1.15 Al Quoz Sprint (Group 2)
Official ratings suggest J J THE JET PLANE is home and hosed here and the figures make sense. The winner of this at Nad Al Sheba in 2009, he produced easily the best performance of any of these when beating the great local hero Rocket Man in the Grade 1 Hong Kong Sprint and, after a poor first-ever run on Tapeta here, gave lumps of weight and a beating to a decent field over the CD. War Artist returned to form after a barren spell when beating Rileyskeepingfaith in a handicap last month but was earlier put in his place by Happy Dubai, who has improved dramatically and had Monsieur Joe, Invincible Ash and Prohibit behind over the CD three weeks ago. Shock Nunthorpe winner Sole Power has his first start since York and looks up against it but the brilliantly-fast Mr Gruff has his first start over today’s trip after three 7f victories and leading for most of the way in a Grade 1 event over a mile at Hollywood.
1.50 Godolphin Mile (Group 2)
Most of these have been in action at the Carnival though the two highest rated, Red Jazz and Premio Loco, are returning from breaks. The latter has experience of the surface having run well behind Gloria De Campeao here last February. Crowded House has the unwanted record of never having won since the 2008 Racing Post Trophy but has been contesting high-class events throughout and is no forlorn hope. I Want Revenge hasn’t quite made the expected surge since landing a Grade 1 on dirt at Aqueduct two years ago but ran well at that level at Gulfstream last time and connections have been very bullish all week. Skysurfers didn’t look much better than Listed class in the UK but won over the CD last February before going on to finish third in this. He produced an even better effort to beat a high-class field in the trial for this last month and will take some beating, though, as with the impressive Grade 2 winner Rileyskeepingfaith, he has been badly treated by the draw. IMBONGI was in superb form here a year ago and hasn’t been quite wound up in his two starts this term. He’ll be spot-on here and gets the vote in an open contest.
2.25 UAE Derby (Group 2)
The Maktoum family have seven of the 14 runners here and Frankie Dettori’s presence on Xin Xu Lin is intriguing though once again a poor draw tempers enthusiasm. A four-times Grade 1 winner on turf in Brazil, he’s a total unknown on this surface but is reported to have been working well. Frankie was on board when Khawlah beat Mahbooba in the UAE Oaks and there’s little between them here. The latter’s trainer Mike De Kock is also represented by Zanzamar and Reem – the former unluckily beaten by today’s rival Splash Point in the UAE 2000 Guineas and Reem, who won the 1000 Guineas here, appears to have the better form having easily landed a Listed event last time. Master Of Hounds, Utley and Mantoba were well beaten in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and are also strangers to Tapeta. The fillies have been overwhelmingly better than the colts in the classics here this year so it’s the 1000 Guineas winner and Oaks runner-up MAHBOOBA who gets the nod.
3.05 Dubai Golden Shaheen Stakes (Group 1)
These should leave scorch marks on the Tapeta. Kinsale King is reported in even better form than he was when landing this a year ago and will prove difficult to beat. However, runner-up that day ROCKET MAN failed to get a clear run at a crucial moment and can gain revenge. His latest run when just touched off by J J The Jet Plane in the Hong Kong Sprint showed him to be as good as ever. Dim Sum was around three lengths behind at Sha Tin but has improved in subsequent starts against the top class Sacred Kingdom and looks a threat though his trainer, John Moore, is very keen on the chances of Sunny King despite him being much more at home over further. Another Hong Kong Flyer, Dynamic Blitz, looked a crack sprinter when landing a Grade 3 here in February and will be closing fast at the finish. Euroears represents Bob Baffert and is his first Dubai runner since Captain Steve’s monumental World Cup success 10 years ago. A Grade 2 winner at Santa Anita in January, he’s been specially prepared by his astute handler and is another with a chance in a fascinating contest.
3.45 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Group 1)
The Singapore based Better Than Ever has a phenomenal record with one loss in 15 starts. He’s been successful three times at this level and is definitely one for the short-list. Bankable was a fine runner-up to shock winner Al Shemali in this a year ago and Herman Brown has geared his whole year to going one better. Presvis ran poorly that day but is much better than that and Luca Cumani will have him fit to run for his life. He couldn’t quite get to WIGMORE HALL in the Jebel Hatta three weeks ago and the winner, who was having his first start since October, was impressive enough to be given the nod to follow up. Mendip is progressing nicely and is having his first race on turf here. This is also his first Grade 1 start but is an obvious threat under Frankie. Johnny Murtagh has come in for an excellent ride on Strawberrydaiquiri, who can reverse recent running with River Jetez as she was having her first run since October that day. Derbaas has improved out of all recognition and just holds the classy Raihana on latest running but along with the USA-based Victor’s Cry he has the worst of the draw.
4.50 Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1)
It didn’t look a top-class Breeders’ Cup Turf that Dangerous Midge won from Champ Pegasus but Brian Meehan has given the winner a perfect preparation for this and he must not be overlooked. Irish Flame’s close second to the brilliant Bold Silvano in the Durban July is arguably the best form on view here and though he hasn’t shone over shorter trips this Carnival he could spring a surprise at fair odds and is worth an each-way shout. Great Voltiguer winner Rewilding will be happier back at this trip after flopping in the St Leger while Barry Hills is said to be delighted with the condition of the globe-trotting Redwood, runner-up to Mastery in the Hong Kong Vase. Deem finished seventh in this two years ago and a close fourth last year. Jerry Barton will have him spot on for another effort and he rates a major threat to all. It’s difficult to get a handle on the form of RULERSHIP but he hasn’t been beaten far in two Grade 1 attempts and easily won a Grade 2 at Kyoto last time. Christophe Soumillon has been in great form at this year’s Carnival and his mount gets the vote to take this for Japan.
5.35 Dubai World Cup (Group 1)
Three of the better fancied runners, Twice Over, Golden Sword and Buena Vista, have the worst possible draws but all are talented enough to overcome difficulties. Henry Cecil’s dual Champion Stakes winner ran poorly from a similar berth a year ago but showed that to be all wrong with a superb return on this surface earlier this month when he beat Musir comfortably. He’ll take some beating as will Golden Sword, who has been in brilliant form over the CD this year, albeit in slightly lower class. BUENA VISTA finished runner-up in the Sheema Classic last year and was just touched off by today’s rival Victoire Pisa over 1m5f in Japan last time when odds-on. Ryan Moore takes over and rides this track from behind as well as anyone so hopefully he can steer the mare out of trouble and into the winners’ enclosure. Victoire Pisa has since landed a Grade 2 over 1m1f impressively and can go well at a big price. Gio Ponti finished strongly into fourth a year ago when Gitano Hernando and Richard’s Kid weren’t far behind and all three can be given some sort of chance but Poet’s Voice has never run on the surface and was well behind Twice Over in the Champion Stakes. Cape Blanco’s victory over Rip Van Winkle and Twice Over in the Irish Champion Stakes is arguably the best form on view here and Aidan O’Brien’s colt would be a massive threat to all if handling the surface.