Snow Forecast For Super Saturday

[Wandering Eyes]

It’s Super Saturday at Meydan, and the Dubai course hosts seven events where aspirants to the Dubai World Cup card on Mar. 30 will have their hopes either vindicated or dashed.

The headliner is the $600,000 GI Al Maktoum Challenge R3 over 2000 metres on the dirt-an exhibition for the $12-million GI Dubai World Cup in three weeks’ time. Globetrotting Group 1 winner Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) finished second in this last year before going on to win the World Cup by 5 3/4 lengths. He makes his seasonal return here off a third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 3, and an encouraging performance would have to leave connections hopeful ahead of a World Cup title defense. Thunder Snow failed to win in three starts last year after the World Cup, but he was also second by just a neck in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup.

“He had a busy 2018, so we have given him a nice break,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor said. “He did a very nice final serious piece of work last Saturday and we also took him over to Meydan for a gallop, which went very well. Obviously the Dubai World Cup is the main target, with this the obvious stepping stone. We expect him to run well, but he will definitely improve for the outing.”

Also putting in an inspiring performance at Belmont Park last year was Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}), who ran Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) to 1 3/4 lengths in his crowning moment. The then 3-year-old failed to replicate that effort in both the GI Travers S. and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and he was last seen finishing third of four in the GIII Discovery S. at Aqueduct on Nov. 24. Gronkowski transfers from the Chad Brown barn to local trainer Salem bin Ghadayer for his Dubai debut.

Charlie Appleby pitches last-out 1800 metre turf handicap winner Nordic Lights (GB) (Intello {Ger}) onto the dirt for the first time, and he said, “He works on dirt at home where the surface is quite deep, and I think the one at Meydan will suit him better. The Jebel Hatta was the alternative, but we are well represented in that and we think, given his style of racing, good gate speed and natural speed, he may take to the dirt. Thunder Snow is obviously going to be hard to beat, but the rest are pretty evenly matched, so it looked worth a go.”

The South Korean-trained Dolkong (Afleet Alex) turned heads at last week’s carnival-closing card, taking a handicap over this course and distance by an eased-down 9 1/2 lengths, and the progressive 5-year-old takes a big class jump to tackle Group 1 company for the first time.

G1 Jebel Hatta S.

The second of two Group 1s on the card is the G1 Jebel Hatta, which is contested over the same 1800 metres on the turf as the $6-million G1 Dubai Turf in three weeks’ time. Godolphin’s progressive Dream Castle (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the lone last-out winner in the lineup, he having won the G2 Al Rashidiya over this track and trip on Jan. 24. Saeed bin Suroor’s 5-year-old was gelded after a fruitless carnival last year and looks a different animal this year, having gone two-for-two at the carnival.

Charlie Appleby saddles defending Jebel Hatta winner Blair House (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). After defeating Saeed bin Suroor’s Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in this last year, Blair House was well beaten by that rival in the Dubai Turf, but the margin was much closer again when they next met in Australia’s G1 Caulfield S. in October, with Benbatl prevailing by just a short head. Blair House will have to progress from a fourth behind Dream Castle in the Al Rashidiya last time.

“Blair House won this last year when everything fell into place for him,” Appleby said. “If the gaps open again he should run well and we were pleased with his comeback.”

Of his other three runners, Appleby added, “First Contact (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Wootton (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) both pleased us in the Zabeel Mile and with a clear run, we feel the latter would have finished a fair bit closer. The Dubai Turf has always been Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire})’s target, so this was the obvious race for his comeback.”

Simon Crisford sends out another globetrotter in Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who won Epsom’s G3 Diomed S. last term and was close up in races like the G1 Queen Anne S., GI Arlington Million and G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. Century Dream warmed up with a second in the G2 Zabeel Mile on Feb. 21.

G3 Mahab Al Shimaal

The G3 Mahab Al Shimaal, the card’s opener, sees aspirants to the 1200 metre G1 Golden Shaheen take a turn around the track. Doug Watson’s Drafted (Field Commission) merits attention off a course and distance win in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint on Jan. 31, where he bested Tato Key (Arg) (Key Deputy), an Argentinean Group 2 winner who ran with credit on his local debut. Satish Seemar’s Lavaspin (GB) (Hard Spun) is three-for-three over this track and trip this season, and the 5-year-old gelding backed up a pair of non-carnival wins with a 2 1/4-length score over the re-opposing Switzerland (Speightstown) on Valentine’s Day. I Kirk (Swe) (Eishin Dunkirk) is a progressive raider from Sweden. A Group 3 winner in his native land in July, he showed no signs of rust when defying a six-month layoff to win at handicap level on local debut on Jan. 17.

Listed Al Bastakiya S.

The Listed Al Bastakiya S. for 3-year-olds over 1900 metres on the dirt has shaped up as a battle of the sexes between Saeed bin Suroor’s G3 2000 Guineas winner Estihdaaf (Arch) and Charlie Appleby’s G3 UAE Oaks winner Divine Image (Scat Daddy). The latter has certainly fared better in the draw; she will exit gate three, with Estihdaaf out in 13. After breaking his maiden at third asking at Leicester in October and posting a pair of ordinary efforts at Meydan in January-one on the dirt and one on the turf-Estihdaaf looked a completely different animal on Feb. 7, waltzing to a 5 1/2-length victory in the Guineas when dropped back to a mile.

Divine Image has had a more consistent body of work-with two wins and a second from three outs-but nothing quite so flashy. She does, however, have the benefit of the draw and a three-kilo weight break. Ali Rashid Al Rayhi’s Manguzi (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) had bested Estidhaaf in the Al Bastakiya trial the time prior, so he must get some credit for that, and back in fourth that day was Kenny McPeek’s Argentinean import and Group 1 winner Grecko (Arg) (Not For Sale {Arg}), who is entitled to improve second time off the layoff.

G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint

The G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint serves as a prep for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint over 1200 metres on the turf, and it looks very tough to oppose Godolphin’s G1 King’s Stand S. winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal). Charlie Appleby’s 5-year-old made a smooth return to action in the G2 Meydan Sprint over a furlong shorter than this on Feb. 14, besting the re-opposing Faatinah (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) by five easy lengths. While it could be argued that Blue Point is better over the minimum trip, he does have three group wins over six, so the step back up in trip shouldn’t be a massive hindrance.

Hugo Palmer sends out Gifted Master (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose win in the Stewards Cup H. at Glorious Goodwood last summer saw him earn a Racing Post Rating of 120. The 6-year-old gelding may have a bit of dust to shake off, having been on the shelf since finishing fifth in Lingfield’s Listed Golden Rose S. in November. Hit The Bid (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) won the G3 Mercury S. at Dundalk in October and was second in a pair of five furlong turf handicaps at the carnival. Interestingly, he has been tried beyond five furlongs just three times in a 21-race career and has been soundly beaten each time.

G3 Burj Nahaar

Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) checked in fourth in last year’s G3 Burj Nahaar before going on to win the G2 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night, and the 9-year-old gelding is back for another crack at the Burj Nahaar. Heavy Metal had over the previous seasons been a consistent force over Meydan’s dirt mile, but his 2019 results haven’t exactly been encouraging: he was beaten 40 lengths and trailed in last of nine in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 on Jan. 10, and while he improved to be third in the G3 Firebreak S. five weeks later, a 7 1/2-length beating by Muntazah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) wasn’t exactly ideal. The 6-year-old Muntazah had been second to Heavy Metal last year in the Godolphin Mile and although his first two outs this season weren’t exactly inspiring either, he certainly caught the eye winning by 4 1/2 lengths last time and draws the coveted rail here. Second in the Firebreak was Satish Seemar’s Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), and the consistent 6-year-old-who was second in this race last year-was building on a win in the G3 Jebel Ali Mile on Jan. 25.

Phoenix Thoroughbreds has bought out former partner Slam Dunk Racing on 4-year-old colt Axelrod (Warrior’s Reward), and last year’s GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Smarty Jones S. winner and GI Pennsylvania Derby second makes his local debut for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer. Axelrod was last seen finishing fourth behind McKinzie (Street Sense) in the GI Malibu S. on Dec. 26.

G2 Dubai City Of Gold

The G2 Dubai City of Gold over 2400 metres on the turf provides the more stamina-laden runners a chance to advertise their merits ahead of World Cup night, and the race looks likely to be decided between Godolphin and a handful of international contenders. Heading team blue is Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Godolphin’s 2018 G2 King Edward VII S. and G2 Great Voltigeur S. winner who will have to shake off some dust, having last been seen checking in fifth in the G1 St Leger on Sept. 15. Provided the bay has held his form from three to four, Saturday’s run should set him up for a big performance on the World Cup card.

Charlie Appleby’s Spotify (Fr) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) and Saeed in Suroor’s Racing History (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) have the benefit of some recent seasoning, and they finished one-two, with a short head separating them, in the G3 Dubai Millennium S. over 2000 metres on Feb. 21. Spotify is two-for-two at the carnival, having won over this trip on Jan. 24, while Racing History is twice Group 1-placed over the distance.

A pair of European-trained runners make their seasonal returns here. Charlie Fellowes’s Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) ran in five countries last year including Meydan, where he picked up a two-mile turf handicap. A career-best win came in Meydan’s G3 Lexus S. three days before he was third in the G1 Melbourne Cup, and he could hardly be blamed for checking in a tame eighth in Sha Tin’s G1 Hong Kong Vase off a busy season.

Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling) put in some useful performances in middle-distance company in Europe last summer, but he hit his best stride on a trip to Canada in October, scooping the GI Canadian International. He makes his first start since.

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