Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in pedigree and overseas international racing. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Horse Racing – Results’, ‘Simulcast Preview'’ and Simulcast oversea races.

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 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. As notable, if not more, is the fact that getting fiercely sun-baked right on the edge of the desert, both the dirt and turf courses at Meydan – even installed with one of the best watering systems in the world – are fast and firm almost year-round, and is a remarkable feature that often throws deep closers in deep trouble.

On this night’s card, the 1200m Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint on the turf chute, would see the middle or outside stalls getting a slight edge, whereas the 1800m Jebel Hatta will utilize the full backstretch before runners take the only turn. Together with more sedate early pace in deep routes, horses breaking from out wide still have plenty of time to position properly. However, in the 2410m Dubai City of Gold, with a short run to the clubhouse turn, outside-drawn runners may need to be rated further back than they usually would, in order to save ground.

On to the inner dirt oval, fields for the 1900m Al Bastakiya and the 2000m Al Maktoum Challenge R3, have a short run-up to the first turn likewise to their counterparts in Dubai City Of Gold on turf, and those drawing high numbers need to be taken back – often way further than what their usual running styles suggest – again to save ground. In contrast, both the 1200m Mahab Al Shimaal, and the 1600m Burj Nahaar, are only ‘one-turn’ contests, using part of, or even the entire backstretch, thus outside-drawn runners can still manage a decent trip.

For the pair of G1 contests on this same night last year, the Jebel Hatta was strictly a Godolphin affair, where BARNEY ROY trained by Charlie Appleby inhaled the entire field from way back and out wide to reign supreme, with mid-pack specialist MAGIC LILY, SPOTIFY and DREAM CASTLE in tow to round out a top-four finish for the Boys in Blue. Then, in the Al Maktoum Challenge R3, the incandescent MATTERHORN, flaunting his radioactive speed all the way around the dirt oval, made every stride a winning one, while MILITARY LAW and MARK OF APPROVAL, both closing from far back, were simply out-paced with no chance down the stretch, and could only settle for second and third respectively.

As sunny weather is extending right through this Saturday yet again, ‘fast and firm’ will most probably be the order of the day at Meydan. Therefore, pacesetters and speed horses up front, be it turf or dirt, are still expected to dominate the competition.

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