Nass to strike gold in Oaks
Undefeated Manama Gold, trained by Fawzi Nass, gets a confident vote to win the UAE Oaks, the final Classic on dirt of the season in the Emirates and the one of the highlights of a cracking nine-race card at Meydan today.
The US-bred daughter of Star Guitar, owned by Victorious Racing, won a maiden on her racecourse debut earlier in the campaign before impressing in the Cocoa Beach Stakes last month.
Given a confident ride by Andre de Vries, she travelled strongly before easily go clear in the closing stages, crossing the line nearly 10 lengths ahead of Lahfaty and eight others.
Manama Gold, a $200,000 (R3.8m) purchase at OBS Sales in Florida 10 months ago, is an exciting prospect and can give Naas and De Vries their second UAE Oaks in three years, two years after Shahama captured the prize when sent off a red-hot favourite.
A maximum field of 14 go to post for the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes, a trial for the Dubai Turf on the Dubai World Cup undercard next month. Charlie Appleby, who is operating at a jawdropping 41% strike-rate in the Emirates this season, saddles Highland Avenue, Naval Power and Ottoman Fleet, the choice of William Buick and the highest rated of his team.
Ottoman Fleet, owned by Godolphin, has run well in defeat
since returning to the Emirates, just finding progressive stablemate Measured Time too strong in the Al Rashidiya and Jebel Hatta. He sets the standard and looks the one to beat.
San Donato, trained by Doug Watson, looks an obvious threat to Ottoman Fleet under Pat Dobbs, who enjoyed big-race success with Nibras Passion in Saturday's President Cup (Listed) at Abu Dhabi. Owned by Sheikh Obaid Al Maktoum, San Donato finished less than a length behind Ottoman Fleet in the Jebel Hatta, keeping on nicely from the rear in a race that was run at a muddling pace that didn't the five-year-old.
San Donato, who was given a brilliant ride by Dobbs when he produced the gelding fast and late to win the Group 2 Zabeel Mile earlier in the season, possesses a sharp turn of foot and will be suited by a sound pace.
Race 4, the Al Bastikiya Stakes, the middle leg of the Dubai Triple Crown, is a competitive renewal and should offer some clues for the UAE Derby.
Former champion trainer, Bhupat Seemar, holds a strong hand with two runners — Killer Collect, the choice of Tadhg O'Shea, and unbeaten Falcon Of Arabia.
The latter, to be ridden by Andrew Slattery, caught the eye on his racecourse debut, making all and seeing off the determined challenge of Auto Bahn, who was trying to concede 6.5kg and renews rivalry in the 1900m event on dirt. Falcon Of Arabia is entitled to come forward for the experience and should be in the mix.
Killer Collect, a winner at Meydan on his third start, has progressed with racing and his latest appearance when third behind Mendelssohn Bay in the UAE 2000 Guineas was a solid effort and a career high. He holds sound claims.
Elyabri, shock winner of the trial under a fine front-running ride from Bernardo Pinheiro, has been done no favours with a double-figure draw. He will find it much tougher to make all and dominate in a stronger race.
Auto Bahn and Quartier, trained by Julio Olascoaga, must concede weight to their 10 rivals, as the pair were born in the Southern Hemisphere. The pair, who are proven under the conditions, merit respect in an open event.
Charlie Appleby can extend his grip on the Balanchine Stakes, the Group 2 turf showpiece for fillies and mares, Race 3. The Godolphin handler has won the last five renewals and is responsible for three of the seven runners, with stable jockey William Buick choosing to ride Sapphire Seas.
Beaten on her racecourse debut in novice company at Kempton 13 months, she has reeled off five wins since, the most recent in the John Musker Fillies' Stakes (Listed) at Yarmouth five months ago. By Frankel, she's a smart filly and will take plenty of stopping.
Appleby has booked Mickael Barzalona to ride lightly raced English Rose, who was beaten a neck in the Cape Verdi, just failing to catch Silver Lady on her Meydan debut. She has the benefit of a run and looks the obvious threat to Sapphire Seas.
Appleby and Buick can round off a good night by winning the Nad Al Sheba Trophy with smart stayer Siskany. He bounced back to form after a dismal run on his dirt debut on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Santa Anita last November when winning the Al Khail Trophy, getting up close home to narrowly deny Al Nayyir in an exciting finish.
He's well treated by the conditions and can advertise his claims for another tilt at the Dubai Gold Cup, a race he was beaten a neck by Broome last year.
BEST BET
Race 7 No 6 Siskany
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 3 Border Edge
BEST SWINGER
Race 2: 4-Manama Gold and 5-Mizzyaan
JACKPOT
(Races 6-9) R72
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 10 Leg 2: 1, 6 Leg 3: 2, 4, 6 Leg 4: 4, 5, 9