Ed Marnane
Week two of the Dubai Carnival is headlined by the $180,000 (R3m) Al Rashidiya at Meydan on Friday. The Group 2 showpiece, over 1800m on turf, was first run in 2002 and this year’s race looks a strong renewal.
Saeed bin Suroor has won four of the last four runnings and he relies on Passion And Glory and Dubai Future, winner of the Bahrain International Trophy in November. The last-named was delivered with a well-timed challenge under Danny Tudhope to get the better of Passion And Glory and give Suroor a notable 1-2 in Bahrain’s biggest prize at Sakhir racecourse.
Dubai Future, winner of three of his 10 races at Meydan, can confirm the form with Passion Glory and holds leading claims in the 11-runner event.
Charlie Appleby has his team in fine form and made a bright start to the year, highlighted by Al Suhail’s sensational victory in the Al Fahidi Fort seven days ago. He completed a quick double when Lazuli led home stable companion Man Of Promise in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash.
Progressive Ottoman Fleet and Valiant Prince, unbeaten in two runs at Meydan, give Appleby a strong hand. The latter, the mount of the in-form James Doyle, lowered Magic Lily’s track record when winning a handicap last February.
Ottoman Fleet, to be ridden by William Buick, progressed nicely in 2022 and is a horse on an upward trajectory. He arguably produced his best run of the season at Newmarket on his final appearance, where he routed his seven rivals in the Listed Seymour Stakes. He looks the horse to beat and will take plenty of stopping.
Christophe Soumillon, who returned from a three-month ban at Kenilworth on Saturday, is a noteworthy booking for a Zaygrey, trained in France by Yann Barberot. The son of Zarak enjoyed a productive campaign last year, winning three times and he possesses a sharp turn of foot.
San Donato created a big impression in the National Day Cup (Listed) on his local debut for Doug Watson at Abu Dhabi last month. Always travelling strongly, he readily quickened clear to beat last season’s Jebel Hatta winner Alfareeq and 14 others. The runner-up ran well when second behind Al Suhail last week, and San Donato has each-way claims.
The inaugural Ipi Tombe Stakes named after Mike de Kock’s high-class mare, a Group 1 winner in Dubai, is a welcome addition to the fillies and mares programme and will provide clues for the Cape Verdi and Balanchine next month.
Wild Beauty, a Grade 1 winner at Woodbine in 2021, leads Charlie Appleby’s challenge in the hands of William Buick. The daughter of Frankel looks to have been put away for a campaign in Dubai after finishing a close-up fifth of six in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp last May.
Soft Whisper, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, is an obvious threat. Rated 106, she has a fine record returning from a break and is unlikely to lack fitness on her first start since winning at Ascot in late October.
Earlier, the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, Race 3, Loreley, undefeated since switching to dirt, gets the vote for South American trainer Ricardo Colombo. He has impressed winning all three starts and rating of 111 confirms he is a smart performer. He looks an uncomplicated, straight-forward horse and is favourably drawn for a horse that likes to race handy/lead.
Race 6, the first running of the Thunder Snow Stakes, a 2000m conditions race on dirt, looks a good opportunity for the former Todd Pletcher-trained First Constitution to build on his encouraging start for Salem bin Ghadayer in the Entisar Stakes last month.
He travelled strongly until lack of fitness told in the closing stages before weakening to run third behind Remorse and Bendoog, beaten less than three lengths. He’s entitled to be sharper for the race and is fancied to reverse form with the reopposing Bendoog.
In the opening 1600m handicap on dirt, 2020 UAE Oaks heroine and recent Jebel Ali scorer Down On Da Bayou will ensure a strong pace. She looks vulnerable under her big weight and Quality Humor, wide margin winner at Jebel Ali, is preferred getting 5 kg.
Trained by the red-hot Ahmad bin Harmash, he gave Bendoog a fright on his latest visit to Meydan last month. He has the services of Ray Dawson, a jockey riding at the top of his game.
Quality Boone, now trained by Julio Olascoaga, is a useful colt and won the Listed Al Bastikiya Stakes last season, before finishing a creditable fifth in the UAE Derby. He may struggle on his seasonal debut, especially over a trip short of his optimum distance.
Royal Mews, trained by Bhupat Seemar, has to enter calculations on the back of a pleasing comeback. Shock winner of a mile handicap on his dirt debut 11 months ago, he ran with credit behind Island Rule in a minor event, just failing to see off the late challenge of the favourite seven weeks ago.
BEST BET
Race 5 No 10 Ottoman Fleet
VALUE BET
Race 1 No 10 Quality Humor
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 3-First Constitution and 11-Bendoog
JACKPOT
(Races 4-7)
R36
Leg 1: 1, 2, 9
Leg 2: 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 11
Leg 4: 2, 3, 8