Dubai World Cup Night Betting Preview Part Two

Continuing on with our full coverage and preview for the upcoming Dubai World Cup day on Saturday, here’s a few observations on the other three races prior to the big race.

Golden Shaheen

The day’s smallest field will likely line up for the Golden Shaheen as ten contenders will go 6f over the synthetic surface. The even-money favourite is Rocket Man (Viscount) who lines up for the Patrick Shaw yard. He finished a tough second to JJ The Jet Plane (Jet Master) last time out at Sha Tin. The respected Australian-bred has never finished outside the top two and will be coming back here to avenge his loss to Kinsale King (Yankee Victor) in last year’s iteration of this contest.

Kinsale King didn’t have the best of 2010’s after such a high-profile score as three straight losses saw him limp out of 2010 finishing a tame seventh to Big Drama (Montbrook) in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He trades at 7/2 for this one.

American conditioner Bob Baffert sends over the in-form seven year-old horse Euroears (Langfuhr) who is fresh off a victory in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita. He’s a bit more of a blue collar horse for some, having raced at Penn National, Fairgrounds and Lone Star Park and that 5/1 price certainly indicates that more than the Baffert barn thinks he might get the win.

Dubai Duty Free

The Dubai Duty Free looks like the best betting race of the day as the three favourites are all priced as high as 9/2. There is a huge amount of talent on display and some proven Meydan performers are carrying double-digit prices for this one. Nearly every horse in the race looks a potential winner and you get the feeling that trip quality could be the make-or-break.

Mendip (Harlan’s Holiday) has been absolutely slaying it at Meydan in his two efforts this season – capturing a pair of Group 3’s in the Burj Nahaar and the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge. Dettori returns for the mount and, if he will be attempting to come from mid-division once again, will require near perfect timing from Frankie.

Presvis (Sakhee) is a likeable sort and the seven year-old warhorse has earned nearly £2,500,000 lifetime. He took the Group 2 Al Rashidiya on his seasonal debut in Meydan before enduring a tough beat in the Group 2 Jebel Hatta but he did not start particularly well was not able to finish with his customary verve.

Bankable (Medicean) put in a great shift to win the Group 3 Mahab Al Shamaal in his last effort and Meydan experience is certainly not an issue for him. His price at 14/1 brings him into each-way territory but puntes do seem to be retreating. Notably, Ryan Moore has switched off of him and opts for Presvis.

Arlington Million winner Debussy (Diesis) lines up with William Buick up and they’ll be looking to avenge the rude awakening they got their debut here back in the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge. From a ratings-standpoint he’s right in the mix, but his fortunes in Dubai haven’t been particularly good. A lukewarm 16/1 tells you all you need to know.

Don’t sleep on Strawberrydaiquiri (Dansili) as the grey mare will be out there as Canada’s de facto representative on the day. Her mom was all-Canadian and she was a graduate from a British Columbia sale. Look for her 25/1 price to stay strong throughout the day. The multiple group winner in England could enjoy a second shot in Dubai.

Sheema Classic

This one could go down as a real classic if the race shapes up the way punters expect it to. Godolphin saddle Rewilding (Tiger Hill) as the early betting favourite and the four year-old bay commands a 9/4 price tag. Winner of the Group 2 Great Voltigeur, the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained colt finished a solid third in the Epsom Derby last year. If he runs to potential there is no reason why he can’t win.

Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Dangerous Midge (Lion Heart) made a big statement with Dettori aboard last time but he’ll have to opt for Martin Dwyer here. Already a millionaire thanks to that massive victory at Churchill Downs, Dangerous Midge has been laid-off since that race and will be taking some money despite the freshening. Look for him around 7/2.

His second place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Turf was the well-regarded Champ Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus) who ships over from Santa Anita in cracking form. The recent winner of the Grade 2 San Marco and San Luis Obispo stakes, he’s got a great thing going with Joel Rosario and he could win one for the Stars and Stripes if he looks as sharp as he has recently.

Deem (Dalakhani) didn’t miss by too much last time out but she’ll need to step it up in a big way to get the result here but she is a credible each-way selection at 16/1 for those seeking an improver.

Overall, the best quality to price ratio comes on Redwood (High Chapparal) who ran an impressive second in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin. He also took the prestigious Northern Dancer Turf Stakes, a Grade 1 contest at Woodbine in Toronto. There’s a distinct chance that he’ll hit the board but if he remains at double-digits he’ll be a strong play for Juddmonte fans out there.