Meydan Super Saturday tips – Selections through the racecard

Brian Healy assesses the final day racecard at the Dubai World Cup Carnival and gives his Meydan Super Saturday tips for a cracking racecard on the level at the premier Emirates track.

The richest race-meeting in the world will follow hard on the heels of the upcoming Cheltenham Festival with the Dubai World Cup fixture taking place in just three weeks’ time.

Eerily for horse and jockey, due to the Coronavirus outbreak the Super Saturday raceday will be staged behind closed doors; but nonetheless there is a cracking fixture in store which includes Grade One action.

12:00 – Al Bastakiya Sponsored By emirates.com (Listed Race) (Dirt) (3yo) 1m1½f
12:35 – Mahab Al Shimaal Sponsored By Emirates Skywards (Group 3) (Dirt) (3yo+) 6f
1:10 – Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By Arabian Adventures (Group 3) (Turf) (3yo+) 6f
1:45 – Burj Nahaar Sponsored By Emirates Holidays (Group 3) (Dirt) (3yo+) 1m
2:20 – Jebel Hatta Sponsored By Emirates Airline (Group 1) (Turf) (3yo+) 1m1f
2:55 – Al Maktoum Challenge R3 Sponsored By Emirates Airline (Group 1) (Dirt) (3yo+) 1m2f
3:30 – Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored By Emirates SkyCargo (Group 2) (Turf) (3yo+) 1m4f

In all, seven high-class contests await punters taking an interest in the Emirates horse racing and Brian Healy gives his race-by-race Meydan Super Saturday tips for all the action.

MEYDAN SUPER SATURDAY TIPS AT A GLANCE

12.00 – DUBAI LOVE (6/1, Betway)
12.35 – BOCHART (2/1, Betway)
1.10 – LAND OF LEGENDS (12/1, Bet365, each-way)
1.45 – KIMBEAR (4/1, Betway)
2.20 – BARNEY ROY (4/6, Paddy Power)
2.55 – MATTERHORN (7/4, Bet365)
3.30 – DESERT ENCOUNTER (9/2, Paddy Power)

MEYDAN SUPER SATURDAY TIPS  THROUGH THE CARD

12:00 – Al Bastakiya Sponsored By emirates.com (Listed Race) (Dirt) (3yo) 1m1½f

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DUBAI LOVE (6/1, Betway) beat Down On De Bayou by three lengths here in January when taking the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas and Saeed bin Suroor’s charge could be worth chancing to get back on the scoresheet.

The Night Of Thunder filly has run well on all three starts here, following up that win with a runner-up effort behind the same rival latest when upped to Group Three level in the UAE Oaks on her latest outing.

The winner struck under an enterprising front-running ride, kicking on some way from home and she should never bridge the gap which was almost twenty lengths; but she finished clear of the third, the high-class Japanese filly Serein and she might be able to go one better here despite that reversal with a bigger field here perhaps proving more of a help than a hindrance.

There is a slight concern over the trip, but she appeared to run on well without threatening over this distance last time and she looks worth another chance dropping back into Listed company.

12:35 – Mahab Al Shimaal Sponsored By Emirates Skywards (Group 3) (Dirt) (3yo+) 6f

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BOCHART (2/1, Betway) has demolished his rivals the last twice, scoring by an aggregate 13 lengths in collecting successive course and distance handicaps and the Dubawi gelding can land a hat-trick despite the step up in class.

Sateesh Seemar’s charge latterly ran out a near-eight lengths’ winner when last seen out last month, clocking an excellent time when making all in brushing aside Prodigal Son.

That form is fair and he sets the standard on official ratings where he has 4lbs and more in hand of Ibn Malik and others. That rival beat the selection in a Listed contest here in December; but it could be worth chancing on the Dubawi gelding to turn the tables now given his recent improvement and current good spell of form.

He is better drawn than his old rival and if Richard Mullen can get the selection across from stall seven into a good early position then he might prove difficult to peg back and pass.

1:10 – Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By Arabian Adventures (Group 3) (Turf) (3yo+) 6f

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Space Blues sets the standard but might just need this return from seven months off the track, so the vote goes to LAND OF LEGENDS (12/1, Bet365, each-way) who has been running well in defeat with successive runner-up efforts the last twice over one mile.

Saeed bin Suroor’s charge was beaten only a half-length into second on his reappearance here in January, but he proved no match for Epic Hero on his next start.

The Iffraaj colt won three times last term in Britain and he wasn’t disgraced dropping to this trip when taking in the Listed Hopeful Stakes where he finished three lengths’ fifth behind Raucous.

He could improve on recent starts now fitted with cheekpieces for the first time and he showed at Newmarket he has the speed to cope with this trip. While this is a tougher ask, he might be well served by the shorter distance and he could make the frame.

1:45 – Burj Nahaar Sponsored By Emirates Holidays (Group 3) (Dirt) (3yo+) 1m

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KIMBEAR (4/1, Betway) wasn’t seen at his best last time out behind Benbatl, trailing home a well-beaten eighth of ten runners. However the Temple City gelding could be worth chancing to bounce back here.

Doug Watson’s charge had won a course and distance Group Two the time before, beating Secret Ambition by a short-head in a three-way finish with North America who was a further short-head back in third.

A winner of this race two years ago, he possibly just found his stamina stretched by the extra furlong last time out and he might be suited by the return to one mile here. He can go well as a result dropping back in grade and he’s closely matched with Secret Ambition so the pair can fight out the finish again although Doug Watson’s charge is taken to prevail again here.

2:20 – Jebel Hatta Sponsored By Emirates Airline (Group 1) (Turf) (3yo+) 1m1f

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An outside berth isn’t ideal for BARNEY ROY (4/6, Paddy Power) but Charlie Appleby’s star could take some beating here if building on his runaway comeback success over course and distance back in January.

The Excelebration gelding remains lightly raced and he showed he retains all his ability when running out a two lengths’ victor over Dream Castle when last seen in the Group Two Al Rashidiya.

He’s still low-mileage having had only eleven career starts since winning on his debut at Haydock back in September 2016 and he could have more to offer where he can build on that winning reappearance which will have sharpened him up.

A draw towards the outside might not be entirely ideal, but he ought to stamp his class on this field and he can overcome that negative to follow up.

2:55 – Al Maktoum Challenge R3 Sponsored By Emirates Airline (Group 1) (Dirt) (3yo+) 1m2f

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MATTERHORN (7/4, Bet365) was a very smart performer when trained by Mark Johnston, placing in Group Three and Two company which includes finishing only a neck behind Space Traveller in the Boomerang Stakes last September.

The Raven’s Pass entire shaped encouragingly when returning from four months off the track on his first outing for new handler Salem bin Ghadayer where he finished around seven lengths adrift of Capezzano and just behind Secret Ambition who could give the form a boost earlier in the afternoon.

He showed he can handle dirt on that occasion and he ought to strip fitter for that return to action which probably came over a trip too sharp for him; now stepping back up in distance with the benefit of a run under his belt then he could prove a different proposition and he can get back to winning ways.

3:30 – Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored By Emirates SkyCargo (Group 2) (Turf) (3yo+) 1m4f

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Standard-bearer Defoe may need this reappearance following the thick end of eight months off the track so it might be worth siding with DESERT ENCOUNTER (9/2, Paddy Power) who has the benefit of a recent run and could prove hard to beat if building on that effort.

David Simcock’s Halling gelding went from strength to strength last term, winning four times which included a trio of Group Three contests in Britain prior to beating Alounak in the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine in October.

He returned from more than four months off the track to finish fifth of six runners behind Ghaiyyath in the recent Dubai Millenium Stakes, shaping as if he’d be better for the run.

He doesn’t have the best of records at this venue, but he did finish third in this race twelve months ago and he could be worth chancing to build on his reappearance as he steps back up in trip. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him step up on that return and he could expose any weakness in Defoe’s armour on that one’s seasonal reapperance.