Dubai World Cup meet race-by-race guides
There are nine races on the Dubai World Cup card and Ed Marnane provides an in-depth guide to the key runners.
Rb Rich Lyke Me will relish being back at Meydan, a venue he’s unbeaten in two appearances since being sold to race in the Middle East for trainer Fawzi Nass. He was a creditable third behind Hadi De Carrere in the Obaiya Arabian Classic, on the Saudi Cup undercard, at Riyadh, beaten less than three lengths. The pair renews rivalry and Rb Rich Lyke Me is fancied to turn the tables back on his home track, while a low draw only increases confidence for a confirmed front-runner. Hadi De Carrere, ridden by veteran French rider Oliver Peslier, found plenty for pressure to nail Tilal Al Khalediah in the dying strides on his first start on dirt. He’s entitled to improve for the experience and rates the chief threat to Rb Rich Lyke Me. First Classs, representing Qatar, was a Listed winner on the Saudi Cup weekend, taking his record on dirt to three wins from six starts. Rated 121, he can’t be dismissed.
Godolphin Mile
Al Nefud, a very progressive colt since switching to dirt, spearheads the home challenge in a competitive renewal that has drawn a full field of 16. He finished a good second to leading Dubai World Cup hope Hot Rod Charlie and is nicely drawn near the favoured rails. Mubakker has progressed nicely since joining Doug Watson, winning two of his four races on Meydan’s main track. His second to Desert Wisdom in the Burj Nahaar, a key local trial, deserves to be upgraded having endured a tough wide trip. He’s fancied to reverse the form with the winner and has sound claims of giving his trainer a third victory. The veteran Secret Ambition, seeking a repeat win, doesn’t appeal and is a poor value. Storm Damage has thrived this year, posting a smart performance in the inaugural Ras Al Khor on Super Saturday. A strong-travelling type, he merits plenty of respect if taking to the dirt, a surface he’s untried on. Great Scot holds the strongest claims of the international runners. A prolific winner on dirt in Saudi Arabia, he ran a good second to subsequent shock Saudi Cup winner Great Emblem on his latest appearance.
Dubai Gold Cup
Manobo, trained by Charlie Appleby, is the shortest priced favourite on the card and will take plenty of beating in a race that lacks strength in depth. The undefeated son of Sea The Stars was wildly impressive in his seasonal reappearance, the Nad Al Sheba Trophy, when running out a comfortable 5.50-length winner and smashing the track record.
The Dubai Gold Cup has been a good race for favourites, winning four of the last five renewals. Japan’s smart stayer Stay Foolish caused a minor surprise in the Red Sea Handicap on the Saudi Cup undercard, easily defeating
Sonnyboyliston and 12 others under a positive front-running ride. He rates a big threat and is ideally berthed in stall four to attack from the front, once again. Of the others, Rodrigo Diaz makes most appeal at decent odds. He didn’t shape too badly behind Manobo on his comeback and is entitled to strip fitter for the race.
Al Quoz Sprint
Charlie Appleby’s Man Of Promise, the choice of William Buick, is unbeaten in two races at Meydan this season and arrives in top form. He created a big impression in the Nad Al Sheba Sprint, storming clear to beat A Case Of You and 14 others. He’s a worthy favourite and is the horse to beat. However, there is a suspicion his latest victory flatters him, having raced on possibly a faster strip of ground up the stands side. Creative Force, winner of the Quipco Champion Sprint, gives Appleby a strong hand. He will be suited by the conditions, and I don’t expect lack of a recent run will be an obstacle, last year he won on his seasonal reappearance after a 299-day break. French filly Suesa emerged a star of the European sprint division when winning at Goodwood, impressing the manner she travelled and quickened clear. She’s less exposed than many of her rivals and is worth chancing. Casa Creed, a Grade 1 winner in the US, ran well in Riyadh last month, just failing to catch Songline and bids to give the America back-to-back wins after Extravaganza Kid won last year.
UAE Derby
This is a wide-open renewal and in the last decade winners have represented Japan, Britain, Ireland, USA, South Africa and
the UAE. Last year’s Saudi Derby provided the winner when Rebel’s Romance gave Charlie Appleby a first win. Pinehurst, the recent Saudi Derby winner, bids for another big prize in the Middle East and renews rivalry with Sekifu, one four runners from Japan. Just 0.50 lengths separated the pair in Riyadh and the Japanese horse is fancied to get his revenge, as the step up in distance will suit and application of first-time blinkers could bring about improvement. Combustion, owned by Godolphin, won the Hyacinth Stakes in Japan and bids to emulate his sire Discreet Cat who won the 2006 UAE Derby. Unbeaten Azure Coast, winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas, US Grade 3-placed Gilded Age and Al Bastakiya, first and second, Quality Boone and Withering complete the shortlist. It would be foolish to discount Irwin, the highest rated runner and a Grade 1 winner on dirt in Argentina.
Golden Shaheen
It’s hard to oppose the US challenge as historically they’ve dominated the race. In recent years American sprinters have won five of the last six renewals and Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Dr. Schivel, officially the highest rated horse in the field, holds leading claims. He has to bounce back after a poor run when enduring a rough trip in the Malibu Stakes in December. Drain The Clock, a Grade 1 winner last year, arrives on the back of a narrow defeat at Gulfstream Park and is favourably in stall No 3 for a confirmed frontrunner. Wondrwherecraigis arrives in Dubai chasing a hat-trick after wins at Laurel Park and Belmont Park and has the assistance of top rider Louis Saez, who won
last year’s Dubai World Cup. Meraas and Eastern World are the pick of the home team. The last-named, who caused a surprise when winning the Mahab Al Shimaal, is unexposed as a dirt sprinter and he could have more to offer. Meraas has impressed since joining Musabbeh Al Mheiri and switching to dirt and is unbeaten over the course and distance. Red Le Zele, second to the ill-fated Zenden 12 months ago, isn’t one to ignore, especially if there is a pace meltdown.
Dubai Turf
Lord North, the mount of Frankie Dettori, is back to defend his title and his recent comeback in the Winter Derby offered plenty of encouragement for his connections on the back of a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Japan has won the race four times since 2014 and their three-pronged assault must be respected. Schnell Meister brings smart form, finishing second to multiple Grade 1 winner Gran Alegria when last seen in action in the Mile Championship in October. Typical of his sire Kingman, he’s a strong traveler, is drawn nicely in stall four and having only eighth run of his life remains open to further improvement. Panthalassa, all the winner of the Nakayama Kinen (Grade 2), a race that has provided three Japanese Dubai Turf winners, may struggle to dominate this quality field from a double-figure gate. Vin de Garde, the third Japanese representative, has struggled for form since chasing home Lord North in last year’s running. The pick of the British runners is Mohaafeth, a progressive colt for Shadwell and William Haggas last year. He should be a player. Fillies have a good record in the
Dubai Turf and Saffron Beach, trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, is one to consider. She brings Classic form having run second to Mother Earth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May last year.
Sheema Classic
Godolphin’s Yibir, a quirky but talented gelding, went from to strength-to-strength last year, highlighted by his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Trained by Charlie Appleby, who has two of the last three runnings, he is returning from a 140-day break and faces a formidable international challenge, most notably from Japan. Authority, winner of the Neom Turf Cup on the Saudi Cup undercard, is joined by Japan Cup third Shahryar, Oaks winner Uberleben, Hong Kong Vase hero Glory Vase and Stella Veloce. Of the quintet preference is for unexposed Shahryar, a son of Deep Impact and winner of half his six races. William Haggas is two-handed with Dubai Honor and Alenquer, the mount of Tom Marquand. He progressed nicely last year and impressed in his comeback, winning the Winter Derby in a new track record. Hukum, off a five-month break, showed a good attitude to win on his local debut in the Dubai City of Gold, the key local trial. He will need to improve taking on a strong international field.
Dubai World Cup
US superstar Life Is Good, winner of six of seven races, the latest in the Pegasus World Cup and Breeders Cup Dirt Mile, is hard to oppose and should win. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he has the benefit of a low draw and should save valuable ground trying 2000m for the first time in his career. The son of Into Mischief is blessed with gate speed and pace, two key assets required for success on Meydan’s main track. Hot Rod Charlie, trained by California-based Doug O’Neill, has the advantage of a run over the track, winning his prep, the Al Maktoum Challenge (Round II) in resounding fashion. He’s guaranteed to see out the trip and looks likely to prove the main opposition to the selection. The American pair Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon are proven on the international stage, having chased home shock winner Great Emblem in the $20m Saudi Cup four weeks ago.
They’re entitled to be in the mix in a contest where US horses historically have a fine record going back to the inaugural running in 1996. Chuwa Wizard, second to Mystic Guide 12 months ago, faces a stiff task in a much stronger field. Aero Trem, the South American champion and multiple Grade 1 winner, is worthy of a mention on the back of an eye-catching run behind Great Emblem. He made late headway to finish a creditable fifth and should step forward for the race.