters. He is unbeaten at Meydan since switching to dirt after showing plenty of promise on his racecourse debut at Kempton in August.

He is progressive colt and holds strong claims in a competitive renewal.

Six Speed, the highest rated horse with a mark of 101 in the field, caught the eye when making all to win his recent prep run and should go well under new rider Mickael Barzalona, a jockey who has few peers riding on Meydan’s main track.

The son of Not This Time, trained by Bhupat Seemar, was strong at the finish in the trial and should have no concerns stepping up to 1600m. He possesses early speed and is nicely drawn in stall No 8.

O’Shea keeps the faith with Lino Padrino, one of four runners for Bhupat Seemar. He is held in high regard and the son of Uncle Lino was an eye-catcher in the trial behind Six Speed, staying on strongly in the closing stages to finish fourth having been slowly away.

He has been done no favours by the draw and faces a stiff task defying stall No 16, the widest gate. He’s readily opposed.

Newmarket-based trainer George Scott, who is enjoying a productive winter in the Middle East, saddling winners in Bahrain and Dubai, is represented by last year’s winner West Acre in Race 5, the Blue Point Stakes.

He steps up in class after disappointing under a big weight in handicap company on Tapeta at Southwell two months ago. He will appreciate being back on turf at a track he has reserved for his best performances. He demands of respect in an open-looking race, despite having to concede weight to his 10 rivals.

It is hard to ignore the claims of Cover Point, a two-time winner over the course and distance and recent winner of the Dubai Dash (Listed). He hails from a yard that is operating at a 17% strike rate in the Emirates this season and Cover Point has the services of in-form Buick.

Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s El Nasseeb has emerged the top dirt sprinter in the UAE this winner, thanks to his resounding victories in the Al Garhoud Sprint and the Dubawi Stakes.

He can complete the hat-trick of wins in the Al Shindagha Sprint (Group 3) and give his trainer his second victory in five years.

Race 3, the Al Fahidi Fort (Group 2), sees last year’s winner, Marbaan, and Mysterious Night, the 2024 winner, clash in the Group 2 event, over 1400m on turf.

The pair met in the Business Bay Challenge, over the same course and distance, last month, with Michael Costa’s Marbaan finishing a close third behind the winner Mysterious Night.

Marbaan has obvious claims of turning the tables with Godolphin-owned runner with a 1kg pull, despite a potential awkward draw in stall No 15.

Of the rest, Khanjar, who split Mysterious Night and Marbaan last month, is one to consider, along with Witness Stand for British trainers, Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole.

Witness Stand is back to his optimum distance of 1400m and Hollie Doyle is reunited with the Expert

Eye gelding, having partnered the five-year-old to victory in the Lennox Stakes, Group 2, at Goodwood.

BEST BET

Race 8 No 4 Six Speed

VALUE BET

Race 3 No 1 Witness Stand

BEST SWINGER

Race 4: 4-Drew’s Gold and 6-Colour Up

JACKPOT

(Races 4-7)

R36

Leg 1: 2, 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 4: 1