R1 – PA –
Mazrat Al Ruwayah – G2 – 1600M(8F) – Dirt
AF Mathmoon –
AF Maqayes – Burning Breeze
R2 – TB –
Meydan Classic Trial – Conditions – 1400M(7F) – Turf
Top Score – Daqeeq
– Nobelium
Top Score
put in a decent effort last out in his first dirt start, and he returns to the
turf here. He hasn’t been out of the money in his past five starts and he looks
to be a nicer quality horse than most others in the field. Daqeeq is South
African runner for Mike de Kock who won impressively upon debut, though de Kock
has admitted that his present year’s Carnival group isn’t what it has been in past
years. Round out with long shot Nobelium for Boursely, the son of Sky
Mesa is making his first start here.
R3 – TB –
Handicap – 2000M(10F) – Dirt
Mizbah –
Triple Nine – Layl
Mizbah was a
runaway winner on the lead in his last start here for trainer Doug Watson. A
month later he returns here, and will likely get the lead again. Triple Nine,
the South Korean, had a very good run in his first start in Dubai, finishing a half-length
behind Hunting Ground. He will likely put in another solid effort here. Layl
drops out of graded company to contest this handicap race, running behind the
likes of Frosted and Tamarkuz in his past starts. He should be good enough to
hit the board here.
R4 – TB –
Handicap – 1200M(6F) – Turf
Fannaan – Jamesie
– Line of Reason
Fannaan
ships in from England where he was second two back in a listed stakes. Lightly
raced with only five starts at age five he has shown enough talent to justify
running him in that listed stakes off a 17 month layoff, so perhaps he will be
good enough to win here off a 4 month layoff. Next up is Jamesie, never been a big fan of this
horse but he has been within three lengths of the winner in his last three
starts, perhaps he can pull it together here. Line of Reason stretches out a
bit here as he most recently has been running at strictly 1000m distances, he
is unplaced in 6 career starts at Meydan but his luck may turn here.
R5 – TB –
UAE 1000 Guineas – 1600m(8F) – Dirt
Really
Special – Fursa - Complimenti
Really
Special was a dominant winner last out and looks to secure another victory to
bring her career record to four wins from four starts. Soumillon opts off
Really Special to ride Fursa, likely due to his loyalty to trainer de Kock,
though this filly is a G2 winner in South Africa. She has never started on turf
but being a daughter of Hard Spun out of a Red Ransom mare, she should be fine.
Complimenti rounds out my selections as she was second to Really Special in her
last start, put in two solid efforts in her first two starts.
R6 – TB –
Handicap – 1400M(7F) – Turf
Flash Fire –
Rene Mathis - Tahanee
Flash Fire
has put in two good efforts in his last two starts here at Meydan, including a second in a G2 here in his last
start over this distance to Championship. This will be almost his third start
in one month so he may be a little tired, but would still be the one to beat.
Rene Mathis was second in his last start to Flash Fire after an almost seventh
month layoff, should be a good effort from him.
Tahanee cuts back here to 1400m, a distance she has been successful at,
and drops out of graded stakes company. Gets the mount of top jock Soumillon.
R7 – TB –
Handicap – 1800M(9F) – Turf
Folkswood – Classic
Collection – Moonlight Dash
Folkswood
was a nice second here last out, cuts back slightly, should put forth a strong
effort here. Classic Collection steps up in class here off a victory at this
distance. Moonlight Dash rounds out.
