Al Rashidiya Headlines This Thursday’s Card at Meydan

The Dubai Racing Carnival is in full swing and there is another first-rate card facing punters tomorrow. The days feature is the Grade 2 Al Rashidiya, a turf contest for older colts and geldings going 1m1f on the turf.

The interesting subplot to today’s action is Saeed Bin Suroor and Mike De Kock both sitting on 99 victories.

2:35 Friday Trophy

This 1m contest sees the blue team out in force with five mounts amongst the eighteen contenders. Atlantis Star (Cape Cross) must navigate the highest penalty and he’s been laid off since early October when third-best in listed action at Maisons-lafitte. Saeed Bin Suroor’s Quick Wit (Oasis Dream) ships off a credible series of scores in UK handicap action. He’s taken three on the bounce with Dettori in the hot seat but will likely need to post career-best figures to factor into the equation here.

3:10 GNB Sprint

This 6f turf battle is for three year-olds and up rated 100-110. Sir Gerry (Carson City) carded a 110 OR despite a rough 7/16 in his seasonal debut at Meydan. The turf specialist could be poised to make a real statement for Doug Watson. There was a pronounced early speed bias at Meydan in the past few race days so connections may try a slightly different strategy with the six year-old globetrotter. From a form standpoint, Montmorency (Pivotal) has taken three on the bounce and will retain Richard Mullen for the trip.

4:00 Aquarius Trophy

A large range must be navigated here as three year-olds and up rated 95-109 slog it out over 1m3f. Halicarnassus (Cape Cross) was headed on the run-in by Rock N Roll Ransom (Red Ransom) on the first go at Meydan and looked as though the Irish-bred could be ready to fire here against a slightly easier field. Godolphin’s Bay Willow (Singspiel) could prove a major spoiler.

4:35 Wheels Trophy

A tough group of stayers are set to contest this 1m6f110y marathon as Age of Reason (Halling) boasts the Bin Suroor/Godolphin/Darley trident that has hit so well in the past. He has a strong course and distance score to his credit having opened up his Meydan campaign last season with a credible victory in the Dubai International Trophy. Drunken Sailor (Tendulkar) switches to Ryan Moore for the first time and has been steadily putting up quality numbers despite a futile pair of races in Australia.

5:10 Insideout Trophy

This 1m2f race on the Tapeta features another cadre of Godolphin-trained contenders with the stand-out appearing to be Saeed Bin Suroor’s Psychich Ability (Kingmambo). The four year-old brown colt has been relatively lightly-raced and scored at Nottingham last time out with Dettori up. An improvement could be in the cards and this one has hit after the lay-off, previously.

5:45 Al Rashidiya (Group 2)

This turf battle features a number of talented 1m1f horses and Mike De Kock ships in multiple group-winner Irish Flame (Dynasty) and the big test is likely to come from Roger Teal’s Steele Tango (Okawango), who captured a turf handicap over course and distance on his seasonal debut at Meydan on January 13. The switch from Ryan Moore to Ted Durcan is interesting as Moore appears to be rolling the dice on Luca Cumani’s Presvis (Sakhee). The talented seven year-old hasn’t been seen since a disappointing tilt at the Group 1 Prince of Wales’ Stakes at Ascot in June. Despite being a multiple group-winner, he also managed to finish second to last year’s Dubai World Cup winner Gloria De Campeao (Impression) at Kranji in the Singapore Airlines World Cup.

6:25 Xpress trophy

The final chapter of the evening is one of the trickiest races to handicap and this twenty-strong field looks to be anybody’s guess. Trip-quality is important when you’ve got a cavalry charge like this one ahead of you and Hujaylea (Almutawakel) comes into the race having not finished off the board in his past five, and landing second place in a turf handicap on his seasonal debut in Dubai. Barbecue Eddie (Stormy Atlantic) could be set to progress.