Ed Marnane
The excitement to the Dubai World Cup is building and a brilliant ‘Super Saturday’ card at Meydan should provide plenty of clues for Dubai’s showpiece in four weeks.
Race 5, the Singspiel Stakes (Group 2), a key local trial for the Dubai Turf, has drawn an international cast, headed by Johnny Murtagh’s stable star Alakazi, the highest rated runner in the field and leading hope of a strong overseas challenge.
By Footstepsinthesand, he thrived last year and won two of his seven races in Ireland. He rounded off the season stepping up to Group 1 level in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot and produced a fine effort in defeat when finishing a good third behind shock winner Cicero’s Gift, beaten less than two lengths.
Now four, Alakazi remains open to further improvement on just the eighth run of his career. He demands plenty of respect on his seasonal/UAE debut.
Dividend, trained by Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, is enjoying a productive winter in Dubai and is one to consider. He shaped nicely on his local debut before going on to win a couple of handicaps, the most recent at Meydan eight days under a confident ride from Rossa Ryan.
A strong-travelling gelding, he will be suited by a fast pace and can’t be discounted stepping up to Group 2 level in his current form.
Godolphin are unexpectedly not represented in Race 2, the Jumeriah 1000 Guineas. In a weak renewal, undefeated Taifuu is a confident selection to follow up her surprise victory in the Mawj Stakes last month.
She showed a likeable attitude when delivered fast and late by her rider, Oliver Wilson, to give Denmark a major success on the world stage. From the first crop of the smart Japan, winner of the Juddmonte International and Grand Prix de Paris, she is open to improvement stepping up to 1600m and is the best bet on the card.
Tap Leader, who began his career in Russia, justified strong market support when winning a dirt handicap on his Meydan debut for Doug Watson last month. Given a patient ride by Pat Dobbs, he came home strongly from the rear of the field when defeating Generous Tipper and 15 others in his first start in five months.
He can punch his ticket for the Dubai World Cup by winning Race 6, the Al Maktoum Classic, and continue Watson’s excellent form. It was hard not to be impressed with Tap Leader’s attitude, while the step up in trip on Saturday is clearly a positive.
Heart Of Honor, representing in-form Jamie Osborne, arrives in rude health, winning two of his three races at Meydan this season. He was no match for Imperial Emperor in the Al Maktoum Challenge but the winner is a leading fancy for the Dubai World Cup and Heart Of Honor is a big threat to Tap Leader.
Of the rest, Generous Tipper for in-form Hamad Al Jehani appeals, along with the Bhupat Seemar-trained Mendelssohn Bay, a five-time winner at Meydan.
Race 7, the Dubai City of Gold, a key local prep for the Sheema Classic on the Dubai World Cup undercard, sees the reappearance of the admirable veteran globe-trotter Rebel’s Romance, a nine-time winner at the highest level for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby.
Winner of the Sheema Classic two years ago, he is hard to oppose on his first run since Ethical Diamond denied him a hat-trick of wins in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar four months ago.
Race 9 is the Listed Jumeriah 2000 Guineas and exciting colt Talk Of New York represents Appleby with William Buick up. By Wootton Bassett, out of a two-time Group 2 winner, Talk Of New York was a spectacular winner on his debut at Kempton in October.
Always travelling powerfully, he readily kicked clear in the closing stages and recorded eye-dropping sectionals for the final 400m.
The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Title Role is the biggest threat and demands respect, as he won two of his four races, the latest the Jumeriah Guineas Trial. He is a progressive colt, proven under the conditions and has the services of Ryan Moore.
Thirty-five minutes earlier, a field of 11 are declared for Race 8, the Burj Nahaar, a trial for the Godolphin Mile.
Last year’s shock winner King Gold is back to defend his crown and is entitled to step forward for his respectable comeback behind Imperial Emperor last month. In a competitive race, Mount Kosciuszko maybe the answer, two weeks after producing a personal-best when a close third in the Jebel Ali Mile (Group 3).
Drawn in stall No 6, he is progressing with racing this season and was narrowly beaten on his last run at Meydan.
Remarkably tough Telemark, one of two runners for the Crisfords, has improved since switching to dirt and is unbeaten on Meydan’s main track. The son of Night Of Thunder showed admirable battling qualities to prevail in a photo-finish from Mount Kosciuszko here last month and is handily drawn in stall No 4.
Best Bet: Race 2 No 1 Taifuu
Best Value: Race 8 No 7 Mount Kosciuszko
Best Swinger: Race 5: 5-Dividend and 4-Quddwah
JACKPOT
(Races 4-7)
R24
Leg 1: 1, 2, 8
Leg 2: 4, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1