Thursday @ Meydan - SAf interest

Mendip and Presvis look like the bankers tonite...

Cumani hopeful Presvis can retain Jebel Hatta

Preview: UAE, Thursday 6.45pm GMT (live on ATR, RUK and Sky)

Meydan: Jebel Hatta (Group 2) 1m1f, turf, 3yo+

PRESVIS bids for his second win in the Group 2 Jebel Hatta, the prep for the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free in which he was runner-up at Nad Al Sheba in 2009.

The Luca Cumani-trained seven-year-old, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, was an impressive course-and-distance winner on his return to action in the Group 2 Al Rashidiya. He comfortably held Steele Tango, who also lines up.

Wigmore Hall, trained by Michael Bell, makes his Dubai Carnival debut, while last year's Dubai Duty Free winner Al Shemali and Godolphin's Group 1 scorer Poet's Voice give the race a strong look.

Luca Cumani, trainer of Presvis
"We know conditions suit and were very pleased with his comeback win; he had been off since Royal Ascot and we expected him to need the run as he normally takes one start to get near his best. He did it well and has been in great form since. He won this last year, but it's probably a stronger renewal with some genuine Group 1 class opposition. We have to be hopeful though."

Ben Cecil, trainer of Ferneley
"The seven furlongs was too sharp last time, but he's come on from that. He's a bit to find with the best of these, though."

Jilani Siddiqui, assistant to Ali Rashid Al Raihe, trainer of Al Shemali
"We tried him on the Tapeta with the World Cup under serious consideration and he has run two good races, but probably not to the level of his turf form. That is why he is back on the turf with the idea to defend his Duty Free crown."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Shakespearean and
Poet's Voice
"Shakespearean was a Group 2 winner in last year and is a horse who likes to race handily. It's a new trip for him, but hopefully it will suit. Poet's Voice is a horse we have always liked and won a Group 1 last year. He is in good form at home, but is entitled to come on from this first run back in a very competitive race.

Christophe Lemaire, rider of Le Drakkar
"He has run very well the last twice, but has ground to make up on a few of these. I would have to be hopeful rather than confident.

Ibrahim Al Malki, trainer of Hearts Of Fire
"We were very pleased with his first run and hopefully this trip will suit as he was running on strongly. It is a good race but he is in good form and will run well."


Michael Bell, trainer of Wigmore Hall
"He seems to have settled in well and taken the journey [from Britain] in his stride. He only arrivedat the end of last week and we decided to run here and not the Maktoum Challenge. This is his first prep race for much bigger things down the line - World Cup night, Hong Kong and Singapore - so he should improve for the outing, but does seem in excellent form."

Olivier Peslier, rider of Lancelot
"He ran well for a long way last time, but was probably not helped by a slow gallop so hopefully there will be plenty of pace. It's a better race but he is fit and well and the trip suits."

Roger Teal, trainer of Steele Tango
"This horse is a superstar and has been an amazing servant to the yard. His win in Dubai [in January] was a dream come true and then to chase home Presvis last time was probably a career best. He remains in great heart and has thrived in Dubai. It is a tough contest, but he should run his normal sound race."

Bin Suroor expects 'big run' from Mendip

Preview: UAE, Thursday 4.55pm GMT (live on ATR, RUK and Sky)

Meydan: Burj Nahaar (Group 3) 1m, AW, 3yo+

Mike de Kock, trainer of Our Giant
"He's a solid performer and we think this is his trip nowadays and are keen to aim him at the Godolphin Mile [on World Cup night]."

Nick Halford, trainer of Banna Boirche
"He has improved with each run and the step up to a mile will not do any harm as he was running on strongly last time. Johnny [Murtagh] knows him well and hopefully he'll be competitive."

Doug Watson, trainer of Prince Shaun and
Famous Warrior
"Prince Shaun has been undone by the draw on a few occasions this season, but is well berthed [stall three] this time. He seems in the kind of form he was this time last year when he was running really well. If he stays, he can hopefully show a lot more. Famous Warrior really pleased us when winning last time and I imagine we will race him on the pace again. He is going to improve as he gets older and this is the next step up."

Olivier Peslier, rider of As De Trebol
"It was a pleasing run last time and hopefully he has improved for the outing. He will have needed to, though as this is a stronger race."


Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Sangaree and Mendip
"Sangaree was a very good second last time and deserves this step up in class, whereas Mendip won the Maktoum Challenge over course and distance and is in really good form. The mile seems to be his optimum as he shows plenty of speed and we expect a very big run from him. Hopefully he can win."

Niels Petersen, trainer of Cat Junior
"He will have needed his first run so hopefully he can build on that. He won this last year so we know conditions are fine."

Wayne Smith, rider of Zafeen Speed
"He has not stopped improving all season. He has won his last three and won the last two very well. His rating has shot up and this is a big rise in class, but he deserves his chance. However he gets on, he should be a serious horse next year."

Ben Cecil, trainer of Crowded House
"We had plenty of options but went for this as the last time he ran over a mile he was fourth in a Grade 1. His best form is at the trip, he handles the surface and can hopefully go close."

Richard Hills, rider of Snaafy
"This is his trip and he's in great form, but we would be more confident if the race was on dirt as it was when he won it in 2009. The outside draw [stall 12] is not too bad for the way he likes to race so we have to be hopeful of a good run in a good race."

gregbucks Wrote:

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> Mendip and Presvis look like the bankers tonite...

Morning Greg agree Presvis around 2/1!
Plus Bankable, Reem and Twice Over for a good nights racing.

watch irish flame.... with the irish whipping the poms yesterday hehehe

Irish Flame may be better 2400m + and needs the mud...

gregbucks Wrote:

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> Irish Flame may be better 2400m + and needs the
> mud...


GB.. does it rain in (:Ddubai hehehe

wonbyamile, not often but F me when it does, it does

only the Sheik reigns in Dubai

Bwahahaha....

Twice Over slams rivals in Dubai World Cup trial

Report: UAE, Thursday

Meydan: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (Group 2) 1m2f, AW, 3yo+

DUAL Champion Stakes winner Twice Over (Henry Cecil/Tom Queally) put himself in pole position for the Dubai World Cup with a sparkling victory in the final round of the Maktoum Challenge.

The $300,000 event offered a full-scale dress rehearsal for the world's richest race, in which Twice Over finished only tenth last term.


And so it proved as the popular Henry Cecil-trained six-year-old, sent off a 7-2 chance with British bookmakers, overpowered Mike de Kock's UAE Derby winner Musirinside the final furlong.

After such an impressive seasonal debut, Khalid Abdullah's son of Observatory has jumped in front of De Kock's Bold Silvano to become World Cup favourite with many bookmakers.

Cecil was not present but Abdullah's racing manager Lord Grimthorpe said: "We have taken a different approach this year and brought him out a lot earlier. Clearly he has thrived and that was a very pleasing win as we are sure there is more to come.

"Tom has stolen the initiative early in the straight and stamina was never going to be an issue."

Queally added: "I was quite wide turning for home so was happy to go for home with a few others perhaps trapped inside. It worked well and he ran on strongly. He will have needed that so we have to be excited about the World Cup."

Fellow World Cup contender Gitano Hernando stayed on well to be just touched off for second place after racing wide throughout under Johnny Murtagh.

Also on Thursday

Meydan: Jebel Hatta (Group 2) 1m1f, turf, 4yo+

WIGMORE HALL (Michael Bell) came witha destructive late charge under Jamie Spencer to pip Poet's Voice and Presvis in an exciting finish to the Jebel Hatta.

Dropped out by Spencer in the early stages, Wigmore Hall had only Presvis behind him as Shakespearean reluctantly made the pace.

As the leaders where bustled along entering the straight, the two hold up horses at the back of the field continued to travel smartly.

Spencer and Ryan Moore on Presvis began their challenge at the same time with Presvis driving into the pack and weaving through while 12-1 chance Wigmore Hall steered a wider course down the middle of the track.

Poet's Voice was also making his bid for glory under Frankie Dettori, who dropped his whip as he started to get busy on the four-year-old, and all three horses where spread across the track as the line approached.

But it was Wigmore Hall, who had finished behind impressive Al Makotum Challenge Round 3 winner Twice Over on his last start in theChampion Stakes, that got his nose in front as Poet's Voice and Presvis flattened out towards the line.

Welcoming his first winner in Dubai with his first runner, Bell said: "We thought he would definitely need that run so we have to be very pleased. The horse has been here less than a week but settled in quickly.

"Obviously the Duty Free is the target before trips to Hong Kong and Singapore."

Spencer, due to ride in Barbados at the weekend, added: "He ran on very bravely when I asked him and really battled when the challenge came late on."

Luca Cumani, having seen Presvis just denied, was the first to congratulate Bell and said: "Presvis has run another great race and been beaten in a very close finish. The Duty Free remains the target."

Snow Fairy misses the WC for the Sheema Classic