As the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup approaches, JAMES TROTTER takes a beady eye at the fields, dangers and how our South African connections could feature. The Dubai World Cup, which takes place on March 31, carries a purse of $10million.
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15.10 – Godolphin Mile (G2) 1600m All-Weather
Herman Brown sends out British bred DUX SCHOLAR. Glynn Schofield is out from Australia to get on board Herman’s horses tonight and duly will be partnering Dux Scholar here. This horse was looking progressive in his first two starts this Dubai Carnival but ran flat on his only race on the Tapeta surface last time out. If he handles the surface this time round he could be competitive though. The ex-Coolmore inmate VISCOUNT NELSON represents the Mike de Kock yard and has Kevin Shea on board. This is his first start on this surface and so is a bit of an unknown quantity. However, if he is able to repeat his performance in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort a few runs back he has the class to win this.
Dangers: African Story put up a huge performance in the trial to this race and so is the one to beat. If he runs flat it could be anyone’s race.
15.45 – Dubai Gold Cup (G3) 3200m Turf
The Dubai Gold Cup is the newest race on the World Cup card. IRISH FLAME (Kevin Shea) and ZANZAMAR are to take a shot at this mammoth distance for the De Kock yard. Neither of these have as yet to go this distance before and so it is hard to guess what will happen. However, Zanzamar won well on his penultimate start and was one of the fastest finishers in his most recent. Irish Flame hasn’t shown his old spark as yet so needs to regain that to be competitive here. The two descendants of Fort Wood are bred to go the distance. Herman also sends out a two pronged attack on this race with Glynn aboard MIKHAEL GLINKA as the likely first choice. Mikhael Glinka made all the running when winning the G2 Dubai City of Gold in his last race and so it is a little surprising to see him not taking a shot at the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic tonight. He is a horse in form. BRONZE CANNON, Brown’s other charge, won impressively two starts back but was unimpressive in his last. He is a G2 winner over 2400m and so could also relish the extra distance.
Dangers: Godolphin’s One-Two of Foxhunt and Opinion Poll should be the in-form horses to beat. Kasbah Bliss is one classy G1 winning stayer and Unusual Suspect ran a solid race in the Melbourne Cup.
16.25 – UAE Derby (G2) 1900m All-Weather
Mike de Kock’s Dubawi colt, MICKDAAM, won the trial for this race well over the course and distance and so is the standout of the horses who have prior form here in Dubai. However he will face much stiffer opposition today. One of which is Herman’s MARITIMER (Schofield) he is to have his first run for Herman in this race. This colt was Canada’s best two year old last year and apparently is pretty talented. He is currently bottom of the ratings, however and so he will need to be better than his rating suggests to factor seriously. An interesting horse is the Team Valor owned LUCKY CHAPPY who is out from the USA for this race. This colt was placed 4th In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf G1 last year.
Dangers: The winner of that Breeders’ Cup race finds his way into the field too: Wrote. This colt, as well as his Coolmore stable-mate, Daddy Long Legs, are the two class European horses in the race. The latter won a G2 in England on his penultimate start. The most accomplished galloper in the race is however the Australian triple G1 winner, Helmet. This guy knows how to run on his day, but can be a little erratic.
17.00 – Al Quoz Sprint (G1) 1000m Turf
South Africa has a good chance of defending JJ the Jet Plane’s win in this race last year. The South African owned, bred and ridden AUGUST RUSH (Schofield) was originally entered in the 1200m Golden Shaheen G1 on the All-Weather but was moved last week to this race on turf down the straight. Likely a wise move as although this race is highly competitive it does not have the star power the Golden Shaheen has attracted this year. August Rush’s only start in the UAE was pretty impressive. That was on the All-Weather and he showed good speed to sit just off the lead and hold on in the straight for third. Back in South Africa the 1000m wasn’t his best trip but hopefully he can show some of that same speed from his first race on Saturday! The old-timer WAR ARTIST (Shea) returns to this race after running JJ to a head in this race a year ago. His only run in Dubai last time was decent and he is sure to have come on from his last run. If he can bring his best form he’ll be in the hunt. NOCTURNAL AFFAIR is an Irish trained son of Victory Moon. This guy has been improving his rating all season at Meydan and beat almost every horse in this field last time over this course and distance. Should be a big runner.
Dangers: A host of Grade 1 winners and performers line up for this test of speed down the straight. Of those Grade 1 winners, the Australian Ortensia, Hong Kong’s Joy and Fun and the Irish Sole Power appear the most in form.
17.35 – Golden Shaheen (G1) 1200m All-Weather
Though technically representing Singapore on the night, superstar sprinter ROCKET MAN is South African trained and jockeyed by South Africans Patrick Shaw and Felix Coetzee respectively. This six year old gelding of Fred Crabbia’s is one of the best sprinters to have been seen anywhere in the last few years. He is starting to look a little vulnerable as his age progresses but is still very likely to start favourite.
Dangers: Four time G1 and Golden Slipper G1 winner Sepoy comes out from Australia on his way to competing at Royal Ascot. This 3-year old colt is a star back home and if he handles the All-Weather will be difficult to beat. USA’s The Factor is one of the fastest horses around and should be on the front early on. Giant Ryan and Lucky Nine are both G1 winning sprinters while Krypton Factor and Hitchens we know love the course and distance, though may just lack the class.
18.25 – Dubai Duty Free (G1) 1800m Turf
Tony Millard brings out Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year AMBITIOUS DRAGON and is partnered by his regular ace pilot Douglas Whyte. He is the highest rated horse in the race, and for good reason, so will likely start favourite. Jeff Lloyd is also out from Hong Kong for the race and gets on board XTENSION. This horse always gives of his best but has had to play second fiddle to Ambitious Dragon the last few times they have met. De Kock sends out MUTAHADEE and MUSIR (Shea). Mutahadee won his first two starts for De Kock here in Dubai easily and perhaps would have won his last over this course and distance with a better trip that day. This horse has shown a fantastic ability to accelerate in the straight and he will need that against this sort of opposition. Musir’s first two runs this Carnival were spectacular, however his last one was below par for him. It is difficult to know whether that was due to him not enjoying the All-Weather that day or if he is coming out of form a bit. This distance will also be on the edge of his stamina capacity. Herman sends out GREEN DESTINY who at one point was looking to be the stable’s World Cup horse but he just didn’t appear to handle the All-Weather at all last time out. He is highly regarded.
Dangers: This could be the most competitive race of the night and I wouldn’t be shocked if any bar three of the horses in the field won it.
19.00 – Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) 2400m Turf
BOLD SILVANO was for long the Dubai World Cup hope for the De Kock yard and for South Africa in general. However, after two below par runs on the All-Weather he has been switched to this race. This is his first time over the distance however the way he won the July two years ago suggests it shouldn’t be a problem. The bigger question mark at the moment is over his general form at the moment, for he will need to be at his very best to make an impact here. Hopefully he enjoys the move back to turf and we see the proper Bold Silvano return this time out. Kevin Shea gets on board MAHBOOBA for De Kock. She has been in solid form this season and will relish the night’s extra trip. There are some class horses in this race so this will be a big test for her but she is in good shape.
Dangers: The English Champions Stakes G1 winner, Cirrus des Aigles, is the highest rated horse running in any race on World Cup night and so commands respect. Coolmore send out Breeders’ Cup Turf G1 champion St Nicholas Abbey and Irish Derby G1 winner Treasure Beach.
19.40 – Dubai World Cup (G1) 2000m All-Weather
With Bold Silvano moved onto the turf it was MASTER OF HOUNDS who was chosen to represent the De Kock yard in the $10,000,000 world’s richest race. He has at least shown form on this surface during the Carnival and so was better suited for the big race. Amazingly, this ex-Coolmore owned competitor was only a one time winner before he won the G1 Jebel Hatta on Dubai’s Super Saturday night last time out. He has however been competing at the top level for some time now, placing in the G1 Racing Post Trophy in England as a two-year old before running second in last year’s UAE Derby and 5th in the Kentucky Derby as a three year old. Nevertheless, he will need to improve to win this.
Dangers: International globetrotting Irish trained Kiwi bred So You Think is the class in the race. As a 8 time G1 winner in three different countries he would be a deserving winner of this race. Game on Dude and Royal Delta bring across some of the best form from America while Japan is strongly represented with last year’s World Cup runner-up Transcend, as well as Eishen Flash and Smart Falcon. German champion Zazou we know can handle the All-Weather while Capponi just loves this Meydan track.
