Saturday's $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup may lack the star power of past renewals, but with 14 runners signed on from six countries for the race's 25th renewal it is nonetheless a fascinating event that has the potential to crown a new headliner, the most obvious being Godolphin's American shipper Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper). Trained by Michael Stidham, Mystic Guide broke his maiden by five lengths at second asking last March, and despite the American Triple Crown being re-arranged by the Covid-19 pandemic connections took a patient approach. Mystic Guide picked up placings in allowance company and the GIII Peter Pan S. before winning the 1800-metre GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga, with the re-opposing Jesus' Team (Tapiture) back in third, and he split Happy Saver (Super Saver) and Tacitus (Tapit) when three-quarters of a length second in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup over this trip in October. Reappearing at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 27, Mystic Guide put in the breakout performance he'd long promised to, traveling wide throughout over a sloppy course in the GIII Razorback H. and winning by six lengths under Luis Saez, who partners him again on Saturday. They will break from gate six.
Stidham was on course to watch Mystic Guide gallop and gate school at Meydan on Friday morning, and he said, “he just has flourished here. Every day I've been watching his weight and seeing if his coat was changing, but he's been perfect. I'm amazed at how well he's taking all of this.
“It's an honour and a privilege to be here and especially [with] a horse for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed on the 25th anniversary. It could not be better and we just can't wait to get on the racetrack. Going a mile and a quarter, I would love to see him break well and be forward and be in a comfortable stalking position, depending on how fast they're going in front of him. Luis Saez certainly handled him well at Oaklawn and got along well with him. I'm happy to have him back.”
Jesus' Team embarked on a Classic campaign after his defeat in the Jim Dandy, running third behind the subsequent champion 3-year-olds Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) and Authentic (Into Mischief) in the GI Preakness S. He rode the rail and rallied into a fast pace to finish second to the blazing Knicks Go (Paynter) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, and got his head back in front when winning a non-black type race at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 5. Jesus' Team put in a career-best performance when traveling wide but finishing fast to be second again to Knicks Go in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 23, and Knicks Go's regular rider Joel Rosario gets aboard for the first time on Saturday, when they will leave gate nine.
“I like the post position because Jesus can find a good spot to make an aggressive move in the first part,” said trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo. “I asked Bob Baffert and my friend Chad Summers about preparation. They are familiar with the environment here. I took their advice and made my plan. All horses are different, and need different things to get ready. Jesus is coming into this race perfectly.”
Breaking one to Jesus' Team's outside is compatriot Sleepy Eyes Todd (Paddy O'Prado), who won the GII Charles Town Classic going 1800 metres last summer and the Lafayette S. and GIII Mr. Prospector H. going seven furlongs later in the season. Sleepy Eyes Todd was fourth in the Pegasus and fifth in the Saudi Cup on Feb. 20 and has a shot to hit the board at longer odds.
“He looks very good right now. He hasn't missed a meal since we got here. He's in really good shape,” said Sleepy Eyes Todd's trainer Migel Angel Silva. “I'm not nervous because he's the kind of horse that doesn't make you nervous. He always gives you 100%. With some other horses you don't always know how they are going to run; this guy always gives it all. It gives you confidence.”
Salute The Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}) is the leading local hope off back-to-back wins in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 and G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3, and though his chances were not helped when drawing gate 11, he has shown enough versatility to set the pace or race off it and connections will be hoping he can use his gate speed to exit swiftly and establish a good position on the run into the first turn. The 6-year-old gelding broke on top and led gate to wire in Round 3 on Super Saturday to post a convincing win in his first try over 2000 metres, while four weeks prior he had stalked the pace before getting up late to take Round 2 over 1900 metres. Hypothetical (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was a game second in Round 3 off a win in a mile handicap in February.
“The draw could have been kinder but the horse is in great form and his final piece of serious work was very pleasing,” said regular rider Adrie de Vries. “When he works well he normally runs well so let's hope that is the case again.”
Salute The Soldier was beaten by Military Law (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) on opening night of the carnival in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 going a mile, with that 6-year-old gelding posting an eye-catching victory before running a tame sixth in the Saudi Cup. Military Law is drawn favourably in five.
“We have a good horse in Military Law,” said trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri. “He is honest and works hard and has always shown us that in training. A good draw has improved his chances and we could not have asked for a better spot. We will look for a good break and for [jockey] Antonio Fresu to get him into a good spot just off the pace so that he can give himself a good chance at the finish.”
Another exiting the Saudi Cup with claims is the former G3 Superior Mile victor and now Saudi-trained Great Scot (GB) (Requinto {Ire}), who outran his chances to be third at Riyadh behind Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Charlatan (Speightstown). Great Scot had beat just two home in the prior year's inaugural Saudi Cup, but had looked a different proposition running on the local circuit last year, winning three straight races in the interim. He has drawn the rail for his Dubai debut, and Frankie Dettori in the saddle is a big plus.
Japanese challengers can never be ignored on the world stage, and the island nation fields December's G1 Champions Cup victor Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) here. Chuwa Wizard was 2 1/2 lengths the best on that occasion after finishing third on consecutive outings behind local dirt star Chrysoberyl (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}), but made no impact when ninth in the Saudi Cup. Andre Fabre sends out Godolphin's Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro), who rides a three-race win streak. He beat none other than Persian King (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Aspetar (Fr) (Al Kazeem {GB}) in listed contests last summer and enjoyed a smooth preparation in a Chantilly conditions race over the all-weather on Mar. 2. He makes his dirt debut here but will not be helped by gate 12.
The Dubai World Cup is the last of eight races for Thoroughbreds on the Meydan card, which is worth a cumulative $26.5-million.
Classy International Challenge For Sheema
In a year in which travel restrictions may well have taken their toll on the line-up for the Dubai World Cup card as a whole, the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic has exerted the greatest pulling power and boasts a field featuring some of the best turf horses from Japan, America, Britain and Ireland.
With $5-million in prize-money on offer, the 2400-metre contest has attracted the classy Japanese mare Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}), who makes her first appearance outside her home country following two Grade 1 victories in 2020, including the traditional Christmas feature, the Arima Kinen. Trained by Takashi Saito, the 5-year-old grey will face perhaps the stiffest competition from a pair of 4-year-old colts from Ireland and Britain. Ballydoyle's challenger Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) will be seeking to build on his victory in the G1 Hong Kong Vase which set the seal on a busy 3-year-old season: he also won the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G3 Gordon S., having finished sixth in the Derby.
Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) arrived in Dubai this week having returned to Newmarket temporarily following his victory in the $20-million Saudi Cup on Feb. 20. Winner of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club last season, he is stepping up in distance for the first time, though the switch back to turf from the Riyadh dirt will not be an issue. A win for either Mishriff or Lord North (GB) in the Dubai Turf would also provide an exciting big-race triumph for Thady Gosden on his second day training in partnership with his father John.
“He's been to Saudi and back and has taken the travelling well,” said Thady Gosden, who is overseeing Mishriff in Dubai. “He's a straightforward horse and, given he went from the cold at home to Saudi and then came back to the cold, he has taken it all very well. He's very versatile and obviously 2400 metres tomorrow will be different but it's a lovely galloping track at Meydan and this will give us a pointer of where to go for the rest of the season. He relaxes well in a race, even though he has a lot of natural speed.”
Strength in depth is provided by the Bill Mott-trained Channel Maker (English Channel), who travelled directly to Meydan following his second-place finish in the Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh. The extra distance of the Sheema Classic will suit America's champion turf horse.
Mott's assistant trainer Neil Poznansky, who rides the 7-year-old every morning, said on Friday, “He hasn't missed a beat. If anything he's better than he was in Saudi Arabia. He's always bright and alert and is always looking at stuff. Every day is a new day with him.”
The strong Japanese challenge in Dubai is augmented by the Yoshito Yahagi-trained Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), winner of the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) in 2019. She bounced back from a disappointing run in the Arima Kinen to win the G2 Kyoto Kinen on Feb. 14.
Two of Godolphin's three Sheema Classic entries feature good recent Meydan form: Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) finished first and second in the G2 Dubai City Of Gold over course and distance on Super Saturday, but they face much stronger opposition now.
Pointing North
John and Thady Gosden posted a first winner with their first runner as a training partnership at Lingfield on Friday and Lord North (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) could take the new arrangement to another level when he lines up for the G1 Dubai Turf.
Winner of the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot last year, the 5-year-old, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, disappointed in the G1 Champion S. back at the same track on very soft ground in October. He was last seen finishing a good fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf back on firm going in Kentucky.
“He seems to love his racing and has a very good mind,” said Thady Gosden at Meydan. “He came out last year for three days when the meeting was cancelled due to Covid but he's been in similar form so we thought we'd bring him out. Hopefully he can run well.”
Lord North should have the upper hand over David O'Meara's popular veteran Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper). The 8-year-old has had a profitable winter in Dubai, winning two of his three starts including the G1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday, in which he finished less than a length in front of the third-placed Al Suhail (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Much of the form coming into the Dubai Turf centres on that race, with six of the first seven home all lining up again. The strong late rally of Lord Glitters narrowly denied Shadwell's Eqtiraan (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), who would be a poignant big-race winner in Dubai in the week in which the country mourns Sheikh Hamdan. In a blanket finish, Art Du Val (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Court House (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) took fourth and fifth, with First Contact (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in seventh.
Japanese raiders should never be overlooked at Meydan and the country's sole contender in the Dubai Turf is Vin De Garde (Jpn), representing trainer Hideaki Fujiwara. The 5-year-old son of Deep Impact (Jpn), who is making his first appearance outside Japan in this $4-million contest for the Shadai Horse Race Co Ltd, warmed up for his trip with a fourth-place finish in last month's G3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai over 1600 metres. The most recent of his five wins came in the G2 Fuji S. last October.
Oisin Murphy takes the ride on the Marco Botti-trained Felix (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), the recent G3 Winter Derby runner-up on Lingfield's synthetic track. He needs to take a big step forward to be competitive here but his trainer has a good record when racing horses internationally.
Yaupon Leads American Challenge For Golden Shaheen
The $1.5-million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen–in its conventional dirt runnings–has been largely dominated by U.S.-based gallopers, as those trained in the States have annexed four of the last five renewals and a dozen overall. Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Yaupon (Uncle Mo) will look to bounce back from a disappointing eighth-place effort as the favorite in the
GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in November while making his 4-year-old debut Saturday evening.
The Steve Asmussen trainee shot into national prominence last summer, winning his first four trips to the races, including a victory in the GII Amsterdam S. at Saratoga in August, where he had 'TDN Rising Star' Premier Star (Tapiture) four lengths back in third. An easy winner of the GIII Chick Lang S. Oct. 1, he was unable to flaunt his trademark speed from a high draw and was beaten over six lengths in the finish. His trackwork at his winter base at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans has been strong, but there are hurdles to overcome as one of the betting choices in the Shaheen.
Wildman Jack (Goldencents) made history at the 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival, becoming the first American-trained horse to win on the turf at Meydan, taking out the G3 Nad al Sheba Turf Sprint in impressive fashion. A date in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint was dashed by COVID-19 and he returns here as a dirt horse, having posted a convincing victory in the GIII Palos Verdes S. at Santa Anita Jan. 23. He could help fuel what appears to be a high-octane pace.
Canvassed (Ire) (Shamardal) carries a two-race winning streak into the Shaheen. The 6-year-old annexed a course-and-distance handicap during the Carnival Feb. 4 and was most recently able to reel in Good Effort (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G3 Mahab al Shimaal S. on Super Saturday. The latter set a searching gallop on that occasion to just miss, and Frankie Dettori can be expected to use that speed from the inside barrier in the Shaheen.
Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) led home a Japanese-trained 1-2 finish in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint Feb. 20, charging home down the centre of the track beneath William Buick to hand Matera Sky (Speightstown) a second consecutive narrow defeat in the race. The Japanese contingent is rounded out by Justin (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Red Le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), first and second, respectively, in the G3 Capella S. last December.
Switzerland (Speightstown), formerly based in the U.S. with Asmussen before arriving in Dubai in 2019, returned from a 10 1/2-month absence and a gelding procedure to win the G3 Dubawi S. Jan. 21, but failed to take advantage of a perfect trip in the Riyadh Sprint and could do no better than fourth.
Quartet In Blue for Al Quoz
Godolphin holds a strong hand in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint with last-out winners Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and the former looks to extend his win streak to six for trainer Charlie Appleby. Space Blues was a straightforward winner of the stc 1351 Turf Sprint on the Saudi Cup undercard, and that came off the back of a career-best score in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest on Aug. 9. Space Blues has run just once previously at Meydan, when a non-threatening seventh in last year's G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.
Last year's Listed UAE 1000 Guineas and Saudi Derby third Final Song got her head in front for the first time in 14 months-and the verdict was, indeed, a head over Motafaawit (Ire) (Intikhab {Ire})-in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint on Super Saturday, but her jockey on that day, Frankie Dettori, jumps ship in favour of Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), winner of the G2 Meydan Sprint and Dubai Dash this carnival. Last year's G1 King's Stand S. second was eye-catching on those occasions, but it is worth keeping in mind that he is one for six over this six-furlong trip.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said of Final Song, “She's a tough filly and can hold her own against the colts. She won her last race and came out of it in good shape. The filly is doing really well and went nicely in her last piece of work. We're looking forward to a good run from her.”
In addition to Space Blues, Charlie Appleby fields Man Of Promise (Into Mischief), who beat Final Song by three lengths when winning the Dubai Sprint on Feb. 4, and Royal Crusade (GB) (Shamardal), winner of the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis last summer over subsequent Group 1 winner Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) but who could manage only sixth in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, when Appley said he needed the run. “He had a progressive profile in 2020, was in need of his first run in Dubai and has come forward for it,” Appleby said. “If he produces the best of his form he should make a good account of himself.”
Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), like Equilateral trained by Charlie Hills, is one of two runners here for the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Khaadem has not been seen since last summer, when he was fourth in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 July Cup. The Steve Asmussen-trained 3-year-old Cowan (Kantharos) will be aiming for a better break after rallying to finish second in the Saudi Derby. Cowan has not won since breaking his maiden last May but has been placed his last six outings. He returns to the turf and drops back down in trip despite not having won over the surface in three tries last autumn.
The formerly Dubai-based Brendan Walsh enjoyed a first win at this fixture in 2019 with Plus Que Parfait (Point Of Entry) in the G2 UAE Derby, and he sends out the 114-rated Extravagant Kid (Kiss The Kid), who has been runner-up in his last three tries in listed company and who gets the services of Ryan Moore.
Intrigue Abounds In Wide-Open UAE Derby
Saturday's G2 UAE Derby has a little bit of everything. A champion from Uruguay, Japanese visitors and a pair of fillies trying the boys. It all makes for a wildly interesting race that will challenge the most skilled handicappers, with formlines from here, there and everywhere to synthesize.
That aforementioned champion is El Patriota (Uru) (Ecologo {Arg}), winner of three of his four starts in Montevideo, including the Gran Premio Nacional (Uruguayan Derby) last November. Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes {Arg}) won the same race in 2005 before taking his lone career defeat in the 2006 UAE Derby. El Patriota has already done what the future U.S. Horse of the Year could not, namely, winning a race in the Emirates when besting the U.S. Triple Crown entry Speight'spercomete (Speightstown) in the Al Bastakiya Trial Jan. 28. He overcame a wide trip from a terrible draw and 10-pound weight concession in the process on that occasion, but was only third, with Speight'spercomete second, behind the free-wheeling Panadol (Flatter) in the Listed Al Bastakiya S. Mar. 6.
Mnasek (Empire Maker) will be well-supported to become the first of her sex to best male rivals since Khawlah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in 2011. Bred similarly to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), the daughter of GSW Washington Bridge (Yankee Gentleman) bombed the start of her seven-furlong debut Dec. 17, but recovered to graduate by a widening 6 3/4 lengths. She could not overcome another slow dispatch in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas Jan. 28, finishing a distant second to the re-opposing Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), but was on her best gate behavior when storming home to take the Feb. 18 G3 UAE Oaks Feb. 18.
Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) contributed to a big day for Japan on the Saudi Cup undercard Feb. 20, staying on gamely to win the Saudi Derby over G1 Al Quoz Sprint hopeful Cowan (Kantharos) in his dirt debut, with New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) third and Soft Whisper fifth. Despite that valuable success, he may not be his country's best chance. Triple Crown nominee France Go de Ina (Will Take Charge) was fourth on sprint debut at Tokyo Nov. 7, but has since posted a pair of front-running wins going nine panels over Japan's deep dirt tracks. Joel Rosario has been lured to ride.
Mouheeb (Flatter) scored on his Jebel Ali debut Dec. 18 and just missed to Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Jan. 14. He narrowly bested Meshakel (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas Feb. 4, but the latter failed to flatter the form when well beaten in the Saudi Derby.
The UAE Derby offers 170 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby on a 100-40-20-10 scale. Seven of the last eight UAE Derby winners have made the trip to Kentucky.
Subjectivist Takes On His Elders
It is the youngest horse in the field that is the most intriguing of the 11 runners for the G2 Dubai Gold Cup. Having won the G3 March S. last autumn, Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) was given a Classic assignment that found him wanting when he finished more than eight lengths behind Galileo Chrome (Ire) in the St Leger. He did, however, redeem himself on his final start of 2020 on the heavy turf of Longchamp when winning the G1 Prix Royal-Oak, providing one half of a Group 1 double in the same weekend for his trainer Mark Johnston.
Speaking at Meydan on Friday morning, Johnston said, “I could not be happier with how he looks. I don't want to get carried away based on that alone but it is reassuring. I've been happy with his work here, it could not have been easier. Joe Fanning has ridden him a few times at home and he is full of confidence and says he feels well. We have all of our ducks in a row and all we can do now is hope that it pans out.”
The Meydan turf will have nowhere near as much give as Longchamp in October but the 4-year-old will almost certainly lay down a strong challenge to his older opponents led by Godolphin's Secret Advisor (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). The latter has been winless since striking over course and distance 13 months ago but, following a light campaign in Europe last season, he had a hit out in Riyadh, finishing third to fellow Godolphin runner Gifts Of Gold (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Red Sea Turf H. The winner, rather surprisingly, is declared for the Dubai World Cup, but Secret Advisor will reoppose the horse that split the two in royal blue in Saudi, Team Valor's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}). The fourth and fifth-placed horses that day, Red Verdon (Lemon Drop Kid) and Making Miracles (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), will also be lining up.
Despite Gifts Of Gold being rerouted, Saeed Bin Suroor will be represented by three runners in the Gold Cup. The trio is comprised of Global Heat (Ire) (Toronado {Ire}), who has been in good form during the Carnival and has the services of Frankie Dettori, and Volcanic Sky (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), who triumphed over course and distance when winning the G3 Nad Al Sheba trophy last month. The third, Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven's Pass), a Group 1-winning 2-year-old in his heyday, has failed to build on that over the last two seasons and has never been tested beyond 10 furlongs. Now five, he will be ridden by champion jockey Oisin Murphy, while Christophe Soumillon completes the starry bookings and will be the partner of Volcanic Sky.
Midnight Looms Large In Mile
The G2 Godolphin Mile is the opening Thoroughbred race on the card, and Midnight Sands (Speightstown) looms large off a smooth 2 1/4-length victory in the G3 Burj Nahaar over course and distance on Super Saturday. Midnight Sands has a definite affinity for Meydan-he won five straight races across the 2019 and 2020 carnivals before spending last summer in America in what turned out to be a fruitless campaign.
Doug Watson, who saddles Midnights Sands as well as the Burj Nahaar fourth Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), said, “Midnight Sands just loves it at Meydan on the dirt and worked really well on Monday. He is drawn eight which is ideal so, fingers crossed, he goes there Saturday with plenty in his favour. We expect a big run.
“Draw six looks a positive for Golden Goal because he never found any cover on Super Saturday when he ran well given the way things panned out. He has always been a horse we have really liked and there is plenty of ability there so we hope he is going to at least be competitive.”
Another black-type winner over track and trip this carnival is Satish Seemar's evergreen 8-year-old Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who has won or placed in seven of his last eight starts. Secret Ambition won the G3 Firebreak S. by 3 3/4 lengths on Feb. 4 and was fifth when trying a mile and a quarter and Group 1 company in the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 on Super Saturday and has drawn well in two, with the former Richard Hannon-trained Urban Icon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) one to his outside. That 5-year-old was purchased by Saudi connections for 320,000gns at last year's Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale after finishing fourth behind Wichita (Ire), One Master (GB) and Molatham (GB) in the G2 Park S. in September, and he was beaten a length when third behind Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the stc 1351 Turf Sprint on the Saudi Cup undercard. Oisin Murphy picks up the ride on the bay, who tries dirt for the first time. “Urban Icon had very strong form in the UK and ran a super race on turf last time,” Murphy said. “I'm really looking forward to riding him, it's a great ride to pick up. Let's see how he takes to the dirt; it's a good opportunity.”
Parsimony (Dominus), Avant Garde (Tonalist) and Snapper Sinclair (City Zip) ship in from America. The Grade I-placed Snapper Sinclair won at first asking this prep on Feb. 4, while Avant Garde and Parsimony each posted a career-best Beyer (98 and 93, respectively) when each finishing second in their last outings.
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