Ed Marnane
Charlie Appleby continues to bang in the winners at Meydan this year and the Godolphin trainer is operating at an impressive 22% strike rate at the Dubai track this year.
Sense Of Power, Appleby’s only runner at Meydan on Sunday, rates the best bet on a competitive seven-race card. By Invincible Spirit, he is having his first run since getting beaten a neck by Astral Beau on his handicap debut at Newmarket in September, just failing to hold off the challenge of a battle-hardened rival in a driving finish.
Sense Of Power, the mount of William Buick, is very lighted raced and is only having his fifth career start in Race 5, the 1400m handicap on turf.
Seven days after finishing a creditable third behind Stormy Ocean at Meydan, Perfect Love makes a quick reappearance and looks an obvious danger to Sense Of Power. He lost little in defeat behind the unexposed winner and his performance can be upgraded, having endured a tough, wide trip in the 1800m event.
Trained by Julio Olascoaga, the son of Heliostatic shouldn’t find the step back to 1400m an obstacle. He’s a consistent and reliable performer and should be thereabouts.
Shadwell’s horses have been in good form and eight days after winning the Jebel Ali Mile (Group 2) with Fanaar, Almoreb looks the best chance of their three runners for trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri.
Now a nine-year-old, the veteran continues to retain his enthusiasm and ability, and has run well twice in defeat since connections switched him back to turf, the most recent when third behind Al Salt. He holds each-ways claims under the red-hot Dane O’Neill, who rode two winners on the Dubai World Cup Carnival card at Meydan nine days ago.
Ahmad bin Harmash introduces an interesting UK import in Delorean. He’s a lightly raced and unexposed son of Time Test and was sourced at Tattersalls Horse-In-Training Sale in October. Formerly trained by Ralph Beckett, he’s likely to need the race but if primed and ready to strike off a 133-day break, he can’t be ignored.
Race 2, the opening maiden over a distance of 1600m on turf, looks a good opportunity for Made In Dubai to finally get off the mark after a series of near-misses this season. Trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, he comes here on the back of a narrow defeat in a maiden on dirt two weeks ago when going down by a nose to Greet Deed, the shock winner.
He’s equally effective on turf, last month he chased home Sari Dubai in a 1600m maiden on grass and the form of that race has worked out well. It will be disappointing if Made In Dubai can’t finally make the breakthrough in a race that won’t take much winning.
Michael Costa horses are in good form and Keffaaf makes a quick reappearance after showing promise on his racecourse debut at Jebel Ali eight days ago. He was no match for his stable companion Mawthog, but it was a encouraging start and he’s entitled to come forward for the experience.
Being by Adlerflug, he should improve for the switch to turf, and is likely to be the biggest threat to Made In Dubai. The form of the yard is a major plus, Costa has sent out four winners (from 11 runners) in the past two weeks.
Race 3, the second maiden 35 minutes later, has drawn a maximum field of 14 and Kal Barg holds leading claims for Costa and South African-born rider Jean van Overmeire in the 1400m event on turf.
The US-bred colt has done little wrong in three runs and was narrowly denied by Talentum at Jebel Ali on his latest. Connections opt to fit a first-time visor on Kal Barg and if that brings out further improvement, he should go close in a modest maiden.
Noor Bano, trained by Ismail Mohammed, has progressed since arriving in the Emirates this season, showing improved form behind the exciting young sprinter Al Dasim in two appearances. Now rated 89, she will enjoy the drop into maiden company and is a major player if seeing out the 1400m on her first start over 1200m.
Being by Kodi Bear out of useful mare that won over an extended mile in Ireland, she’s bred to cope with the step up in distance.
Al Hajaj, representing Ahmad bin Harmash, completes the shortlist. He was outclassed behind Naval Power in the Jumeriah Classic, trailing 25 lengths behind the Godolphin-owned winner.
He had previously shown a reasonable level of ability when third behind Legend Of Cannes. The runner-up (Sharar) gave the form a big boost when bolting up on his handicap debut next time.
Progressive Sari Dubai, trained by Doug Watson, looks the answer in the 2000m handicap on turf, Race 5. He had been knocking on the door earlier in the season in dirt maidens before opening his account when switched to turf, impressing when beating Made In Dubai under a confident ride from Pat Dobbs. He followed up on his handicap debut and can keep his perfect record on turf at Meydan, despite being done no favours with the draw (No 13).
In a competitive handicap it is hard to rule out First Winter, a winner here two weeks ago, Franz Kafka, and the frustrating Kanood, who has filled the runner-up berth in three of his last five starts for Bahrain trainer Fawzi Nass. Once-raced Great Deed, shock winner of a maiden on dirt, makes his handicap debut and from a double-figure gate it is hard to see him following up.
Grand Dubai, who has bounced back to form after showing little earlier in the campaign, can win Race 7, the 2200m handicap on dirt. For a confirmed front-runner, he should be able to take advantage of his draw in stall No 2 and will take plenty of stopping.
Green Jacket, trained by Bhupat Seemar, renews rivalry with Grand Dubai and on the revised terms, he’s weighted to get his revenge on his narrow defeat here last month. However, he has had a wide draw to overcome and Grand Dubai is likely to have his measure once again. Alhzeem makes his handicap debut off a stiff looking mark of 85, seven days after winning a poor maiden at Meydan. He looks vulnerable given his tendency to jump slowly, clearly a concern in a competitive race.
Of the rest, Qareeb and Branwell merit consideration. The pair, representing top trainers, come here in good order and should enjoy ground-saving trip, breaking from stall one and three respectively.
BEST BET
Race 6 No 7 Sense Of Power
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 1 Grand Dubai
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 6-Sari Dubai and 10-Kanood
JACKPOT
(Race 5 to 8)
R48
Leg 1: 2, 3, 6, 10
Leg 2: 7
Leg 3: 1, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 10