Sprinters in action at Meydan
CONTENDERS: APPLEBY HOLDS A STRONG HAND IN AL WASL STAKES WITH TWO RUNNERS ʂ Zoulu Chief could provide value in Race 5.
Aclassy international field of three-yearold sprinters have assembled for the AED 300,000 (R1.5m) Al Wasl Stakes, the centrepiece of Meydan’s bumper nine-race card today.
Top weight Starlust, trained by Ralph Beckett, is a smart type and can boast success at Group 3 level in the UK, winning the Sirenia Stakes at Kempton. He rounded off the season when sent to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and lost little in defeat, keeping on well to finish a solid third behind the impressive Big Evs, beaten less than two lengths.
Seven Questions, trained by George Scott, finished one place behind Starlust in that Kempton contest, beaten a head in an exciting finish. Scott, based in Newmarket, has enjoyed a terrific winter with his small team in Bahrain for the valuable Turf Series.
Seven Questions demands respect on his UAE debut.
Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has made a bright start to the year and runs Great Truth and Star Of Mystery, the choice of William Buick. She was a smart filly last year and looks an obvious threat to Starlust and Seven Questions getting plenty of weight.
The daughter of Kodiac is a quick filly and holds sound claims on her three-year-old debut.
Twelve months ago George Boughey sent out Al Dasim to win the Al Wasl Stakes and the Newmarket-based handler is represented by Salvuccio in this year’s renewal. Rated 89 and winner of two of his five races, he needs to take a big step forward on his first appearance since being gelded. However, it’s encouraging Boughey has been among the winners at Meydan this season.
Of the rest Zoulu Chief is one to consider. He has the services of the in-form Pat Dobbs and is a gelding with bags of early speed, an asset over Meydan’s straight turf track.
He’s closely matched with Starlust on their running at the York Ebor Festival and should be in the mix at decent odds.
Race 7, the Lord North Handicap, named in honour of the three-time Dubai Turf winner, is a competitive contest. Godolphin, responsible for four of the 13 runners, can take the prize with lightly raced and well-bred Imperial Emperor, trained by Appleby. By Dubawi out of a US Grade 1 winner, he is the least exposed horse in the line-up, winning two of his four races.
Track Of Time caught the eye on his Meydan debut seven days ago, staying on nicely in the closing stages to finish a never-nearer fourth behind Discovery Island.
The French raider is entitled to be sharper for the run and is one for the shortlist. He has a similar profile to Imperial Emperor and remains open to further progress, unlike many of his rivals.
Buick, who is unable to do 53.5kg on Imperial Emperor, has chosen to ride Highbank, who hails from the all-conquering Appleby stable. Last season, he ran with credit at Meydan, hitting the frame in the top three-year-olds races on turf. In an open race, he can play a leading role from a good draw, despite not being the most straight-forward.
Godolphin’s Big Team, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, caught the eye on his seasonal debut last month and looks the answer in Race 6, the 2000m handicap on dirt. Always handy, he led off the bend and looked the likely winner but was grabbed inside the final 100m by Watch My Six.
It was a solid effort and big step up on what he achieved in two runs in Britain earlier in the year. He should be freshened up off a five-week break, a sensible decision by Suroor, having had a hard race on his first start after a 72day break.
Earlier on the card, the 1600m conditions dirt race for threeyear-old may offer some clues for the UAE 2000 Guineas, the opening leg of the Dubai Triple Crown, at the end of the month.
Bhupat Seemar’s Guns And Glory, a jaw-dropping €543,210 (R11m) purchase at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale last March, is an interesting runner.
From the third crop of the exciting young US sire Gun Runner, he showed minor promise in a barrier trial won by Lahfaty two months ago. Seemar has enjoyed success with a son of Gun Runner, notably Group 1 placegetter Bendoog.
Military Artist makes a quick reappearance, seven days after keeping on one-paced to finish third behind Ma Yetal in the UAE 2000 Guineas prep, the top threeyear-old in the Emirates. He is open to improvement stepping up to a mile and is the choice of Adrie de Vries of the Fawzi Nass trained trio.
Wafaytt, a $400,000 (R7.4m) yearling purchase in the US, represents the red-hot Michael Costa, the season’s top trainer. The son of Florida Derby winner, Dialed In, has the advantage of a recent barrier trail. He has to be taken seriously on his racecourse debut.