Sovereign Prince to claim Zabeel Trophy

Ed Marnane

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has found an ideal opportunity for the well-bred Sovereign Prince in the Zabeel Trophy, the feature of six-race card at Meydan on Sunday.

By Dubawi out of the UAE 1000 Guineas winner Gamilati, he has been off the track since running creditably in the Saudi Derby last February, his first run on dirt. Sovereign Prince is unbeaten in two appearances on turf at Meydan, winning the Jumeriah Classic and the trial for the Listed contest last season.

Appleby can be trusted to have the four-year-old gelding primed and ready to strike on his first appearance in 316 days, so is unlikely he will be found wanting in the fitness department. Sovereign Prince, the mount of William Buick, is well treated by the conditions and can start 2023 with a bang before tackling bigger prizes later in the season.

Racing gets underway with a 1400m maiden on turf and has attracted a maximum field of 16, four that were purchased at the Racing in Dubai Sale in September. Of the quartet, Maputo is the most interesting on his racecourse debut for Bhupat Seemar having cost his owners, Al Rashid Stables, AE 200,000 (R925,000).

A half-brother to Tasaday, a multiple Group winner, he was unraced for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby and won’t need to be anything special to play a leading role.

Runaholic, formerly trained in Newmarket by George Scott, makes his local debut for Fawzi Nass, one of four runners representing the Bahrain trainer. Rated 80, he showed a reasonable level of ability in the UK, finishing second in three of his four races. He has the assistance of Adrie de Vries and has advantage of a good draw.

Torrkee, trained by Michael Costa, extended to his record to 0-7 when sixth behind stable companion Mersaal on his seasonal debut two months ago, his only outing of the campaign. The highlight of Torrkee’s career to date came on Meydan’s turf track when a close third behind Bosphorus last season. If he can recapture that form, he won’t be far away in a race that doesn’t look strong.

Thirty-five minutes later Nass has booked De Vries to ride Go Soldier Go in the second maiden, over 1400m on dirt for three-year-olds. He made an encouraging start behind Shirl’s Bee, keeping on nicely in the closing stages to finish third behind Doug Watson’s well-regarded winner, who is being aimed at the UAE 2000 Guineas.

Well-related Shake Hand, a half-brother to US champion racemare Lady Eli, wasn’t far behind his stable companion Go Soldier Go on his racecourse debut and with normal improvement, he merits respect under Pat Cosgrave.

Pat Dobbs, returning after a suspension, rides Nyaar for Doug Watson. He has done little wrong in three appearances, all on dirt at Meydan, and can play a major role. Mr Raj, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash, hails from a yard that is going well and made a pleasing start at Jebel Ali. He will need to take a step forward in a stronger race but could easily be up to the task.

The final race, a 1900m handicap on turf, looks competitive and Kanood is bound to popular on the back of his encouraging comeback when a close third behind the unexposed Al Nayyir. Trained by Fawzi Nass, he’s entitled to strip fitter for the race and off the same mark he should be in the shake-up.

Recent winners Yurman and City King come here in good heart but are vulnerable switching to turf in a stronger race. The admirable veteran Untold Secret provided Mickael Barzalona with his 100th winner in the UAE when landing a 1800m handicap on turf here last month. Now 11, he is likely to struggle to follow up off a higher mark in a better race.

Karnavaal, trained by Doug Watson, is unexposed on turf and is fancied to bounce back after running poorly in a 12-runner handicap on dirt, where he was found to be lame after the race. Previously, he had run well behind Al Nayyir under a big weight, leaving the impression he was a sure-fire future winner.

Earlier on the card, a full field of 16 has been declared for the 1600m handicap on dirt, Race 5, in which recent winner Barq Al Emarat makes his handicap debut. The Mehmas gelding showed a likeable attitude on his local and dirt debut when getting better of Sari Dubai, swooping fast and late to catch the favourite in the dying strides.

He’s doesn’t look badly treated with an opening mark of 81 and is open to further improvement on just his third start.

In a wide-open looking race, Falsehood, Mayaadeen, Tolmount, Triple Venture all enter calculations. They attack the race in good heart and are progressing. The unexposed Onda Ruggente, third at Jebel Ali seven days ago, has obvious claims if fully recovered from Sunday’s exertions.

BEST BET

Race 4 No 1 Sovereign Prince

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 5 Karnavaal

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 1-Sovereign Prince and 6-Perfect Love

JACKPOT

(Races 3 to 6)

R64

Leg 1: 3, 6, 8, 12

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 5, 9, 11

Leg 4: 4, 5, 10, 15