Dubai Thursday 28 January

My thoughts on the runners:

Jodi hasn't shown anything in 3 runs, including a run for de Kock at Jebel Ali.

Raihana could be useful though. She beat Adorable comfortably to win her maiden second time out, and Adorable has gone on to win her next two starts (an easy maiden win and then a novice ahead of Valley Of Rubies who in turn won her next start). The horse that beat Raihana on debut, Val De Ra, also won her only following run, beating My Kazzie. The form looks good to say the least. Still, it's 6 months since Raihana ran, so who knows how ready she will be.

The highest rated runner in the race is Absolute Music, a Gr3 winner in Europe (France?) in October.

---

King Of Rome has been showing nothing recently on either dirt or turf, from 2400 down to 1200 metres. His rating has dropped from 113 to his current 102 though, so maybe he's getting to a level where he can win again. Seven runs back he ran a 1 length 3rd to Front House in a Gr2 in Dubai over 2400.

Jaroslaw ran 4th on his UK debut after a year off the track, and then won by a neck next time out. It'll be interesting to see how he handles the distance here, but he's in form and has some class, considering his Gr2 second to Mentor, for example.

Lizard's Desire last ran in June when a 2 length second to Dan de Lago in a Gr2. He previously won a Gr3 by 5 lengths. Both runs were over 2400 metres, but the shorter trip should be no problem as he won back to back handicaps over 1400 metres last year, beating Fabiani in one of them.

Bennie Blue hasn't shown much lately, though his recent starts have been on the short side. His last top 3 finish was two years ago, 9 runs back in similar conditions when 2nd by 3.50 lengths.

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Frosty Secret hasn't done badly since joining de Kock in Dubai. From 9 starts, he's had 1 win (1200m handicap), 4 seconds (including a listed race last time out though 10 months ago), and 1 third (well beaten over a mile in a Gr3). He must have a chance in this handicap if fit.

There are a couple of good sorts running though like Aichi (5 wins, 5 seconds from 12 starts) and Good Control (9 wins from 12 starts), both Aus bred.

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Art Of War's last run in Dubai was disappointing but he's been a useful high level handicapper over there with 1 win, 2 seconds and 1 third from 7 starts. The distance is ideal.

Some have already discussed the pacemaker, Red Rock Canyon, on the forum. He's had 27 starts for only the 1 win, but would anyone put it past de Kock to get him back into the winners box sometime soon?

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Hunting Tower ran that great debut in Dubai in a handicap last year over a distance I'm sure most would have though too short. He followed up with a poor run, then a well beaten Gr2 2nd to Gladiatorus, then a poor Gr3 sprint. Which Hunting Tower will turn up is anybody's guess.

On ratings, the one to beat is Gloria De Campeao. He ran 2nd in a World Cup to Well Armed, and then won a Gr1 in Singapore when beating Presvis. His last start was in August, a poor effort in the USA.

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Lucky Find was in great form at the 2008 carnival but didn't show much last year. He'll probably want more ground, but isn't out of it as the highest rated horse in a handicap.

Rocks Off has been very poor since leaving South Africa. He left after a good Gr1 win against Cerise Cherry but has had 5 poor runs in Dubai.

Warsaw has finished 4th three times in Dubai for the stable, but won the only time he went 1400 metres. He tries that again now, having had a run at Jebel Ali last week and could be one to watch.

---

An important factor will obviously be how each horse handles the new surface. I'm really looking forward to watching the carnival races.

Great Sabre

txs for your inputs, excellent

Does Kevin Shea have the pick of the rides?

If it was anything like last season Kobus,him and Murtagh shared them so maybe the same deal with Soumilon?

I believe Soumilion has been retained by MDK's big patron, Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa.

That to me means that he will be on the first choice Sheik horses and KB will pick up the other rides.

You're welcome, Dave.

Looking at the bookings, it doesn't look like Shea has the pick of rides.

Sabre Wrote:

---

> My thoughts on the runners:
>
> Jodi hasn't shown anything in 3 runs, including a
> run for de Kock at Jebel Ali.
>
> Raihana could be useful though. She beat Adorable
> comfortably to win her maiden second time out, and
> Adorable has gone on to win her next two starts
> (an easy maiden win and then a novice ahead of
> Valley Of Rubies who in turn won her next start).
> The horse that beat Raihana on debut, Val De Ra,
> also won her only following run, beating My
> Kazzie. The form looks good to say the least.
> Still, it's 6 months since Raihana ran, so who
> knows how ready she will be.
>
> The highest rated runner in the race is Absolute
> Music, a Gr3 winner in Europe (France?) in
> October.
>

---

> King Of Rome has been showing nothing recently on
> either dirt or turf, from 2400 down to 1200
> metres. His rating has dropped from 113 to his
> current 102 though, so maybe he's getting to a
> level where he can win again. Seven runs back he
> ran a 1 length 3rd to Front House in a Gr2 in
> Dubai over 2400.
>
> Jaroslaw ran 4th on his UK debut after a year off
> the track, and then won by a neck next time out.
> It'll be interesting to see how he handles the
> distance here, but he's in form and has some
> class, considering his Gr2 second to Mentor, for
> example.
>
> Lizard's Desire last ran in June when a 2 length
> second to Dan de Lago in a Gr2. He previously won
> a Gr3 by 5 lengths. Both runs were over 2400
> metres, but the shorter trip should be no problem
> as he won back to back handicaps over 1400 metres
> last year, beating Fabiani in one of them.
>
> Bennie Blue hasn't shown much lately, though his
> recent starts have been on the short side. His
> last top 3 finish was two years ago, 9 runs back
> in similar conditions when 2nd by 3.50 lengths.
>

---

> ----
> Frosty Secret hasn't done badly since joining de
> Kock in Dubai. From 9 starts, he's had 1 win
> (1200m handicap), 4 seconds (including a listed
> race last time out though 10 months ago), and 1
> third (well beaten over a mile in a Gr3). He must
> have a chance in this handicap if fit.
>
> There are a couple of good sorts running though
> like Aichi (5 wins, 5 seconds from 12 starts) and
> Good Control (9 wins from 12 starts), both Aus
> bred.
>

---

> ----
> Art Of War's last run in Dubai was disappointing
> but he's been a useful high level handicapper over
> there with 1 win, 2 seconds and 1 third from 7
> starts. The distance is ideal.
>
> Some have already discussed the pacemaker, Red
> Rock Canyon, on the forum. He's had 27 starts for
> only the 1 win, but would anyone put it past de
> Kock to get him back into the winners box sometime
> soon?
>

---

>
> Hunting Tower ran that great debut in Dubai in a
> handicap last year over a distance I'm sure most
> would have though too short. He followed up with a
> poor run, then a well beaten Gr2 2nd to
> Gladiatorus, then a poor Gr3 sprint. Which Hunting
> Tower will turn up is anybody's guess.
>
> On ratings, the one to beat is Gloria De Campeao.
> He ran 2nd in a World Cup to Well Armed, and then
> won a Gr1 in Singapore when beating Presvis. His
> last start was in August, a poor effort in the
> USA.
>

---

> Lucky Find was in great form at the 2008 carnival
> but didn't show much last year. He'll probably
> want more ground, but isn't out of it as the
> highest rated horse in a handicap.
>
> Rocks Off has been very poor since leaving South
> Africa. He left after a good Gr1 win against
> Cerise Cherry but has had 5 poor runs in Dubai.
>
> Warsaw has finished 4th three times in Dubai for
> the stable, but won the only time he went 1400
> metres. He tries that again now, having had a run
> at Jebel Ali last week and could be one to watch.
>

---

>
> An important factor will obviously be how each
> horse handles the new surface. I'm really looking
> forward to watching the carnival races.


Ps great post

I was informed that Lizard's Desire beaten Hunting Tower and a string of other horses on the Barrier Trails that was held a week ago.

Thanks Kobus and all the best to you

David Simcock hopes for more from Ahla Wasahl


DAVID SIMCOCK believes the Dubai International Racing Carnival that begins at Meydan on Thursday will provide the ideal platform for Ahla Wasahl to enhance her profile.

The daughter of Dubai Destination ended last season with a victory in Listed company at Ascot before finishing second in another Listed contest on the all-weather at Lingfield.

The SultanAli-owned four-year-old also finished third in the 2008 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cherry Hinton Stakes and quoted on his website, Simcock said: "There are very few olderfillies running out there, so it might be that there is a window of opportunity for her.

"After shipping to Dubai earlier this month, she took a little while to settle in - just with ‘grubbing up'. But she has got into a routine now and we are very happy with her.


"We are hoping to run her in the CapeVerdi (a Group 3 on February 5) and the Balanchine (Group 3 on February 25)."

Simcock, who has sent a team of five horses to Dubai, also feels he has a dark horse for the UAE 2,000 Guineas on February 18 in the shape of Listed placed Dubai Miracle.

"I consider Dubai Miracle to be a little bit of a dark horse," Simcock said on his website. "He was training very well before he left for Dubai and he will enjoy the all-weather surface.

"Being realistic, I wouldn't necessarily say that he would be very competitive in a Group 3 over here, but he has everything to suit in Dubai and he will go straight to the UAE Guineas."

Godolphin chases 1,000 Guineas Trial hat-trick

Preview: UAE, Thursday 2.44pm GMT (live on ATR/RUK)

Meydan: UAE 1,000 Guineas Trial 7f, AW, 3yo fillies

AFTER victories with Fiesta Lady and Sos Brillante, Godolphin are looking for their third straight victory in the UAE 1,000 Guineas Trial, the opening thoroughbred race on the new Tapeta surface.

Saeed Bin Suroor reports Dawnbreak, the mount of Frankie Dettori, in good order but she will face a stiff task with Mike De Kock saddling the highly regarded Raihana.

Britain is represented by Absolute Music (Robert Cowell) and Silver Grey (Roger Ingram), while Talenta wasa Group 1 winner in Brazil and the Saudi Arabian duo Waasemah and Munterah are both unbeaten after two starts.

What they say. . .

Antonio Cintra, trainer of Talenta

"She is a useful filly who has won her last four, all on grass, but seems to handle the track."

Mike de Kock, trainer of Raihana

"She won her maiden well and we decided to bring her here. She was not far behind the best juvenile filly at home and she has been training well."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Dawnbreak

"She is a Polytrack winner in the UK and she should appreciate the Tapeta surface. She is ready for an outing but should improve from it."

Robert Cowell, trainer of Absolute Music

"We bought her as a yearling and she did well last season. She has pleased us since arriving and we expect a good run. The surface should be fine."

Doug Watson, trainer of Diamond Laura and Sensational Day

"Diamond Laura is tough and won four in the UK but this is a tough race. Sensational Day will improve withracing but will be a nice filly one day.

Meydan stand straight out of Star Wars - Dettori

FRANKIE DETTORI believes the new Meydan complex in Dubai can compare to any of the world's grandest stadiums and has compared the stand to a "spaceship from Star Wars".

Dettori took part in the trials night at the course last Tuesday, after which he declared himself "gobsmacked" and could hardly contain his excitement before the first meeting at the course on Thursday.

"Before it was just a shell but as you drive to the track it's like Old Trafford, the Emirates and Wembley all rolled into one," said Dettori.

"The sheer size of it is absolutely jaw dropping. The paddock is situated in front of the grandstand and I walked from one side towards the weighing room at night and when they turned the lights on it looked like a spaceship from Star Wars! It is so surreal - it is so big it doesn't seem real."


Speaking on At The Races, he added: "The Tapeta surface is very close to Polytrack, kickback is minimal.

"Obviously it is a brand new track. We've had it at Godolphin for three years and it takes a bit of tweaking but it is fine and every horse goes on it.

"In the trials last week we found it was a touch on the slow side but you can roll it to make it a little bit quicker, but more or less it is no different to Kempton or Wolverhampton.

"The basics are more or less the same. You can have more wax or less wax or more rubber or less rubber but they are pretty similar.

"Like everything it will take time to settle, but it is 95 per cent there - you are talking about small fractions to tweak it to its very best."

shall we have any winners today?
Places will do.
Anywhere.
At home for today.
Thanks.
Regards.