Ed Marnane
Punters have a cracking seven-race card to get stuck into at Meydan on Friday, the best meeting in the Emirates this season.
The highlight on the programme is the Listed Entisaar over 2000m on dirt, in which Remorse makes a welcome comeback for champion trainer Bhupat Seemar under Tadhg O’Shea.
The son of Dubawi, winner of two of his six races on Meydan’s main course, has been off the track since finishing a highly creditable sixth behind Country Grammer in the Dubai World Cup in March, beaten just over four lengths by the Frankie Dettori-ridden winner.
Remorse, second to For The Top in last season’s Entisar, has a good record when racing fresh, and is fancied to shrug off a 272-day break and start his campaign with a bang.
Atletico El Culano, representing South American trainer Julio Olascoaga, caught the eye on his local debut in the Dubai Creek Mile, making late headway from the rear of the field to finish a good third behind Prince Ejji. A Grade 1 winner in Uruguay, he will relish going up in distance to 2000m and looks the main threat to Remorse.
Salem bin Ghadayer chasing his third consecutive win in the Entisar runs For The Top and US import First Constitution, a $430,000 (R7.3m) purchase at Fasig-Tipton in Kentucky in July. Of the pair, the latter is preferred and looks the stable’s main hope with top French rider Michael Barzalona booked on his return to the Emirates for his winter stint.
A Grade 1 winner in Chile in 2020, he won at Aqueduct and Belmont for Todd Pletcher earlier in the year and is a multiple winner on dirt. He’s an exciting recruit for his connections, and if primed and ready to strike on his local debut, he should go well.
For The Top, trained by bin Ghadayer, is bidding to become the first horse to win the Entisar twice. He lost his way in the second half of last season and has plenty to prove having struggled badly on his seasonal debut at Abu Dhabi last month.
In the 1000 Guineas Trial, Race 3, the most valuable contest on the card, Jewel Genie Lamp can score on her Meydan debut. Being a Southern Hemisphere-bred three-year-old, she must concede 4.5 kg to her 10 rivals. By Breeders’ Cup Classic and Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer out of Brazilian champion racemare Magic Lamp, she ran well in a Grade 1 in Uruguay last time when keeping on well in the closing stages to finish fifth of 16 behind Quatro Y Vinto.
Awasef, trained by Doug Watson, leads the home defence and is feared. She created a big impression on her racecourse debut at this course last month, going clear in the closing stages to win by a comfortable two lengths from the reopposing Awasef. She was uncomplicated, professional and will improve going up in distance.
Saeed bin Suroor has a fine record in the race, winning two of last three renewals. He relies on Deep Thoughts, a three-race maiden, in the 1400m event on dirt. The daughter of Lope de Vega has shown ability in the UK but a mark of 74 suggests she has to raise her game switching to dirt.
Racing kicks off with a 1200m maiden on turf. The perennial Lake Causeway has been frustrating for connections and extended his record to 0-18 when beaten favourite on his seasonal debut in a dirt maiden at Meydan. He had a valid excuse, having reported to been lame after the race. He will be suited by the switch to turf and can finally open his account.
Desert Destination showed improved form at Abu Dhabi recently, appreciating the step up to a mile when a staying-on fourth behind Mouser.
He looks the answer in the 1800m handicap on turf, Race 3, in the hands of Antonio Fresu. He’s very unexposed on grass and is fancied to reverse form with the winner on these terms.
Racing closes with an interesting juvenile maiden, over 1600m on dirt. Nine of the 14 runners are unraced, several boasting smart pedigrees and representing top stables. There has been plenty of chat for Shirl’s Bee, the Doug Watson-trained colt has the assistance of Pat Dobbs and leads the Red Stables two-pronged assault on his first start in public. He has the advantage of a barrier trial and is fancied to mount a bold bid from a yard in cracking form.
BEST BET
Race 5 No 5 Remorse
VALUE BET
Race 2 No 1 Desert Destination
BEST SWINGER
Race 5: 5-Remorse and 2-Atletico El Culano
JACKPOT
(Races 4 to 7)
R72
Leg 1: 1, 9, 11
Leg 2: 2, 5
Leg 3: 1, 3, 8
Leg 4: 3, 8, 13, 14