High hopes for De Kock’s Baroot
DIRT RICH: MIKE DE KOCK'S CAMPAIGNER AIMS FOR THIRD VICTORY ON MEYDAN’S MAIN TRACK
Champ-elect Doug Watson poses the main threat with four runners. Dubai
Trainer Mike de Kock’s charge Baroot has enjoyed a profitable campaign in Dubai this year and could polish the record when he contests a 1600m handicap at Meydan today.
Baroot won a 14-runner turf handicap before going on to split the Godolphin pair Kidmenever and Banksea in a valuable World Cup Carnival handicap on his most recent appearance. He switches to dirt but is attractively handicapped and looks sure to go well chasing his third success on Meydan’s main track.
Dubai’s champion trainer-elect Doug Watson holds a strong hand in the race, saddling four of the 15 runners.
Top-weight Galvanize, twice a winner at Meydan this season, and recent Meydan winner Street Of Dreams look the American’s main hopes – ahead of Sheeba, a shock winner here less than two weeks ago. Of the trio, Street Of Dreams has the strongest credentials in the hands of Pat Dobbs, Watson’s stable jockey. He is a lightly raced five-year-old who may not have stopped improving yet and is nicely berthed in stall one, a bonus in a race that has attracted 15 runners.
Elsewhere on the card, De Kock introduces the unexposed Trenchard – the sale topper of September’s Racing in Dubai Sale – in a 1400m handicap, Race 4.
Formerly trained in the UK by John Gosden, Trenchard won a handicap at Kempton on his final start on British soil 11 months ago before travelling to the UAE. He is unproven on the surface but, being US-bred and by Elusive Quality, he should take to dirt and warrants respect in the hands of Pat Cosgrave.
After a quiet start to the season, course specialist Moosir, trained by Watson, got back on track with a good win here earlier in the month, running on well to get the better of Mazeed and Simple Attack, who renews rivalry today. He makes plenty of appeal for his in-form trainer.
Five days after enjoying bigrace success with Jordan Sport in the Mahab Al Shimaal, Bahrain trainer Fawzi Nass can continue his strong recent form with Cape Of Eagles in the 2000m dirt maiden, the opening race of Meydan’s penultimate fixture of the season today.
The four-year-old colt, to be ridden by Adrie de Vries, ran well when second to Dawwass on turf here earlier in the month. The switch to dirt holds no fear for this son of Cape Blanco; in his seasonal debut in December he was a creditable third behind Street Of Dreams, beaten less than five lengths.
The second maiden on the card, Race 3 over 1400m, is a weak race, which is understandable in the closing weeks of the season.
Dirilis Ertugrul, trained by Ismail Mohammed, has progressed with racing and produced a fair effort behind Heart Power last time – a career best. On that evidence, he has the measure of the re-opposing Big Brown Bear and Jockey Joe, both trained by Watson. Despite a tricky gate, Dirilis Ertugrul has sound claims of opening his account at the fourth time of asking.
The lightly raced Big Brown Bear, who has the benefit of a good draw, was an encouraging fourth behind Saturday’s Al Bastakiya winner Yulong Warrior on his debut. He failed to build on that promise, struggling a long way out to finish a never-dangerous fourth behind Heart Power. However, the fitting of first-time blinkers could have a desired effect and the Tiznow colt cannot be overlooked.
Watson and Jim Crowley team up with Almanaara in the opening handicap, Race 2, over 1200m on dirt. Almanaara created a big impression on his comeback in November, making all to open his local account in good style. He has lost little in defeat since, twice being undone by tough draws in competitive handicaps. This is a good opportunity to resume winning ways from a plum draw.