UAE 2000 GUINEAS AND MEYDAN RACECOURSE LATEST TIPS

We’re underway already today at beautiful Meydan Racecourse in Dubai and we’ve got the usual assortment of high-class handicap action and a pair of Group 3’s that include the UAE 2000 Guineas. We still have a few races left on the card, so let’s take a look at the highlight runners.

In the 4:55, we’ve got Mutheeb (Danzig)- a lightly-raced five year-old owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum. He’s fresh off a score in the Dubai International Billet Trophy where he bested a solid field of 14. He’s a there-or-thereabouts style of runner and you’ll find him around 4.5 or so with most major bookmakers. The other major player that catches my eye is the classy Dohasa (Bolt Fact) who is 1121 since September and is set for his run on the Tapeta Surface. He’s well-priced for a place bet especially and trades at 9.0 for the outright victory. He’s got a solid record and it will be interesting to see how he manages on the surface today. My other notable is Frankie Dettori on top of Sirocco Breeze (Green Desert)- he came in to Dubai 171 lifetime (very lightly-raced for a 5 year-old) and didn’t get the best type of trip in late January. Godolphin tends to know what they’re doing, so I’m seeing him as a solid spoiler if things run the right way.
The heavy favourite in the UAE 2000 Guineas is Mike De Kock’s well-respected runner Musir (Redoute’s Choice). Christophe Soumillon gets the mount here on this 4 year-old bay colt. He’s got a very solid record of 1211 and impressed heavily in a prep-race for this one a few weeks back. Sheikh Al Maktoum’s Australian charge will be the one to beat and looks a solid bet with that wide draw. Ahmed Ajtebi and Saeed Bin Suroor team up with Frozen Power (Oasis Dream) who came second to Musir that day. Dettori had the trip last time and was very close to taking the win, I think an extra half-furlong would have been enough, but he showed good skill during the close. The mysterious Storm Chispazo (Bernstein) is a very interesting outside selection who comes in off two scores on the bounce. You’ll find him around 13.0 on most major bookmakers.
Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge pits a smaller field of 12 together for what should be a very exciting 1m1f spin around the Tapeta. At the moment, Snaafy (Kingmambo) and Crowded House (Rainbow Quest) are taking in most of the betting action and both trade around 3.5 or so. The well-respected South African charge Jet Express (Jet Master) commands a titanic price of around 34.0 with most major bookmakers and he could be your wildcard here. He is a dirt specialist and doesn’t have a huge amount of experience on the synthetic so it will be interesting to see where it comes out. I think at the price, and knowing how to win a race here and there, he could be a solid each-way punt.
The last race of the day is a 1m Handicap on the Tapeta and punters seem to be warming up to Frankie Dettori and Sovereign Remedy (Elusive Quality) who is trading at around 4.0. I think he’s a decent punt here against a field of relatively inconsistent runners. I like the Blue Team on any Dubai surface and I think this is going to be a very interesting race. I am also keeping my eye on the tricky Beauchamp Victory (Compton Admiral). He’s a confounding sort of gelding, but could be in with a shout here if he gets the right trip. Ryan Moore will retain the mount and he trades at around 15.0.