Overdose On Track for Dubai Campaign

One of Eastern Europe's most popular runners in recent years looks set to really throw down the gauntlet for the rest of the global sprinting handicap division as he has been firmly pointed towards the Al Quoz Sprint at the end of March at fabulous Meydan Racecourse.

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Boasting an impressive record of 16 wins from 19 career races, the seven-year-old son of Starborough has been campaigned primarily in Germany but has recently ventured outside of the country to mixed results with losses at Ascot, Haydock and a victory at Capanelle.

Having earned a number of plaudits despite spending most of his career beating up on a relatively poor central European sprint division, his connections will have lots to prove in Dubai following an unsuccessful English foray last summer. He had initially looked quite good in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes at Ascot but could not push on over the final furlong to finish fourth to the talented Prohibit by just over a length.

Sent off at 12/1 on the day, he failed to live up to the big expectations that many had for him. One has to wonder whether it has anything to do with the nearly 12 months he spent on the sidelines from September 2010 to April 2011.

The recent victory at Capanelle came when he was sent off as the slim 3/5 favourite against a field of 12 and he deployed his usual prominent-early style. You do have to note the fact that Frankie Dettori was in the irons for the first time and if this partnership is going to continue into the 2012 Meydan Carnival, it gives him extra credibility.

He has had Soumillon as a pilot in the past to mixed success and, though both are world-class jocks, you do have to give the edge to Frankie for his continued series of high quality results – especially in Dubai.