1/20 (MEY): Dick Powell's Dubai Analysis

[Kasept]

Race 1: Marsala Trophy Handicap
About 7 Fur. on the Tapeta main track
$110,000 for Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up

Mike de Kock looks like he’s sitting on a big day in day two of the Carnival and he gets it off to a fast start here with WARSAW (Danehill Dancer). He ran well here on the Tapeta main track in sprint races against similar company and returns here with two minor prep races to get him ready. Raced here last week and finished up the track but that was on the turf and this is his preferred surface. PRINCE SHAUN (Acclamation) raced well here last year when he finished second to LEAHURST who was on a roll early in the season. He faced Derbaas two starts back here and all he did was come back to set a track record going a mile. Doug Watson and Tadhq O’ Shea are always a dangerous trainer/jockey combination. SAHARA KINGDOM (Cozzene) raced very strong on all-weather tracks in England last Fall and shows up here for bin Suroor/Dettori.
Selections:
#2 WARSAW
#7 PRINCE SHAUN
#4 SAHARA KINGDOM

Race 2: Al Hadeerah Trophy Handicap
About 5 Fur. on the turf
$150,000 for Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
For horses rated 95+

This race will be run down a straightaway with the outside posts near the grandstand rail. WAR ARTIST (Orpen) is a hard-knocking sprinter that won a group three stake going six furlongs in France last July on firm ground. He’s won a group two and three in Germany and Longchamp going short. Has to tote 132 pounds but he does have a decided class edge over these. MISTER MANANNAN (Desert Style) has been in against top sprinters in Europe the past few years and he came out running last year when he won his seasonal debut so he can run well fresh. STAR CROWNED (Kingmambo) is an amazing sprinter that raced every week of last year’s Carnival and got better each week. Adept on any surface, he starts this season out on turf.
Selections:
#1 WAR ARTIST
#5 MISTER MANANNAN
#2 STAR CROWNED

Race 3: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial sponsored by Bab al Shams
About 7 fur. on the Tapeta main track
$50,000 for Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere 3YO
Southern Hemisphere horses carry 130 pounds; Northern Hemisphere horses carry 120 pounds.

Horses number 1 through 3 are southern Hemisphere 3YO males and are usually tough in these races. They are approximately six months older than their northern Hemisphere counterparts and even carrying higher weight does not tend to slow them down. Also, the southern Hemisphere horses seem to have an edge by showing up fitter than their rivals that may have had their training interrupted by cold weather. This year’s group of southern Hemisphere horses looks weaker than normal. ZANZAMAR (Fort Wood) was group one stakes placed in his last two starts in South Africa for Mike de Kock going similar distances. Was victimized by post 16 last out going a mile and only beaten three lengths. He makes his all-weather debut here and will be coming from far back. BRIDGEFIELD (Speightstown) ran well in his career debut at Newmarket then came back to beat an 18-runner maiden race at Doncaster going this distance. He’s bred for the main track and should come out running for Al Zarooni. ABSTRATO (Major Storm) raced well in Brazil last season on both the turf and dirt so the Tapeta should be no problem.
Selections:
#3 ZANZAMAR
#4 BRIDGEFIELD
#1 ABSTRATO

Race 4: Falcon Lounge Trophy Handicap
About 1 Mile on the turf
$120,000 for Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
For horses rated 100-110

This race will be run around one turn with a long run down the backstretch. HERE TO WIN (Roi Normand) is a multiple group one stakes winner that won going a mile last out in Brazil. He gets in relatively light here in what will be definitely a prep for future stakes engagements here. KINGSFORT (War Chant) won the National Stakes (G1) as a 2YO two seasons ago when trained by Kevin Prendergast. Came back last year and only ran twice but won his last start in a listed stake going a mile at Newmarket. FLORENTINO (Swept Overboard) won a grade two stake at Churchill going 1 1/8 miles on the turf as a 3YO and makes his international debut for Al Zarooni.
Selections:
#7 HERE TO WIN
#1 KINGSFORT
#3 FLORENTINO

Race 5: Al Sarab Trophy Handicap
About 1 3/16 Mi. on the Tapeta main track
$150,000 for Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
For horses rated 95+

This race is run around two turns on the Tapeta main track. KING OF ROME (Montjeu) was a group stakes winner at three in Ireland that has run very well here on the Tapeta main track. He just missed in one of these last season behind LIZARD’S DESIRE who just missed winning the Dubai World Cup (G1) later in the meet. Prepped in the Maktoum Challenge (G3) last week going a mile and should be ready here. KAL BARG (Medicean) loved this course last season and has two preps over it this winter to get ready for this. GALLAHAD (Hard Buck) won his last three starts on the turf in Brazil against good ones including a group one last out and shows up here for one of the world’s great trainers – Alain De Royer-Dupre.
Selections:
#1 KING OF ROME
#8 KAL BARG
#13 GALLAHAD

Race 6: Cape Verdi Stakes (G2) sponsored by Bab al Shams
About 1 Mile on the Turf
$200,000 Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up & Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up fillies & mares

Use the www.emiratesracing.com web site to get the individual ratings of all the horses in these races. Run under weight-for-ages conditions, the higher rated horses have a big advantage in here. DEEM (Dalakhani) is a versatile mare that runs well on dirt and turf. Was a good fourth here in the Sheema Classic (G1) last out over this course going long and beat group 3 company the start before that going nine furlongs off a similar layoff. RIVER JETEZ (Jet Master) is a South African monster that ships in here for de Kock/Soumillon that won a group one stake going ten furlongs on good turf. She draws the rail but she’ll be coming from the back of the pack. ASPECTOFLOVE (Danetime) won her last start on the all-weather at Lingfield but won a group three stake in Italy two starts back going a mile on the turf.
Selections:
#9 DEEM
#1 RIVER JETEZ
#2 ASPECTOFLOVOE

Race 7: Al Forsan Trophy Handicap
About 1 1/4 Mi. on the turf
$120,000 Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
For horses rated 100-110

This race is run down a long backstretch and around one turn. SIMON DE MONTFORT (King’s Best) won a group three stake in his last start last April and won his seasonal debut off a long layoff so he has class and a proven ability to run well fresh. AZMEEL (Azamour) was no match for WORKFORCE two starts back in the Epsom Derby (G1) but had won two in a row against group three company at today’s distance. ONCE MORE DUBAI (E Dubai) won here last year on the Tapeta main track going long carrying a lot more weight and then ran fourth to HARBINGER who was the higest rated horse in the world last year. Gets in light today.
Selections:
#2 SIMON DE MONTFORT
#1 AZMEEL
#10 ONCE MORE DUBAI