Stars come out on Super Saturday

Ed Marnane

It’s Super Saturday at Meydan, the dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup card, and it should provide plenty clues for Dubai’s biggest day of their racing calendar in three weeks.

It is also a World Pool meeting so bettors can invest large amounts of money without having much effect on the payouts.

Round III of the Al Maktoum Challenge, the first Group 1 on the bumper nine-race card, has lost some of its appeal when Hypothetical’s bid for back-to-back wins were shelved on Wednesday after the Salem bin Ghadayer-trained runner was withdrawn.

This year’s renewal looks a trappy race and course specialist Salute The Soldier, the 2022 winner, is taken to bounce back after finishing a poor fifth behind Algiers in Round II. He had valid excuses for his lacklustre performance, having stumbled leaving the gates and after the race was found to be mildly lame and scoped poorly.

The Fawzi Nass-trained eight-year-old demonstrated he hadn’t lost his enthusiasm and ability when winning the inaugural Thunder Snow Stakes, his first appearance of the season. He can leave his recent blip behind and take his UAE tally to five under Andre de Vries.

Champion trainer Bhupat Seemar, fresh from a treble at Jebel Ali on Sunday, has a strong hand, saddling four of the 14 runners. Riding arrangements suggest Law Of Peace is the main hope, with stable jockey Tadhg Shea riding the Shamardal gelding.

He heads into the race on the back of two respectable runs this season, the most recent when fifth behind Alkaamel in a handicap. However, he will need to raise his game up in class and drawn out wide, he makes little appeal.

Stable companion Bendoog, the mount of James Doyle, holds obvious claims. He tried to make all in the Round II but had no answer when Algiers swept into the lead off the bend and he finished six lengths behind the impressive winner, who is now a leading contender for the Dubai World Cup.

For a confirmed front-runner, Bendoog is ideally berthed in stall No 4 and one expects Doyle to be positive and take advantage of his low draw, especially as the dirt track continues to favour horses who like to lead or race handy.

Real World makes his eagerly awaited return to action in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta, the key local trial for the Dubai Turf. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the son of Dark Angel is having his first start since being gelded and has been off the track since chasing home Baaeed in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Real World is unbeaten on turf at Meydan, winning the 2021 Zabeel Mile. He’s likely to improve for the run according to his trainer but is reported to be working nicely and pleasing Suroor.

Charlie Appleby has a good record in the Jebel Hatta, winning three of the last seven renewals, the most recent with Barney Roy in 2020, and is two-handed with Valiant Prince and Master Of The Seas, the choice of William Buick. The former, the mount of James Doyle, is unbeaten at Meydan in four starts and holds sound claims, despite drawn out wide.

Master Of The Seas arrives in good order, having lowered the track record when winning the Zabeel Mile on his Meydan debut last month. He impressed with the manner he travelled through the race and ran out a comfortable winner. He has the benefit of a low draw and will take plenty of beating.

Alfareeq, last year’s surprise winner, is back to defend his crown for Shadwell and Musabbeh Al Mheiri. He has been running well in defeat this season, the latest when narrowly beaten by Valiant Prince in the Singspiel Stakes over the same course and distance. He faces a stiff task of reversing the form as he is worse off at the weights with the Godolphin horse.

Two weeks after winning HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar, Russian Emperor is chasing another major prize in the Middle East for South African Douglas Whyte, the former Hong Kong champion jockey who has made a big impression in since joining the training ranks in the former British colony in 2019.

Russian Emperor, who began his career with Aidan O’Brien, is vulnerable stepping back in distance and can be opposed taking on a strong Godolphin challenge on his UAE debut.

It's hard to oppose Al Suhail in Race 7, the Ras Al Khor Stakes. He defied a wide draw and tough trip when scoring on his seasonal reappearance, winning the Al Fahidi Fort two months ago. Ridden with confidence by Doyle, he was delivered fast and late down the centre and crossing the line had four lengths to spare over Alfareeq. It was a jaw-dropping performance as the son of Dubawi set a new track record. He can be headstrong but drawn near the rails can find cover and relax in the race.

The withdrawal of Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Rebel’s Romance has left the Dubai City of Gold over 2410m on turf, arguably the most competitive race on the card. Godolphin has won five of the last six renewals and Kemari is one to consider for Charlie Appleby. He made a pleasing comeback in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy, leaving the impression he would be sharper for the race on the back of a five-month break.

In Rebel’s Romance absence William Buick switches to ride Global Storm, Appleby’s second runner. The six-year-old has been winless since winning a course-and-distance handicap 13 months ago. He arguably put up one of the best performances of his career in last year’s renewal, when beaten less three lengths by Hukum. If he can recapture that form, he won’t be far away.

Of the others, talented but quirky pair Away He Goes and Global Heat merit consideration. They’re proven under the conditions and have been in good form this season.

A full field of 16 has been declared for the Burj Nahaar, the prep for the Godolphin Mile. Recent Jebel Ali Mile winner Fanaar spearheads a three-strong Red Stables squad for Doug Watson, who has won the race four times. Owned by Shadwell, Fanaar has thrived this season winning three of his five races, all at Jebel Ali. He is not as effective at Meydan and is readily passed over.

Canvassed, the mount of Dobbs, bounced back to form when third behind Fanaar at Jebel Ali. He’s proven at Meydan and if seeing out 1600m makes plenty of appeal. Firebreak Stakes runner-up Everfast has been knocking on the door all season, all on Meydan’s dirt track. It’s hard to knock his consistency and he demands obvious respect.

Desert Wisdom, the mount of Adrie de Vries, caused a massive shock when winning the Burj Nahaar 12 months ago. He has lost his way since returning to action eight weeks ago and is struggling for form. He’s readily dismissed.

Champion jockey O’Shea remains loyal to Secret Ambition, one of four runners representing Bhupat Seemar. The veteran, a multiple winner at Meydan, has improved with racing this season and showed he was no back number when chasing home Fanaar in the Jebel Ali Mile. He’s ideally drawn in stall No 3 for horse that likes to force the pace, a tactic he has successfully executed in many of his seven victories at Meydan.  

Buick is an eye-catching booking for Royal Mews, winner of two of his five races on dirt at Meydan since joining Seemar at Zabeel Stables. He is a reliable and consistent performer, proven under the conditions and should be thereabouts.

BEST BET

Race 7 No 2 Al Suhail

VALUE BET

Race 3 No 1 Canvassed

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 13-Salute The Soldier and 3-Bendoog

JACKPOT

(Races 6 to 9)

R36

Leg 1: 4, 9, 11

Leg 2: 3, 12, 13

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 8