 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 World Cup Day (Ed Marnane)
S1-1 UAE Derby
Godolphin, the most successful owner in the history of the race with seven wins, fields a strong team, headed by the unbeaten lightly raced SECRET NUMBER. He impressed when landing the Al Bastakiya, the traditional prep, on his seasonal return, showing a sharp turn of foot to get the better of ZAHEE on his Tapeta debut. He should have benefited from the experience, has more to offer and sets a decent standard.
Now Spun caught the eye on his seasonal debut, running out a convincing winner of the Meydan Classic, a Listed event on turf. If he can translate that form onto Tapeta he is fancied to go well from a favourable draw for Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.
DICE FLAVOR, the pick of the American challengers, has to be feared as he’s proven under these conditions and is nicely drawn in stall five.
Aidan O’Brien, chasing back-to-back wins after DADDY LONG LEGS scored in 2012, relies on LINES OF BATTLE. He boasted victory on the polytrack in Ireland and merits consideration despite lack of a recent run.
The British raider LAW ENFORCEMENT, the sole Group 1 winner in the field, warrants respect, particularly after securing a plum draw in stall one. The son of Lawman won the G.P. Gran Criterium in Italy, extending his winning streak to four.
SELECTIONS: 7. SECRET NUMBER, 5. DICE FLAVOR, 2. ELLEVAL & 11. SNOWBOARDER
S1-2 Al Quoz Sprint
It’s hard to oppose Mike de Kock’s SHEA SHEA, a Group 1 winner in South Africa, after his demolition job in the recent Meydan Sprint, over the same course and distance, under Christophe Soumillon. He could be named a winner a long way from home and ran out a comfortable winner, stopping the clock in a sizzling 57.02sec, smashing the old record.
SOLE POWER, two and half lengths behind de Kock’s charge, looks the main threat. Second to Ortensia twelve months ago, the Irish sprinter rarely runs a poor race in these big international sprints and from a decent draw (15) is fancied to put up a bold show. He was reported to have needed his comeback in the Meydan Sprint and will be sharper for the race.
EAGLE REGIMENT, a specialist over today’s distance, looks the pick of the Hong Kong challengers despite an injury scare, ahead of JOY AND FUN, the 2010 winner, who returns to Dubai looking to step on last year’s third. EAGLE REGIMENT arrives in good heart, winning the Centenary Sprint Cup, defeating the useful FREDERICK ENGELS in good style. Given the success of Hong Kong sprinters on the world stage, the five-year-old demands respect.
STARSPANGLEDBANNER, the 2010 European champion sprinter, has been out of sorts and is readily opposed.
At rewarding odds MR BIG is one to consider, the son of ELUSIVE QUALITY is useful, as shown when finishing second in the Kranji Stakes at Kranji last year.
SELECTIONS: 7. SHEA SHEA, 15. SOLE POWER, 16. MR BIG & 1. EAGLE REGIMENT
S1-3 Dubai Golden Shaheen
MENTAL created a big impression on his Tapeta debut in the Al Shindagha Sprint last month, giving weight and a comfortable beating to his 13 rivals. The four-year-old, the winner of the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington before joining Mahmood Al Zarooni, will take plenty of beating with a reproduction of that effort.
KRYPTON FACTOR, the 2012 winner, struggled in the Mahab Al Shimaal, failing to land a blow when second to REYNALDOTHEWIZARD. He has an awkward barrier (13) to overcome and makes little appeal. The winner, trained by the in-form Satish Seemar, is unlikely to be too far away, based on that performance.
Hong Kong’s hopes rest with the FREDERICK ENGELS, a progressive performer since being gelded and a winner on the all weather at Sha Tin. His claims were given a boost when landing gate one and he shouldn’t be overlooked.
GORDON LORD BYRON and TRINNIBERG, both Group 1 winners, are the pick of the rest. The latter, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, is unproven on a synthetic surface but if handling the underfoot conditions could emulate KINSALE KING, the last American winner in 2010.
GORDON LORD BYRON was a revelation last year, culminating in his victory in the Prix de la Foret. Tom Hogan’s stable star was only workmanlike on his recent return, winning a minor event at Dundalk. He’ll find this tougher and needs to raise his game to play a leading role, whilst the surface is an obvious query.
SELECTIONS: 10. MENTAL, 5. REYNALDOTHEWIZARD, 1. FREDERICK ENGELS & 3. TRINNIBERG
DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (16 unit bets):
S1-2: Multiple - 7. SHEA SHEA, 15. SOLE POWER, 16. MR BIG & 1. EAGLE REGIMENT
S1-3: Multiple – 10. MENTAL, 5. REYNALDOTHEWIZARD, 1. FREDERICK ENGELS & 3. TRINNIBERG
S1-4 Dubai Duty Free
This year’s renewal has attracted a classy international field, featuring no less than nine Grade/Group 1 winners.
Australian champion OCEAN PARK, winner of the Cox Plate last October, has something to prove now.
TRADE STORM, trained by David Simcock, has thrived in Dubai this year, winning the Zabeel Mile, a Group 2, in convincing fashion. Now racing in the silks of Qatar Racing, the five-year-old has to defy a poor draw but remains high on the shortlist.
Sajjhaa, unbeaten at Meydan this year, landed the Group 1 Jebel Hatta, getting the better of THE APACHE. The pair renews rivalry and the de Kock’s galloper, one of three runners for the South African, is fancied to gain his revenge, as he comes here a fresher horse having had a lighter campaign.
American runners have a dismal record on turf in Dubai (0 win out of 40 runners), so Breeders’ Cup Turf winner LITTLE MIKE is readily ruled out, particularly after disappointing on his Dubai debut.
Fillies have a respectable record in the race and GIOFRA, not seen since chasing home California Memory in Hong Kong, has sound claims of following in the hoof steps of Terre A Terre and Ipi Tombe. She can boast form at the highest level, after winning the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.
SELECTIONS: 10. THE APACHE, 9. GIOFRA, 14. TRADE STORM & 11. MUSHREQ
S1-5 Dubai Sheema Classic
GENTILDONNA, the 2012 Japanese Horse of the Year, has impressed workwatchers on the gallops since touching down in Dubai and can score on her first venture overseas. Winner of seven of her nine lifetime starts, GENTILDONNA has been off the track since landing the Japan Cup, getting the better of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up ORFEVRE in an exciting finish from a wide draw. She’ll take plenty of stopping and rates a confident selection.
ST NICHOLAS ABBEY, runner-up twelve months ago, is an obvious threat for his powerful yard. Off the track since November when third behind LITTLE MIKE in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, the six-year-old, a four-time Group 1 winner, is favoured by these conditions and is likely to give his running.
AWAIT THE DAWN, a former inmate of ST NICHOLAS ABBEY, represents Mike de Kock, who had his success in this race with SUN CLASSIQUE in 2008. The steady pace in the prep, the Dubai City of Gold, when third behind JAKKALBERRY, didn’t suit him. He can make his presence felt given a decent gallop, having impressed when landing a valuable handicap previously.
The globe-trotting DUNADEN, the 2011 Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase winner, is entitled to consideration, given his impressive record overseas. He should love the conditions and has a decent record first-up on the back of a break, most notably when winning the competitive Caulfield Cup last October on the back of a three month absence.
SELECTIONS: 8. GENTILDONNA, 11. AWAIT THE DAWN, 10. DUNADEN & 6. ST NICHOLAS ABBEY
S1-6 Dubai World Cup
HUNTER’S LIGHT, winner of Rounds 2 and 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge, can add to Saeed bin Suroor’s impressive tally in the race. The five-year-old son of DUBAWI, sire of last year’s winner Monterosso, will relish the conditions and comes here at the top of his game.
The Emirates trainer, who has won the event a record five times, also saddles AFRICAN STORY and KASSIANO, both suited by Tapeta. The former, winner of five of his six starts on a synthetic surface, has stamina issues, having never raced past a mile. If he can stay the 2000m, the son of PIVOTAL has to be considered, particularly at decent odds. HUNTER’S LIGHT has the measure of the progressive of KASSIANO when they clashed earlier in the month. Nonetheless, the latter is on the upgrade and could reach the frame.
ANIMAL KINGDOM, the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner, and ROYAL DELTA, twice winner of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, along with DULLAHAN spearhead the American challenge. Since the Dubai World Cup was switched to Tapeta, American-trained runners have struggled badly. Gio Ponti’s fourth in 2010 was the sole highlight. Of the trio preference is for ANIMAL KINGDOM, the Graham Motion-trained five-year-old can boast a winning form on a synthetic track and shaped with plenty of promise on his return last month.
SELECTIONS: 4. HUNTER’S LIGHT, 11. AFRICAN STORY, 12. ANIMAL KINGDOM & 13. KASSIANO
TREBLE SELECTIONS (64 unit bets):
S1-4: Multiple - 10. THE APACHE, 9. GIOFRA, 14. TRADE STORM & 11. MUSHREQ
S1-5: Multiple - 8. GENTILDONNA, 11. AWAIT THE DAWN, 10. DUNADEN & 6. ST NICHOLAS ABBEY
S1-6: Multiple – 4. HUNTER’S LIGHT, 11. AFRICAN STORY, 12. ANIMAL KINGDOM & 13. KASSIANO
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