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, ‘Banker’, ‘Racing Horizon’ and ‘Horse Racing – Results’.

Meydan Racecourse – Track Analysis (Dubai Thursday):

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 spans 450m from the top of the lane to the finish, which is further augmented with a 1200m turf chute to accommodate sprints. Smooth and hardly undulating, both tracks still present tight turns winging both ends of the course, particularly the inner dirt oval, where its slightly banked turns are often a challenge for big movers from out wide. Except for the 1200m, 1800m and 1900m trips on dirt, where a short stampede to the first turn makes outside-drawn runners to work further, both courses, in general, do not particularly favours front-runners or deep closers.

Meanwhile, getting fiercely sun-baked right on the edge of the desert, both the dirt and turf courses at Meydan – even installed with the watering systems in the world – are 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 card on the turf course, the 1600m trip for both the Zabeel Mile and the 95-105 Handicap, and the 2000m Dubai Millennium Stakes, will all utilize the full backstretch before these fields take the only turn. Together with more sedate early pace in deep routes, runners breaking from out wide still have plenty of time to position properly; whereas the 1000m Meydan Sprint on the turf chute, would see the middle or outside stalls getting a slight edge. To the inner dirt oval, the 1900m UAE Oaks only have a short run-up to the first turn, and those drawing high numbers are practically losing ground right from the start; in contrast, for the 1400m 90-105 Handicap which will break on the backstretch, outside-drawn runners can still manage a decent trip and be as competitive, so long as they possess good tactical speed to take the first jump on the field, scramble for the early lead, or stalk just behind the pacesetters.

Reviewing the recent night meeting at Meydan on 13th February, when it was fast on dirt and good on turf, front-runners or speed horses sent early were running the show on both strips. And as sunny weather would extend right through this Thursday yet again, “fast and firm” will most probably be the order of the day at Meydan. Therefore, pacesetters and speed horses up front are still expected to dominate the competition.

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