Tuz aims to double-up at Meydan

Ed Marnane

UAE Champion sprinter Tuz, winner of the Golden Shaheen (Group 1) last March, is the star attraction at Meydan on Friday, when he bids for back-to-back wins in the Dubawi Stakes.

Trained by Bhupat Seemar for Dakki Stable, Tuz made a stunning comeback in the Al Garhoud Sprint, slamming his six rivals under a typical positive front-running ride from regular pilot Tadhg O’Shea. Rated 119, Tuz is the class act of the race and will be tough to beat. He can provide Seemar with his third successive win in the Group 3 contest.

Doug Watson’s useful sprinter Colour Up, third in last season’s Dubawi Stakes, has a good record at Meydan, winning twice and only once finishing out of the top four in ten appearances.

He shaped nicely behind Tuz last month, despite enduring a troubled passage and should strip fitter for that run, his first start in 251 days. Colour Up is the main threat to the selection on his second start of the campaign.

First run in 2007, the Zabeel Mile, the Group 2 highlight of the card, has been dominated in recent years by Charlie Appleby. The Godolphin trainer has won four of the last six runnings and saddles Ottoman Fleet and Noble Dynasty in this season’s renewal.

Riding arrangements suggest the former, the choice of William Buick, is the pick of Appleby’s pair on his first start in five months. Winner of seven of his 20 races, the globe-trotting six-year-old enjoyed a successful campaign last year, winning the Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket before adding Grade 2 and 3 victories at Churchill Downs.

The son of Sea The Stars, a reliable and consistent type, holds strong claims of finally opening his account at Meydan, a venue at which he hasn’t tasted success in six previous appearances.

Appleby has booked James Doyle, fresh from winning the Qatar Derby on Supercooled for Wathnan Racing, to ride Noble Dynasty. Doyle and Appleby teamed up to win the Zabeel Mile with Zakouski four years ago.

By Frankel, Noble Dynasty failed to justify skinny odds on his only previous appearance at Meydan, when beaten two lengths by Fort Payne in the Group 3 Ras Al Khor 10 months ago. A confirmed front-runner, he could be dangerous if allowed an uncontested lead but will face competition for the lead, most likely from Holloway Boy.

Trained by Karl Burke, he is trying to become the first overseas winner since Mike de Kock sent out Janoobi to win the 2018 Zabeel Mile. Holloway Boy, who caused a massive upset when winning the Chesham Stakes on his racecourse debut at two, has a poor strike-rate, only winning two of his 16 races.

He’s vulnerable in this grade on his UAE debut, four weeks after trailing in sixth of nine behind Poker Face in the Listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton.

Poker Face, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, is a smart miler and was delivered with a well-timed challenge when winning at Kempton. Pat Dobbs is an eye-catching booking and he steered Pen Portrait to a comfortable success for the Crisford’s at Sharjah on Sunday. Poker Face is one to consider in an open-looking race.

Last year’s Zabeel Mile winner, San Donato, representing Michael Costa, the season’s top trainer, commands respect under Ben Coen, who is enjoying a terrific season.

Formerly trained by Watson for Sheikh Obaid Al Maktoum, he made an encouraging start for his new owner, Sheikh Ahmad Al Maktoum, in the Business Bay Challenge, over the same course, two weeks ago.

He left the impression he would appreciate stepping up to a mile when keeping-on nicely in the closing stages to split the useful pair Native Approach and Danyah. San Donato, who hails from a yard that continue to bang in the winners, is bidding to emulate Safety Check, the only horse to in the history of the Zabeel Mile to win the race twice.

Race 4, the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial over 1400m on dirt, has attracted a field of 13 and three runners — Awab, Arigatou Gozaimasu and Rammayy — are all unbeaten. Of the trio, preference is for Arigatou Gozaimasu, the sole filly in the line-up. Trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer, she caught the eye on her racecourse debut, winning a 1400m maiden, restricted to fillies, in late November.

The form of that race was given a timely boost when the runner-up (Flama Sunshine) was comfortable winner of the Shahama Stakes on her next start.

South American import Don Vaccaro, winner of two of his three races in Uruguay, is an interesting runner on his UAE debut for new trainer Julio Olascoaga. A winner at Grade 3 level at Maronas racecourse, he must concede weight to his 12 rivals on his first start in six months. He has the services of Dobbs, is proven on dirt and should run well for his new owners, Sky Racing.

The switch to dirt for the progressive Castle Gates, winner of two of his three races in the UK for Saeed Bin Suroor, is an obvious query. He’s nicely drawn for a horse that makes the running.

Suroor has endured a lengthy barren spell at Meydan and Castle Gates would be a very welcome winner for the Godolphin handler.

Racing kicks off with the Zabeel Turf, a 2000m handicap and the unexposed Endless Victory represents Charlie Appleby. Winner of three of his five races, he impressed when winning at Yarmouth (made all) in September, showing a likeable attitude for pressure in the closing stages. He’s ideally berthed in stall No 2 and should play a leading role.

At bigger odds, Asaassi holds each-way claims in the hands of Ray Dawson for Sheikh Ahmad Al Maktoum. Trained by Costa, he has progressed nicely since joining Jebel Ali Stables and was narrowly beaten in a competitive handicap at the track two weeks ago.

That performance can be upgraded, as he raced keenly in the early stages and never really relaxed.

Racing ends with the Soho Stakes, over 2810m on turf and pointer to the major staying prizes at Meydan later in the season. Appleby typically holds a strong hand, saddling three of the eight runners.

Buick has chosen to ride King Of Conquest, twice a winner at listed level in the UK last year. He commands obvious respect on his seasonal debut.

Epic Poet, the mount of the in-form Danny Tudhope, spearheads the British challenge for trainer David O’Meara. He’s a useful stayer and ran well in the Ebor at York, finishing four lengths behind Princess Zoe.

Prydwen thrived for Newmarket-based trainer George Scott, who is no stranger to success in the Middle East. He won four of his eight races last year and rounded off a terrific campaign when winning the German St Leger, Group 3, in Dortmund.

He looks likely to play a leading role, despite having to concede weight to his seven rivals.

Best Bet: 1 Don Vaccaro [Race 4]

Best Value: 7 Asaassi [Race 1]

Best Swinger: 2 Colour Up and 6 Strobe [Race 6]

JACKPOT

(Races 5-8)

R24

Leg 1: 1, 2, 7

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 2, 5

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 8