“Lazuli is tried and tested over five furlongs at Meydan and this is his optimum trip,” said Appleby. “He is in great form and, even with his draw in stall one, he has speed horses around him and looks the one to beat.

“Man Of Promise ran a good solid race over this distance in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash and seems to be taking his racing better these days.”

Shadwell's Kuzaam (Kitten's Joy), who won the Listed Jebel Ali Sprint by two lengths last February, is hoping to rebound off of a seventh-place run in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.

“Khuzaam has taken a bit of time to come around, but is really well,” said trainer Doug Watson. “The long layoff is a worry but he's a really nice horse.”

G2 Sapphire S. heroine Ladies Church (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), the only filly in the field, could also be heard from in the Mark Dobbin silks. She was 17 of 19 in the G1 Flying Five S. over this distance at the Curragh on Sept. 11.

“She is in very good form, but like all our horses who travelled to Dubai this season, she will probably need her first run of the year,” said trainer Johnny Murtagh.

2021 victor Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) is also signed on but has not won since taking that race for Mrs. Fitriani Hay and trainer Charlie Hills.

American-breds A Force Majeure In Guineas

The $150,000 G2 UAE 2000 Guineas run over 1600 metres on the main track sees nine American-bred colts and one Argentinean line up for one of the earliest Classics of the year.

No stranger to Meydan, trainer Doug O'Neill has sent the Calumet Farm-owned Tall Boy (Lookin At Lucky), who should run with credit, despite his maiden status. Out of the unraced Madame Mayra, the colt enters with a fourth-place run in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 17.

“The reason he's in Dubai is because we think he's capable of being pointed to the [G2] UAE Derby [on Mar. 25],” said Leandro Mora, assistant trainer to Doug O'Neill. “He has two GI Kentucky Derby points already and we like him because he's run three tough races against Bob Baffert horses. He's a gentle giant with a lot of talent. We think this race might suit him as he loves the surface at Meydan.”

Charles Fipke homebred Shirl's Bee (Bee Jersey) is aiming to maintain his perfect record after running out a track-and-trip victor in a Dec. 23 maiden race.

“Shirl's Bee would be the most interesting of our runners on Friday,” said Doug Watson, who has been named champion trainer in the Emirates seven times. “He has been training well and we like him a lot. He has a good draw and we're really looking forward to seeing him run.”

Tamarkuz colt Tiger Nation has an even dearer record to protect, as he made a winning debut at Jebel Ali on New Year's Day, before running out a 1 1/4-length victor of a 1400-metre conditions affair on Jan. 13. The main question is the step up in distance for the Sheikh Hamden bin Mohammed Al Maktoum-owned bay.

“Tiger Nation came out of the Guineas Trial well,” said Salem bin Ghadayer. “He has a wide draw [9] but he has natural speed and we're hoping he can control the race and be there or thereabouts.”

Large Godolphin Contingent Ready For “Business”

Shining Blue (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is one of four bearing the royal blue in the Listed Business Bay Challenge over 1400 metres on turf, and he is part of a Saeed bin Suroor trio mustered for this test. A last-out winner over course and distance defeating the re-opposing Spirit Of Light (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) on Jan. 20, he carries a red-capped Daniel Tudhope and they break from stall four. Bin Suroor also sends listed winner Major Partnership (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and 2021 G2 Al Fahidi Fort hero Land Of Legends (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB})

“Shining Blue won nicely in a handicap over this course and trip last month, said bin Suroor. “He has done well since and is ready to go again. Land Of Legends has won a big race over this distance in the past and we wanted to give him a chance back over seven furlongs as he displays plenty of speed in his races. Major Partnership never shows a great deal in the mornings but I'm hoping he is saving it for the racecourse.”

However, the blue cap is bestowed on Modern News (GB) (Shamardal) from the Charlie Appleby barn. A listed winner at Windsor last June, the 5-year-old gelding has also been placed three times in group company, including when second in the G3 Sovereign S. at Salisbury in August. He weakened to sixth after setting the pace in the G2 Zabeel Mile here on Jan. 20.

Curlin S. Springboard To Dubai World Cup

The race re-named in honour of the dual American Horse of the Year, Curlin, who won the 2000-metre Jaguar Trophy H. in 2008 one start before his G1 Dubai World Cup victory, has attracted a field of one dozen aspirants for the $12-million big dance on Mar. 25.

On rankings, Salem bin Ghadayer trainee Hypothetical (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) towers over the field at 112. The 2022 G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 hero was last seen finishing seventh in the Dubai World Cup at the end of March.

“I need to give him one race before [the] Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on Super Saturday,” said bin Ghadayer. “He has a wide draw and top weight, but it's a prep race and he's 80-85% fit.”

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Man Of Promise raced prominently on the stands' side rail as the field broke into three groups up the Meydan straight. William Buick was still sitting quietly aboard the bay as many of the other riders had gotten busy on their mounts approaching the 400, and Man Of Promise cruised to the lead with relative ease passing the 300. It was at the furlong marker, however, that he hit another gear, sprinting clear to win by 4 3/4 lengths from last year's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}), who made a good seasonal debut while closing quickly to finish 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Alkaraama (War Front). Last year's G1 Sprint Cup winner Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) beat just one home after racing prominently early.

Man Of Promise, at $170,000, was the least expensive of 24 yearlings purchased by Godolphin during its 2018 Keeneland September buying spree. He is still lightly raced, having run just eight times thus far, but has found a new lease on life since being gelded and making Meydan his home last winter. His local debut was a three-length win in the Listed Dubai Sprint last February, after which he was eighth in both this race and the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, and he has gone to the next level this season.

Pedigree Notes

Man Of Promise was conceived when American supersire Into Mischief was standing for $45,000 in 2016-he is up to $250,000 this year. Man Of Promise is the fifth foal out of the winning Involved (Speightstown), who has a 2-year-old filly from the first crop of Into Mischief's half-brother Mendelssohn, and has this year produced a colt foal by Into Mischief's son Audible after being barren last year. Involved is a great-granddaughter of the GI Santa Barbara H. winner The Very One (One For All), herself a half-sister to French Classic winner Soviet Star.

Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
NAD AL SHEBA TURF SPRINT (SPONSORED BY EMIRATES SKYCARGO)-G3, $250,000, Meydan, 3-5, NH3yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.14, gd.
1–MAN OF PROMISE, 126, g, 5, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Involved, by Speightstown
2nd Dam: Winner's Ticket, by Jolie's Halo
3rd Dam: Ticket to Paradise, by Alydar
1ST GROUP WIN. ($170,000 yrl '18 KEESEP) O-Godolphin;
B-Betz, Magers, CoCo Equine, Kidder, Lamantial & Davidson
(KY); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. $150,000. Lifetime
Record: 8-4-1-1, $409,417. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
   Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–A Case of You (Ire), 126, c, 4, Hot Streak (Ire)–Karjera (Ire), by
Key of Luck. (€3,000 yrl '19 GOFOCT) O-Gary Devlin;
B-Limestone & Tara Studs (IRE); T-Adrian McGuinness.
$50,000.
3–Alkaraama, 126, h, 6, War Front–Agreeable Miss, by
Speightstown. ($600,000 wnl '16 KEENOV) O-Shadwell; B-Frank
Hutchinson (KY); T-Musabbeh Al Mheiri. $25,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 2HF, HD. Also Ran: Jadwal (GB), Motafaawit (Ire), Parsifal (NZ), Acklam Express (Ire), Lord of the Lodge (Ire), Story of Light (Ire), Line of Departure (Ire), Mutaraffa (Ire), Jash (Ire), Final Song (Ire), Summerghand (Ire), Emaraaty Ana (GB), Dahawi (GB). Scratched: Royal Crusade (GB), Zamaani (Ire), Taneen, Live in the Moment (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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