Super Thursday 2011 at Meydan Racecourse Betting Preview

This is easily one of the premier racing days in the Middle East and there is well over $1,000,000 up for grabs spread across seven major races on Super Thursday. We’ll be taking a look at each one and trying to figure out where the best plays lie.

#2

The second race of the day goes 1m1.5f over the Tapeta surface. Reem (Galileo) enters the race for the De Kock yard as the 2/1 favourite in the morning line. She scored on her Meydan debut after shipping in from Australia and has since run second in the UAE 1000 Guineas and the Grade 2 Balanchine Stakes. She had a massive weight advantage on the previous day and will enjoy another six pounds on the colts here. Ahlaain (Bernstein) looks the progressive type and the colt ran second in the Meydan Classic Stakes last time out carrying 121. With 119 in the cards here it might be just enough and he should be able to tackle Reem if he runs to potential.

#3

This one is a tasty-looking turf sprint with contenders going about 5f. Nobody enters the race off a victory but Happy Dubai (Indian Ridge) looks a decent shout at 4/1. He’s taken two from four in his Meydan efforts this year and switches back to Royston Ffrench after running a tame fifth last time out. He posted a career-high rating of 111 two-back. Heavily-raced Effort (Dr Fong) ships in from Jebel Ali and could be set to score at a price – he currently trades at 20/1.

#4

This 6f contest boasts $200,000 up for grabs to the winner and a number of globetrotting sprinters will be taking aim at this one. Barbecue Eddie (Stormy Atlantic) takes a step up in class after scoring in an impressive handicap back on February 18. His 6/1 price looks appealing and you can expect him to drift down just a bit. 6f isn’t his specialty but he enjoys the surface and looks in good nick. Rileyskeepingfaith (Hunting Lion) was just beaten by a neck last time out and has looked a bit more consistent at the distance – a proven 6f specialist. Another Godolphin charge, Bank Merger (Consolidator) had a shaky debut finishing tenth last time out to Barbecue Eddie, but he’ll be looking to get things back on track here, but it will be interesting to see how he takes to the Tapeta.

#5

The third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge runs as the fifth race and this one of the most impressive races you’ll find anywhere in the world. A very talented field lines up for this one with the popular contender looking to be Sheik Hamdan’s Mendip (Harlan’s Holiday) who scored in the opening round of the Al Maktoum in dramatic fashion. He’s priced at 2/1 and it will be interesting to see how he matches up against Our Giant (Giant’s Causeway) who appears to be taking plenty of money at a 7/2 price.

#6

The sixth race at Meydan is a grassy 1m4f that features a number of top contenders from virtually all four corners of the globe. Interaction (Easing Along) looks to be finding his feet in Dubai and he’s priced at 10/1. He got off to a slow start with a third place finish in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge but had never carried 126 before and looked good doing it. Marinous (Numerous) is a French runner who was a very poor 17^th in the Japan Cup, but he’d been acquitting himself well throughout the entirety of his 2010 campaign. He took a score at Doha and Deauville and looks a seasoned contender.

#7

The feature race on the card has the respected Musir (Redoute’s Choice) set to build on his impressive run last year when he conquered the UAE Derby. He ran second in the Firebreak Stakes last time out but likely needed the race as he’d been out nearly a year. He stretches out in distance here but should handle what they throw at him. Prince Bishop (Dubawi) is unraced since last fall but ended the season in France taking four races on the bounce – two of which were group races. He’s 8/1 and could make a major statement if he takes to the Tapeta surface. His career-high 118 last time puts him in the mix. Talented Arlington Million (Grade 1) winner Debussy (Diesis) will have preferred jockey William Buick in the irons again. He looks an interesting outside bet at 8/1 but that price might be a bit short.

#8

Presvis (Sakhee) headlines the nightcap and he made a massive statement by taking the Group 2 Al Rashidiya on his Meydan debut – his first race in six months. Matching a career-high rating on a seasonal debut is no easy feet and the seven year-old still looks to have plenty of race in him. A lifetime earner of over $3,500,000 he’s out there to win one for the geldings. Steele Tango (Okawango) ran a distant second to Presvis in the Al Rashidiya and he’ll be looking to get his revenge here. A great shout in the place market, he hasn’t finished outside the top two in any of his past five races.