 Dubai Expert - Ed Marnane |
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| Ed Marnane was the editor of Al Adiyat, a weekly racing paper in Dubai for 11 years. He has covered the Dubai World Cup as the TV commentator for the Dubai Carnival International Show since 1999. Ed was also a jockey's agent while in Dubai. He is currently assisting his brother with training horses in Ireland. Ed has extensive knowledge of international racing and has been to every Hong Kong International Race since 2001. | |
Overseas Expert Column for Dubai Super Saturday (Ed Marnane)
S1-3 Al Bastakiya
MickdaAm has solid claims of providing Mike de Kock with back-to-back wins twelve months after Reem took the prize. The son of Dubawi, from a plum draw in stall one, will relish the step up to 1900m after finding the 1600m of the UAE 2000 Guineas on the sharp side, where he only found Kinglet a neck too strong, having encountered slight trouble in running. The unexposed MickdAam, who is open to plenty of improvement, is taken to reverse placings with Kinglet.
Kinglet, one of two runners flying the flag for Godolphin, has blossomed since being switched to the synthetic track, winning two of his three starts. The three-year-old, to be ridden by the outstanding French jockey Mickael Barzalona, isn’t expected to be inconvenienced by the step-up in distance and from a yard firing on all cylinders sets a decent standard.
Frankie Dettori, successful aboard MENDIP in the 2010 edition, rides Counterglow, a recent winner of a minor event on turf on his seasonal reappearance. Trained by Mahmoud Al Zarooni for Godolphin, the three-year-old is unproven on tapeta and needs to improve on the form from his narrow victory in the 1400m conditions event in this company.
Spanish champion juvenile Matusalen, unbeaten in four starts last year in his homeland, made an encouraging Meydan debut in the Meydan Classic, is shaping well as he needed that race. He could go well if he can handle the underfoot conditions on his tapeta debut.
SELECTIONS:
1. MICKDAAM
5. KINGLET
9. MATUSALEN
7. COUNTERGLOW
S1-4 Mahab Al Shimaal
The Al Shindagha Sprint, which was run over the same course and distance, holds the key. Hitchens, narrow winner of the Group 3, renews rivalry with the runner-up Krypton Factor, and they are fancied to dominate. The latter, trained by Fawzi Nass, tried to make all the running under an astute ride from Kieren Fallon and only had the prize snatched close home. It won’t be easy to replicate those enterprising tactics from barrier 12 but he could be dangerous if he is allowed an uncontested lead.
Hitchens, third in the Group 1 July Cup last year, demonstrated he was as effective on tapeta as turf last time out. David Barron’s gelding is unexposed under these conditions and remains open to further progress.
South African import August Rush, winner of the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint in his most recent outing, is an interesting runner on his Meydan debut. The main query is his ability to handle the tapeta, whilst fitness is clearly a concern as he has been off the track for 235 days.
Addictive Dream, unbeaten in two starts since joining his current trainer, is clearly in good heart and fancied to go well if acting on the surface on his tapeta bow.
Former course winner Global City appeals over his optimum distance and he shaped with a degree of promise on his comeback in a decent event behind Ip Man, where the winner set a new track record for 1400m.
SELECTIONS:
9. HITCHES
12. KRYPTON FACTOR
5. GLOBAL CITY
4. ADDICTIVE DREAM
S1-5 Meydan Sprint
This has attracted many of the top sprinters on the planet, notably Regally Ready, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint for Steven Asmussen, who is no stranger to success in Dubai thanks to Curlin’s win in the 2008 Dubai World Cup. He possesses plenty of speed, doesn’t lack fitness and has the assistance of Frankie Dettori.
Inxile, trained by David Nicholls, Britain’s renowned trainer of sprinters, comes here in good order. He reached the frame twice since reverting to turf after needing his comeback on tapeta in January. He could be a danger if getting an easy time of things out in front and is fancied to put up a bold show.
Nocturnal Affair who is improving rapidly, confirmed his rise up the ranks when he scored over the course and distance last month, defeating Monsieur Joe and Inxile in good style. On the revised terms, the gelding will need to raise his game to confirm his form with Inxile, whilst the fourth, Prohibit has a decent pull at the weights. However, Nocturnal Affair warrants plenty of respect and has the assistance of Ryan Moore.
Trained by Robert Cowell, Prohibit went from strength to strength last year, landing the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes in a memorable season. He needed the race last time out and is expected to strip fitter.
SELECTIONS:
7. NOCTURNAL AFFAIR
9. REGALLY READY
1. INXILE
8. PROHIBIT
S1-6 Burj Nahaar
It’s hard to see past Musir, one of the equine stars at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival. Trained by Mike de Kock, Musir has yet to taste defeat in two appearances this year, producing a smart performance when scored on this surface in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1, over this distance in January.
Godolphin, who responsible for 2 of the 14 runners, are seeking back-to-back wins following MENDIP’s triumph last year. They have the leading claims with African Story, a winner on tapeta earlier in the year. Frankie Dettori’s mount caught the eye in the Firebreak Stakes, failing to obtain a clear passage and arguably with a trouble-free passage would have gone close to winning the Group 3 event.
Riding arrangements indicate Dux Scholar is the better fancied of the Herman Brown-trained pair, with Ryan Moore booked in preference to Gitano Hernando, winner of the Singapore Airlines International Cup last May. Now that the yard has struck form, Dux Scholar appeals after chasing home Do It All and Derbaas nine days ago in the Zabeel Mile, where he was unsuited by the steady pace. He’s unproven on tapeta but if he copes with the surface, he is capable of going well.
Sooraah, one of the two mares in the line-up, proved highly effective on tapeta when landing a 1600m here last month and is worth considering.
SELECTIONS:
1. MUSIR
4. AFRICAN STORY
13. SOORAAH
2. DUX SCHOLAR
S1-7 Dubai City of Gold
A race dominated by Godolphin and Mike de Kock in recent years, sweeping five of the past seven editions. SONGcraft, unbeaten in four starts, looks to have the strongest credentials of the powerful Godolphin team, the most successful owner in the history of the race with five wins. He put up an impressive performance twice this year at Meydan and should go well under the talented Silvestre de Sousa, recently appointed to Godolphin’s team of riders.
Zanzamar, trained by de Kock, carries the silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the champion local owner. The South African-bred colt bounced back to form when winning a 2000m handicap on turf in good style after a poor run on tapeta after a long spell on the sidelines. He’s unexposed under these conditions and merits plenty of respect.
Shimraan, fourth behind Zanzamar, is weighted to get closer to the de Kock horse on these terms and gives Frankie Dettori, the jockey in the event with most wins, strong claims of securing a seventh victory.
The seasoned performer Campanologist, winner of the 2010 edition and a Group 1 winner four times, returns to action nearly three months after a creditable fifth behind Dunaden in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase. He has a history of going well fresh and is capable of going well under Kieren Fallon.
SELECTIONS:
12. SONGCRAFT
9. ZANZAMAR
10. SHIMRAAN
2. CAMPANOLOGIST
S1-8 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3
This should provide plenty of clues for the forthcoming Dubai World Cup. Godolphin has a strong hand, providing four of the 14 winners. The most interesting of the trio is Monterosso, has not been seen since posting a career-high effort by finishing third in last year’s Dubai World Cup, under Mickael Barzalona. His fitness has to be taken on trust but his trainer Mahmoud Al Zarooni is well capable of getting his horses fit on the back of a lengthy break.
Mendip, winner of the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 last month, sets a decent standard given these are his optimum conditions. He impressed on that occasion, running out a ready winner.
Mike de Kock, who sent out Asiatic Boy to win the 2009 edition, relies on Bold Silvano and Irish Flame. The former disappointed on his belated comeback but a reproduction of his brilliant win here last year puts him right in the mix. It’s too soon to write him off on one poor run.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase third Silver Pond, now with former local champion trainer Doug Watson, warrants respect if he can translate that form to tapeta on his Meydan debut.
Green Destiny, a high-profile purchase out of the yard of William Haggas to join Herman Brown, was highly progressive last year and if he can continue that progress he could emerge a big danger providing he acts on the surface. It’s worrying that he ran poorly on Kempton’s polytrack, a surface similar to tapeta, on his sole outing on a synthetic surface.
SELECTIONS:
1. MONTEROSSO
2. BOLD SILVANO
12. SILVER POND
10. GREEN DESTINY
S1-9 Jebel Hatta
Mike de Kock’s Mutahadee has thrived since joining the South African handler and can advance his Dubai Duty Free claims by notching his third successive win at Meydan. The four-year-old arrives here on the back of two smooth wins, the latest, over this course and distance, when slamming his 11 rivals under Christophe Soumillon, who maintains the partnership.
Last year’s winner Wigmore Hall is clearly an obvious threat. Trained by Michael Bell in Newmarket, the five-year-old has enjoyed plenty of success on his international forays and if he primes on the back of a layoff he is likely to go well.
Dubawi Gold, has not been seen since running a close fourth in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile from a poor gate, has sound prospects for reigning British champion trainer Richard Hannon. The lack of a recent run isn’t a negative as the four-year-old has won first-up at both two and three.
Presvis goes on a retrieval mission after a tame effort on his seasonal return here last month, well behind the runaway Musir in the Al Rashidiya. He wasn’t suited by the steady pace and can’t be discounted if the pace is strong.
The unexposed 115-rated Albaasil, trained by Doug Watson, looks the pick of the home team, having shaped as there was plenty to come in two appearances since transferring to the Middle East.
SELECTIONS:
9. MUTAHADEE
4. ALBAASIL
11. DUBAWI GOLD
8. WIGMORE HAL
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