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Super Thursday at Meydan - Dubai Carnival preview and tips |
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March 4th, 2010 |
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All eyes will be on Meydan racecourse on March 4th as the Dubai Racing Carnival prepares for Dubai World Cup night with an action-packed card on Super Thursday.
The meeting has attracted some of the World’s best horses and with five Group races set to be battled out by some of racing’s greatest globe-trotters, it looks sure to be an exhilarating evening under the lights at Meydan.
Nick Wilby takes a look at all of the six races on Super Thursday.
To get a free £50 bet on Thursday’s racing from Meydan, simply sign up with Paddy Power now.
15.35 Meydan:
Al Bastakiya Sponsored by Derrinstown Stud, Bahri (Listed Stakes) – 1m 1f 110y (Tapeta)
Super Thursday gets off to a bang with the return of 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner VALE OF YORK. After the best part of four months off the track he is sure to need the run, but he remains miles clear on official ratings and punters should not read too much into the fact that Ahmed Ajtebi rides instead of Frankie Dettori. The former was on board when he tasted Grade 1 glory at the Breeders’ Cup meeting and that performance puts him in a different league to the majority of his rivals here. It is questionable how much value there is in his price and he is sure to come on for the run, but Godolphin’s main Kentucky Derby hope will have too much in the locker for this mob and it is likely the main threat will come from stablemate Mendip and Brazilian Grade One-winner Uncle Tom.
Nick Wilby’s selection – VALE OF YORK (5/2 - Coral)
16.15 Meydan:
Mahab Al Shimaal Sponsored by Derrinstown Stud, Elnadim (Group 3 ) – 6f (Tapeta)
A fascinating sprint that revolves around John Eustace’s short-priced favourite War Artist. The Group One-winning globetrotter has been responsible for some high class form all over the world and it was impossible not to be taken by his scintillating victory on his UAE return last month. There seems no reason as to why he should not go in again and his backers will be hoping that Godolphin hopeful Desert Party will need the run on his Meydan debut. Frankie Dettori’s mount was a winner of last year’s UAE 2000 Guineas and won four of his first five starts for Saeed bin Suroor, however it is likely he will need the run on Thursday and a speculative each-way chance is taken with Brazilian filly MRS BOSS. The selection arrived at Meydan with a huge reputation in her native Brazil after winning all her first three starts in impressive fashion. Hailing from an in-form yard and with some experience under her belt she could run well at a big price and she would not be the first international raider to upset the apple cart at the meeting. She will need to settle better but is taken to build on her debut now upped in class. Mutheeb and Force Freeze could also be big dangers to War Artist.
Nick Wiby’s selection – MRS BOSS each-way (33/1 – Ladbrokes)
16.50 Meydan:
Burk Nahaar Sponsored by Derrinstown Stud, Alhaarth (Group 3 ) – 1m (Tapeta)
All eyes will be on Godolphin’s Dubai World Cup hopeful Skysurfers after his impressive victory over Eagle Mountain on his UAE debut. Very lightly raced, Skysurfers took a huge jump in class in his stride when he maintained his unbeaten record at Meydan last month and connections will no doubt be very excited about his chances on Super Thursday. However, he faces tough competition in the shape of Jeremy Noseda’s Royal Hunt Cup winner FORGOTTEN VOICE. The British raider chased home Gloria De Campaeo on his debut in Dubai five weeks ago, coming from a long way back and passing some top class horses in the process. His trainer was adamant he would need the run before the race and likely to strip much fitter now, he is taken to land this before he moves on to bigger things on March 27th. Godolphin are also represented by Calming Influence who comes here on the back of a facile victory here two weeks ago. That was mightily impressive but he takes a huge step up in class and the biggest danger to the two market leaders could come in the shape of Al Arab.
Nick Wilby’s selection – FORGOTTEN VOICE (9/2 – Paddy Power)
17.35 Meydan:
Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored by Derrinstown Stud, Marju (Group 2) – 1m 4f (Turf)
Another fantastic race with some serious thoroughbreds bidding for Group 2 UAE glory and it looks a daunting betting proposition with so many of the leading contenders looking like they will need the run ahead of the Sheema Classic on World Cup night. That is certain to be the case with Luca Cumani’s Purple Moon who was last seen finishing third in the Sheema twelve months ago. If he were fully wound up he would take the world of beating here but it makes no sense to side with a horse lacking race fitness in such a classy field. Instead it may be worth putting faith in reliable Group One-winning globe-trotter QUIJANO who takes his chance (he finished runner-up in the race last year) after a creditable reappearance behind Halicarnassus last month. He will strip much fitter for that and can give a good account despite his penalty. Mike de Kock will be looking for some improvement in Irish Derby second Golden Sword who weakened dramatically on his UAE debut and Turkish superstar Pan River should not be underestimated. However, the biggest danger to the selection could come in the shape of Godolphin duo Anmar and Campanologist who are both capable of taking a race of this nature.
Nick Wilby’s selection – QUIJANO (8/1 – Paddy Power)
18.10:
Al Maktoum Challenge R3 Sponsored by Derrinstown Stud, Intikhab (Group 2) – 1m 2f (Tapeta)
A race worthy of Group One status, Dubai World Cup clues will be on offer as some of the World’s most established performers get set to battle it out in Super Thursday’s penultimate showpiece. 2008 and 2009 Japanese Horse Of The Year Vodka arrives at the Carnival bidding to become the highest earning racehorse of all time and the 2009 Japan Cup winner will be a frightening opponent on Dubai World Cup night. The mare has won six Group Ones in her career and it is of no major concern that she is winless at the Carnival. However, she could well be ready to pass her crown as Japan’s leading mare to the exciting RED DESIRE who was last seen chasing home Vodka in the Japan Cup. After finally gaining revenge on arch-rival Buena Vista with a Grade One victory over 1m 2f in October, she put up a formidable performance when finishing third against older horses and colts on her latest appearance and she is of great interest on her Tapeta debut. Her draw is a worry and it looks highly likely that this will now be her minimum distance, however she looks set to go on again this term and she looks like she could be Japan’s latest racing heroine. Much will also depend on the fitness of Godolphin’s Arc de Triomphe third Cavalryman who makes his debut for connections on Thursday. A hugely talented individual, Cavalryman was France’s leading colt for Andre Fabre and a two lengths defeat to Sea The Stars is the best form on offer in this race. He will be formidable opposition on Dubai World Cup night but with his fitness in doubt and down in trip he looks vulnerable. Gloria De Campeao and Lizard’s Desire are also more than capable of landing a blow in this company.
Nick Wilby’s selection – RED DESIRE (8/1 - Ladbrokes)
18.45:
Jebel Hatta Sponsored by Derrinstown Stud, Haatel (Group 2) – 1m 1f (Turf)
Super Thursday’s finale and an exciting contest looks in store with the likes of Alexandros, Presvis and JUSTENUFFHUMOUR all lining up for more Group Two action. Alexandros has been responsible for some top class form in his career and he showed he retains all his ability when landing a Group Three at the expense of Dubai World Cup hopeful Crowded House on his UAE reappearance. He looked mightily impressive that day and with Frankie Dettori back in the saddle he deserves to be favourite. However, backing a horse at such a small price in a field with so much quality does not make too much sense and stablemate Justenuffhumour is the selection, in the hope that he will improve for his run last time out. That certainly looked like it would be the case when the Breeders’ Cup Mile third fluffed his lines at Meydan last month and his trainer warned he would be rusty before the contest. Highly progressive in America last year and with form behind wonderfilly Goldikova, the selection is more than capable of out-running his odds of 8/1 and he should be a shorter price based on all known form. The only worry would be a lack of pace in the race. Luca Cumani seems to have his eyes on Dubai World Cup night and it is a surprise to see Presvis racing over the minimum distance again. His last two runs have been disappointing and along with Mike De Kock’s highly regarded filly Zirconeum, he could be one to take on.
Nick Wilby’s selection – JUSTENUFFHUMOUR (8/1 – Coral)
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Source: www.racingbase.com |
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