UAE | Horse Racing Free Tips

Friday Previews: ‘Express’ Train Leaves The Station

'Express' Hoping For a Rebound in Blue Point Sprint

The 1000-metre G2 Blue Point Sprint features the return of Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who was a good second in the Mar. 6 G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint last year and third in the Mar. 27 G1 Al Quoz Sprint. Off the board in two races when returning to the UK including a 10th in the June 15 G1 King's Stand S., the bay appears after a lengthy break and trainer Nigel Tinkler is hoping for a reversal of fortunes for his 4-year-old gelding.

“He surprised us a bit last season with how well he ran here, against his elders,” said pilot Rowan Scott. “Then he ran a brilliant race to be third in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night. We've got him as fit as we can at home, so I have to be hopeful of a big run.”

Also signed on are the Australian Group 2-placed Parsifal (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who was sixth in the Listed Dubai Sprint at Meydan on Jan. 28 and his stakes-placed stablemate He's A Balter (Aus) (Spirit of Boom {Aus}), last seen running second in a Meydan conditions race on the same card. The pair are trained by the Adelaide-based Will Clarken, who is stabling them at Meydan through the carnival.

“He's A Balter's run last time, only just being beaten, was a great thrill,” said Caitlin Jones, who will ride the gelding. “He's such a gentleman, he tries so hard and he's very honest. But Parsifal also ran really well in a slightly better grade of race, so it was a difficult decision.”

Godolphin's Lazuli (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a dual Group 3 winner in the UK, was second in the Dubai Sprint, and breaks from post nine.

Shahama Ready For The 1000 Guineas/Oaks Double?

KHK Racing's Shahama (Munnings) is the clear star of the 1900-metre G3 UAE Oaks. Yet to taste defeat in three starts locally, the Fawzi-Nass trained filly ventures beyond a mile for the first time in her young career. If successful on Friday, she would be the seventh filly to complete the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas/Oaks double going back to 2001, and the first since Polar River (Congrats) in 2016. Named a 'TDN Rising Star' after her second start earlier in the Dubai World Cup Carnival, she ran out a 3 3/4-length winner of the UAE 1000 Guineas on Jan. 28 against several of these. Doug Watson saddles the maiden Minwah (Cupid), who was second to Shahama in the 1000 Guineas.

Manobo Faces 'King' in Nad Al Sheba Trophy

The four-for-four Manobo (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) tries his hand over the Meydan turf for the first time in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy. A homebred for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, the 4-year-old gelding struck at Newbury and over the Kempton all-weather in May and June of last year, respectively. Back in action in the Listed Prix Turenne, he was a stunning 10 lengths ahead of his nearest pursuers in September and clawed his way to victory in the G2 Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 2.

“Manobo's preparations have gone well and this is very much a stepping stone towards Dubai World Cup night,” said Appleby. “He had a lovely year as a 3-year-old and we are looking forward to seeing him back in action.”

Despite the hype for Manobo, he will be stiffly challenged by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Dancing King (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}). Goodwood's August G3 March S. went the latter's way in his final start for Mark Johnston and Kingsley Park 16. He will be making his bow for his new connections in this turf marathon on Friday after selling for 380,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale.

Silent Speech to Use Meydan as a European Pattern Vault?

The two-for-three Silent Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) could make some noise in the European Pattern races once his stay in the desert concludes, and on Friday, the son of Epitome (Ire) (Nashwan) will attempt to land the Al Wasl S. over 1200 metres on grass. The chestnut captured a synthetic seven-furlong maiden at Wolverhampton in November and drew off to win by two lengths switched to this surface on Jan. 21. William Buick will ride the half-brother to Group 1 winner Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}) and G3 Prix Minerve heroine Synopsis (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}). The pair break from stall two. GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is out of another half-sister to Silent Speech.

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Friday Previews: 3-Year-Olds Lock Horns in Dubai

Undefeated Colts Square Off In UAE 2000 Guineas

If Mohammed Khaleel Ahmed's undefeated Bendoog (Gun Runner) takes Friday's 1600-metre G3 UAE 2000 Guineas, the bay colt will become his sire's 10th black-type winner and sixth at the graded/group level. Gun Runner–the Horse of the Year and Three Chimneys stallion who was champion first-season sire in America last year-ran second to Arrogate in the 2017 G1 Dubai World Cup.

One of two in the race for his owner along with Bhupat Seemar stablemate and winner Conglomerate (Ire) (Central Banker), Bendoog faces 13 rivals. One of several legitimate threats is the two-for-two Azure Coast (Street Sense). Trained by Pavel Vashchenko along with Suvorov (Creative Cause) in the colours of Vladimir Kazakov, the $65,000 Keeneland September yearling scored by six lengths in Moscow last September before another success over 1400 metres locally on Dec. 16.

Lord Glitters Looks For Singspiel Double

A frequent visitor to the UAE for the Dubai World Cup Carnival, the dual Group 1 winner Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) will be on hand to defend his title in the G2 Singspiel S. Third in the 2019 G1 Dubai Turf, the popular grey's greatest victory at Meydan was in the 2021 G1 Jebel Hatta on the Super Saturday card last March. Geoff and Sandra Turnbull's 9-year-old was fourth in the G2 Al Rashidiya on Jan. 21 after having to steady at the break. “We're happy with his training and we thought he ran well enough the other night in his first run at Meydan this season,” said trainer David O'Meara of the 2019 G1 Queen Anne S. hero.

The Singspiel has drawn plenty of rivals and the Godolphin homebred Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal) from Charlie Appleby's yard is aiming for his third Group 2 ring. Runner-up to Lord Glitters in last year's affair, the 2020 G2 Zabeel Mile victor also won the 2021 G2 Al Rashidiya, but he was a one-paced ninth to Lord Glitters in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy most recently. “We think he'll be better down in trip in the Singspiel as he ran really well in the race last year,” said Appleby.

Can Rebel's Romance Get Back On Track?

The 2000-metre Listed Curlin S. is usually a springboard toward both Super Saturday's G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 and the G1 Dubai World Cup at the end of March. For the sparingly raced Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), however, it is a recovery mission. A winner of four of his six starts including last year's G2 UAE Derby, the 4-year-old gelding has only raced once since when a flat eighth in a rated conditions test at Meydan on Jan. 8.

Even if that race knocked some rust off Rebel's Romance, his quest is made more difficult by the presence of Victorious's Salute The Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}). A horse that has thrived in the desert since arriving in January of 2020, the Fawzi Nass-trained gelding is capable of winning at the highest level with a win in the 2021 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on his ledger. He was fifth in the Jan. 14 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round, and Nass said, “He's in good shape. Hopefully that race [on Jan. 14] has brought him on and he's ready to rock and roll this week in the Curlin S.”

Four On The Bounce For Modern News?

A winner in three starts as a juvenile in 2020, Modern News (GB), was on the sidelines for a year thereafter, during which he was gelded. A winner of three in a row since returning to the track last July, Modern News will be contesting his pet distance of 1400 metres on Friday in the Listed Business Bay Challenge S. His trio of wins at Newmarket (July 31), Doncaster (Sept. 9) and Lingfield (Oct. 28) were by a combined 3 1/2 lengths and he leaves from the inside post.

Another horse trying for four-straight victories is Bet Law (Brz) (Universal Law {Brz}) in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint over 1200 metres for Antonio Cintra Pereira and owner Stud Crespi. The 3-year-old colt soared to a pair of wins in Uruguay and won a track-and-trip conditions stakes by 4 1/4 lengths switched to Meydan on Jan. 14.

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The post Friday Previews: 3-Year-Olds Lock Horns in Dubai appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Owners Head To Dubai To Cheer On Hot Rod Charlie In His Meydan Debut

Hot Rod Charlie will make his highly-anticipated UAE debut on Friday at Meydan Racecourse.

Voted the winner of the Vox Populi Award for 2021 by US racing fans, the Doug O'Neill-trained 4-year-old is the headline act in G2 Maktoum Challenge R2 [Presented by The Longines Record], the feature on Friday's seven-race card.

Third in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Belmont and the winner of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby, Hot Rod Charlie warmed up for his Dubai travels with a close second, beaten a nose, in the G2 San Vincente Stakes at Santa Anita, California, on Dec. 26.

He'll have a strong supporting party to cheer him on, with Patrick O'Neill of part-owners Boat Racing in town, as well as another co-owner, Bill Strauss.

“We sat down after the Breeders' Cup meeting in November and made a plan for the horse,” said Strauss. “We decided to target Dubai and then the best way of getting to the Dubai World Cup, which was to bring him here and give him a race over the track.”

Hot Rod Charlie faces stiff opposition in the feature, with emphatic local debut winner Everfast in for Doug Watson.

“We weren't sure where to go with him [after his local debut win in December],” said Watson. “We were thinking this race or the Firebreak, but then [owner] Frankie O'Connor came into town and that helped make up our minds.

“He was second in the Preakness over this trip, so I don't think it will be a problem.”

The other Group 2 on the card is the Balanchine [Presented by Longines Evidenza] for fillies and mares on turf, over 1800 meters (9 furlongs). It sees the French-trained Pevensey Bay bidding to follow up her victory in the Cape Verdi (G2) over 200metres shorter last time out. Waiting for her in the race is Charlie Appleby's Creative Flair, who was last seen finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks in New York in September.

“She has always had the Balanchine as her long-term target,” said the handler, who has won the last two editions of this race with Summer Romance and Magic Lily. “Her preparation has gone well.”

The third Thoroughbred race on the card is the G3 Firebreak Stakes [Presented by Longines Conquest] over 1600 meters (one mile) on dirt, which was won in 2021 by subsequent G2 Godolphin Mile winner Secret Ambition. It has a field of eight, with Bhupat Seemar's Tuz aiming to make it two from two this season, having won the Listed Dubai Creek Mile in December. Watson sends out Prince Eiji, an eye-catching short-head second to Kafoo on his local debut and first on dirt.

“We were thrilled and disappointed with his first run here,” said Watson of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Obaid Al Maktoum-owned 6-year-old. “He got a little leg-weary with it being his first try on dirt, but it still took a good one to beat him and it's always been the plan to run here.”

Godolphin are having another excellent Carnival and they are loaded in the turf races, in particular. Appleby's Listed winner New Science takes on Jumeirah Derby Trial winner Island Falcon in the Listed Jumeirah Classic [Presented by Longines Elegant] and the handler also runs Sovereign Prince, a winner here three weeks ago when he beat the re-opposing Sed Maarib.

Appleby has had the Carnival as the target for several months for New Science and said: “His form from the UK is rock solid but he was quick to be earmarked for a Dubai campaign and his preparation has gone well. [After this race] he'll head back to the UK for one of the Guineas Trials.”

The 3-year-olds also line up on dirt in the Al Bastakiya Trial [Presented by Longines St Imier] over 1900 meters (1 3/16 miles), in which the Watson-trained Violent Justice looks of interest following his emphatic Jebel Ali maiden win. Earlier on, a select field of six has been declared for the Oud Metha Stakes [Presented by Longines Master Collection] over 1200 meters (6 furlongs) on dirt. Leading the charge there is Rudy Trigger, a winner of three of his five starts in Argentina for trainer Maria Munoz.

The evening's action begins at 6pm with the G1 Maktoum Challenge R1 [Presented by Longines Dolce Vita] for Purebred Arabians, over 1900 meters. It welcomes back last year's winner, RB Frynchh Dude, as well as another Group 1 winner, Brraq.

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Dubai Turf Next For Saffron Beach

Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) is targeting the G1 Dubai Turf on Mar. 26. Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, the chestnut won both her starts at two, including the G3 Oh So Sharp S. She resumed last April with a second in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. and was runner-up to Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 1000 Guineas on May 2. Off the board in the G1 Oaks and G1 Falmouth S. in June and July, respectively, the Sangster family and J. Wigan colourbearer bounced back to take the G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown on Aug. 21. Her latest effort was a win going a mile in the G1 Sun Chariot S. on Oct. 2.

“She had eight weeks out at grass since her last run and she started trotting back yesterday with a view to getting her ready for the Dubai Turf,” said Chapple-Hyam. “I discussed things with the owners over the last few weeks. It is a very hard programme for the 4-year-olds early on and this seemed a good option before looking at some of the mile races back in the UK and other options abroad.”

She added, “We don't know if she will take to the travelling until you try it but I think she will as she has matured and grown up a lot. The track should be perfect for her. Her only time going left-handed around a turn at Epsom was a disaster but a line can be put through that run.

“Although it was going the other way when she won at Sandown it was achieved going around a turn. She should be fine as she is a well-balanced filly.”

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