Brian Healy gives his Meydan Thursday tips for every race on week four of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
Meydan enters the fourth week of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Thursday, and there is Group Two action going to post on a six-race fixture at the premier Emirates venue.
The feature Al Fahidi Fort Sponsored By DP World UAE Region is the day’s main event, and the Group Two highlight is backed up with Listed action and some quality handicaps. Brian Healy gives his Meydan tips for Thursday for every race.
2:30 – P & O Marinas (Handicap) (Turf) (3yo+ 90-108) 1m4f
3:05 – UAE 1000 Guineas Sponsored By Mina Hamriya (Listed Race) (Fillies) (Dirt) (3yo) 1m
3:40 – Dubai Dash Sponsored By JAFZA (Listed Handicap) (Turf) (3yo+ 95-105) 5f
4:15 – Al Bastakiya Trial Sponsored By Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal (Conditions) (Dirt) (3yo) 1m1½f
4:50 – Al Fahidi Fort Sponsored By DP World UAE Region (Group 2) (Turf) (3yo+) 7f
5:25 – Jebel Ali Port (Handicap) (Dirt) (3yo+ 90-108) 1m2f
MEYDAN THURSDAY TIPS – WEEK FOUR RACE-BY-RACE SELECTIONS
2:30 – GIFTS OF GOLD (7/2, Bet365)
3:05 – FINAL SONG (4/6, Paddy Power)
3:40 – A MOMENTOFMADNESS (8/1, Ladbrokes)
4:15 – SANAD LIBYA (7/2, Paddy Power)
4:50 – MYTHICAL MAGIC (7/4, Coral)
5:25 – GEORGE VILLIERS (10/1, Ladbrokes)
2:30 – P & O Marinas (Handicap) (Turf) (3yo+ 90-108) 1m4f
GIFTS OF GOLD (7/2, Bet365) will be sharper for his recent reappearance over course and distance earlier in the month where Saeed bin Suroor’s charge finished a good third behind Universal Order in a Listed handicap contest.
The Invincible Spirit gelding was a dual-winner last summer, scoring successes at Salisbury and Goodwood following an eight months’ absence and he wasn’t digraced despite being beaten in his hat-trick attempt at Yarmouth on his final start.
He’s now tried in first-time cheekpieces which could elicit some further improvement, and while a draw towards the outside isn’t entirely ideal he can post another big effort here given he boasts a consistent profile.
Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor can have winners on the Thursday racecard at Meydan.
3:05 – UAE 1000 Guineas Sponsored By Mina Hamriya (Listed Race) (Fillies) (Dirt) (3yo) 1m
FINAL SONG (4/6, Paddy Power) boasts the best form of this field and the Dark Angel filly made a winning start following three months off when tackling this surface for the first time, beating the reopposing Down On Da Bayou and others by almost two lengths earlier in the month.
Saeed bin Suroor’s charge ran to a high level last term, scoring at Ascot on debut before twice being placed behind the classy Raffle Prize in Group company at Ascot in the Queen Mary Stakes and the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.
Possibly amiss on his final start in the Oh So Sharp Stakes, she bounced back to form latest and might have more to offer with this extra furlong likely to suit.
3:40 – Dubai Dash Sponsored By JAFZA (Listed Handicap) (Turf) (3yo+ 95-105) 5f
A MOMENTOFMADNESS (8/1, Ladbrokes) wasn’t seen to best effect here last time out on his return from almost four months off drawn away from the pace towards the outside and unable to fully make his presence felt in a race where he was unable to lead early.
The Elnadim gelding is better than he showed on that occasion and he ought to be sharper now with that run under his belt where his form from last season’s turf campaign ought to see him competitive.
The 2018 Portland winner contested some useful races last term and rounded off his campaign with a half-length runner-up effort behind Oxted when trying to defend his crown, unable to sustain his effort.
He still has the outside stall to contend with here, but he has had the benefit now of a run and in this race where he gets weight all round from his rivals he can bounce back with a better run, and he is chanced to do better here.
4:15 – Al Bastakiya Trial Sponsored By Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal (Conditions) (Dirt) (3yo) 1m1½f
SANAD LIBYA (7/2, Paddy Power) shaped well on his sole start for Doug Watson over this dirt course in December, finishing just over five lengths’ fifth behind Commanding and the Tapiture colt is likely to come on for that first run.
Now with Sateesh Seemar, he could improve for that initial experience and he goes up in trip for this latest outing which might help draw out some improvement alongside a first-time visor which is also applied.
Racing from the inside gate can often be a big advantage here, and this thoroughly unexposed sort can go well in a competitive heat.
4:50 – Al Fahidi Fort Sponsored By DP World UAE Region (Group 2) (Turf) (3yo+) 7f
MYTHICAL MAGIC (7/4, Coral) is forgiven her last couple of on turf in the UK in consecutive Group One starts at Newbury and Ascot, but Charlie Appleby’s charge is a smart performer in her own right and boasts a course win on her record.
The Iffraaj gelding is a French Listed winner earlier in her career as well as making the frame in a number of Group contests including this race twelve months ago where she was beaten two lengths behind D’bai. She then got back to winning ways over one mile here in the Group Two Zabeel Mile where she meted out a three lengths’ thumping of Century Dream and others.
She beat only two home in the Lockinge Stakes on her next outing, racing too keenly; while she was utilized as a pacemaker when next seen in the Queen Anne Stakes where she beat only two other rivals.
This is more her level, and if she returns here at the top of her game following seven months off the track then she could go well if replicating her form from last year at this venue.
Mythical Magic can win Thursday’s Group Two feature at Meydan.
5:25 – Jebel Ali Port (Handicap) (Dirt) (3yo+ 90-108) 1m2f
GEORGE VILLIERS (10/1, Ladbrokes) wasn’t seen to best effect from a similar wide draw here seven days ago, but Sateesh Seemar’s charge is a consistent sort who should continue to give his running and the Dubawi entire can make his presence felt.
A dual-winner here over one mile, the latest of which came back in November where he beat Bochart by a half-length, he has since finished fourth and third in successive stats and he was finishing well from an unpromising position when last seen out last week.
He was beaten five lengths into third behind Midnight Sands on that occasion, but he can remain competitive if the longer trip doesn’t pose as issue given he has looked suspect over this trip in his previous attempts at the longer distance. This is likely to be run at a decent pace however, and the strong traveller might settle better and get a tow into the race, so while his draw isn’t ideal he can remain competitive.
MEYDAN THURSDAY TIPS – WEEK FOUR RACE-BY-RACE SELECTIONS
2:30 – GIFTS OF GOLD (7/2, Bet365)
3:05 – FINAL SONG (4/6, Paddy Power)
3:40 – A MOMENTOFMADNESS (8/1, Ladbrokes)
4:15 – SANAD LIBYA (7/2, Paddy Power)
4:50 – MYTHICAL MAGIC (7/4, Coral)
5:25 – GEORGE VILLIERS (10/1, Ladbrokes)