2010 DUBAI CARNIVAL TIPS FOR DAY 3 AT MEYDAN RACECOURSE

Day 2 at Meydan Racecourse gave us some really solid contests and it was an emphatic day for the Blue Team as Godolphin-owned runners proved their worth on the tapeta and the turf. Globetrotting Alexandros (Kingmambo) was the story of the day for me, with a catapult finish in the day’s only Group race- he finished it like it was a sprint and I can’t wait to see his next outing.
We have another competition of handicaps on the Tapeta and the turf and a solitary Group 3 turf outing. I really like the look of the grass course at Meydan and it handled quite well in its first races. Meydan is getting absolutely rave reviews by everyone from jockeys to owners to the stars of the show themselves. If Alexandros could speak, I’m sure he’d be waxing lyrical about the merits of the Meydan surfaces.
The opening race is the JaguarXF Trophy- a 6f dash over the Tapeta. The betting favourite on the exchanges looks to be last year’s UAE 1000 Guineas Winner So Shiny (Indygo Shiner). The 5 year-old chocolate-coloured filly has made a habit of taking on the boys since that victory in February which, in the UAE, is merely a listed race. She took the step up to Group level after that to challenge in the Group 2 UAE Derby acquitting herself well with a 4/12 to the impressive Regal Ransom. This is an interesting question to ask as the filly is generally pointed at route races and has scored at the distance. You’ll find her laid at 3.5. Frosty Secret (Put It Back) owned by Mike De Kock took a spin out last week finishing 5th to Sir Gerry (Carson City) in the Kayrawan. Sir Gerry got beat today so the reference really isn’t there for me. The brown 6 year-old had a decent season in Dubai two years ago, scoring in the Etisalat Hotspot Stakes and finishing a solid 4/12 to My Indy in the round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge during the 2009 meet at Nad Al Sheba. He looks talented, but will likely need some help to get the win and is a bit too short-priced at 3.7. Steely 8 year-old veteran Matsunosuke (Magic Ring) is a handicap pro who has an incredible 90 lifetime starts and is still at it. He’s had everyone from Luke Morris to Seb Sanders to Eddie Ahern aboard for the ride and now will he piloted by Ted Durcan. I think his experience could show today and could make mincemeat of this field if given the right trip. 5.3 is a bit short for me, but I expect him to be paying a higher price come race time.
The Al Tayer Motors Trophy is a 1m2f with a mere 4 runners set to take part. This one will be wide open and it is now looking like City Leader may withdraw making this a 3 horse race. Allybar (King’s Best), one of Saeed Bin Suroor’s few non Godolphin runners, will be making the step up here to face down the well-respected Presvis (Sakhee). Mike De Kock’s Zulu Chief (Fusaichi Pegasus) doesn’t look threatening from my angle. Unfortunately I don’t expect a big payout on Previs as he is miles ahead of his competition here. He does most of his racing in Asia and Dubai these days and finished second in the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup to the stellar Gloria De Campeao who scored last time out here at Meydan. He finished 3rd to the talented Vision D’Etat at Sha Tin in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup. An even more impressive reference was his 2nd to the absolute quality Gladiatorus in the Dubai Duty Free at last year’s carnival. This one isn’t even a contest- Presvis all the way unless he gets injured, god forbid.
The 3:50 Fort Edge Trophy gives us a 1m3f challenge for 11 talented colts and geldings. Anmar (Rahy) looks the story here, trading at an exchange price of 3.5. The irrepressible tandem of Saeed Bin Suroor, Godolphin and Ahmed Ajtebi all team up on this talented 4 year-old colt. He scored beneath Ted Durcan at Kempton during his last race in mid-November and likely could have won that race 3-legged. I think he could be a solid contender. Raise Your Heart (Raise A Grand) inspires confidence and the 5.4 payout isn’t looking too bad either. This is actually a 7 year-old that has switched from flat to jumps and now back to the flat for an outing in Dubai. He’s got a solid record but hasn’t been challenged highly-rated competition in quite a while. May be a bit out of depth here. Monte Alto (Danehill Dancer) is the other to keep your eye on, finished 2nd last week in the Dumaani Handicap to Drunken Sailor (Tendulkar). I think that’s a great reference and he looks the progressive sort. Monte Alto trades at 5.7.
The 4:35 Land Rover Trophy is a Conditions Race over 6f with some inconsistent runners taking part here. Asset (Marju), another Godolphin runner, looks the pick of the crop here and has been laid up since mid-October. A few runners fresh off lengthy breaks have strode to victory here at Meydan and this could be another. He looks a bit more consistent than his competition. Star Crowned (Kingmambo) finished a disappointing 8/12 in last week’s Kayrawan and will need to step it up here. You’ll find him at 3.35 with Force Freeze (Forest Camp) sure to attract plenty of betting attention based on 3 wins from 6 lifetime. I think this one is between Asset and Force Freeze. You’ll find the latter at 3.15 on the exchanges.
The 5:10 Jaguar XJ Trophy is a 7f Tapeta battle that looks a very tough one to decipher. Godolphin’s West Side Bernie (Bernstein) had a go at the Kentucky Derby in his last race, finishing 9/19 to Mine That Bird (Birdstone). I think he’s great value for a place bet and could score if he gets the right trip here. You’ll find him at 4.0. Notables include Summit Surge (Noverre) at 3.7 and Imbongi (Russian Revival) who trades at the same price.
The day’s sole Group level race is the Group 3 Cape Verdi Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors- a 1m spin around the turf for three year-old+ fillies and mares. There’s a lot of talent on display here with Zirconium (Jallad) looking the betting favourite at a slim 2.02 on the exchanges. The Mike De Kock-trained lightly-raced 5 year-old bay filly has only run 3 times lifetime and has finished 1 and 2- both of those races were Group 1’s with a victory coming over 16 quality fillies and the other being a second place to 20 other runners at Greyville. She’s demonstrated she has what it takes to win against large fields but both came at over a mile. Aspectoflove (Danetime) is a Godolphin-owned runner who comes in off a Listed victory at Naas in mid-October. He has won at 6f and 1m and looks a solid shot at 4.0. The respected Yana (Razeen) from India is bound to attract attention at 6.4 and could be the spoiler.
Godolphin’s Secrecy (King’s Best) headlines the 6:20 Range Rover Trophy- a 1m zip on the turf. The 4 year-old bay gelding comes in 331 with Frankie Dettori on top and looks the betting favourite at a 2.84 listing. Cat Junior (Luna Wells) is attracting attention but looks to inconsistent for me. Master of Arts (Swain) had a go on the National Hunt circuit in last year’s JCB Triumph Hurdle, finishing 11th from 18. I’m a bit more impressed with his solid flat form where he took 7 in a row before his switch to the hurdles. I think if he can rediscover that old form he’s your shot at 7.8.
Another Godolphin/Saeed Bin Suroor/Dettori team-up here for the 4 year-old bay gelding Espiritu (Dansili) who may not have the greatest record, but has put in some good shifts. He trades at a slim 2.58 here. Art of War (Kahal) was a disappointment in the Mustanfar Handicap last week, finishing 7 from 11 but you can write that off as opening day jitters being his first run in nearly a year. He had a good outing in Dubai last year, finishing second to Gloria De Campeao and 3rd to Asiatic Boy. The Mike De Kock-trained 6 year-old could get the job done here at 4.2. Rockette (Ange Gabriel) looks the definition of progressive and has been ripping it up on the all-weather in France. He comes into the race 2221 and looks a bit better at 7.5f than 1m1f, but could certainly mount a challenge under right set of circumstances. The 4.0 price shows plenty of confidence.