Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in overseas international racing. Bringing with him a wealth of racing knowledge, Simon is the host and race caller for the overseas simulcast programme since 2008/09 season. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Racing Horizon’ and ‘Horse Racing – Results’.

Meydan Racecourse – Track Analysis (Dubai Super Saturday):

The lavish, state-of-the-art Meydan Racecourse features two left-handed tracks of almost immaculate precision: a standard inner dirt oval that measures 25m in width all round with a 400m homestretch, enveloped by a 30m wide turf track that reaches 450m from the top of the lane to the finish, with furthermore a 1200m turf chute running back to the course proper for sprinting contests. Smooth and hardly undulating, both tracks still present tight turns winging both sides of the course, particularly the inner dirt oval, where the slightly banked turns often make it complicated for big movers from out wide. Meanwhile, getting fiercely sun-baked right on the desert fringe, both the dirt and turf courses at Meydan – even facilitated with one of the best watering systems in the world – are listed as fast and firm almost year round, and is a remarkable feature that often gets deep closers in deep trouble, especially in middle-distance or routing contests.

For the night’s contests on the turf course, the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint will utilize the full straight course stretching from the 1200m chute back to the course proper – one that generally favours middle or outside speed. Whereas in the 1800m Jebel Hatta, runners will likewise navigate an extended backstretch before reaching the far turn; together with a more sedate early pace in middle-distance or routing contests, horses breaking from out wide still have plenty of time to land a nice spot. Rather, to save ground heading into the first turn after a brief run-up in the 2410m Dubai City Of Gold, outside-drawn runners will invariably tuck further back than they would otherwise in general.

Back onto the dirt oval, fields for both the 1900m Al Bastakiya and the 2000m Al Maktoum Challenge R3, likewise to the Dubai City Of Gold counterparts on turf, will race for the first turn after a brief stampede, and outside-drawn runners need to be held back – often way further than what their usual running styles indicate – again to save ground. By contrast, the 1200m Mahab Al Shimaal and the 1600m Burj Nahaar are both “one-turn” races only; with such a long backstretch to travel, a bad post from far outside is still manageable.

For the two G1 prizes contested in the 2018 edition of Dubai Super Saturday, BLAIR HOUSE, who mapped a rail-skimming trip from way back, and BENBATL, who was floated wide the whole trip, bagged a one-two finish for Godolphin Racing in the 1800m Jebel Hatta, with JANOOBI, saving ground inside, checking in third. Then in the 2000m Al Maktoum Challenge R3, NORTH AMERICA, soon showing the way after breaking sharply, never relinquished his lead, and cleared the field some 500m out to score beautifully, while THUNDER SNOW, though tracking the leader the whole way, could not quite close that gap, and ran on the same pace for second, while FURIA CRUZADA, likewise hounding the early speed while hugging the rail in midfield, despite a promising stretch run, could only settle for third.

With sunny skies and minimal chance of precipitation through Saturday, according to the local forecasts, “fast and firm” will again be the track listing comes race night at Meydan, thus the majority of race selections would still gravitate towards speed horses that are forwardly placed.  

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