Brian Healy looks over the week six Dubai World Cup Carnival racecard and gives his meydan Thursday tips for another cracking fixture at the Emirates venue.
It is week six of the Dubai World Cup carnival and the richest raceday in the world is only a few weeks away from taking place.
There has already been plenty of thrills and excitement to be had in the previous few weeks, and the sixth week of action at the premier Emirates track promises to be no different with this week’s fixure spearheaded by the Round Two of the Al Maktoum Challenge.
2:30 – Meydan Classic Trial Sponsored By Sanad Aerotech (Conditions) (Turf) (3yo) 7f
3:05 – Yahsat Trophy (Handicap) (Turf) (Div 1) (3yo+ 90-108) 7f
3:40 – UAE 2000 Guineas Sponsored By Masdar (Group 3) (Dirt) (3yo) 1m
4:15 – Dubai Sprint Sponsored By Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Trophy (Listed Handicap) (Turf) (3yo+ 95-112) 6f
4:50 – Al Maktoum Challenge R2 Sponsored By Mubadala (Group 2) (Dirt) (3yo+) 1m1½f
5:25 – Strata Trophy (Handicap) (Turf) (3yo+ 90-105) 1m1f
6:00 – Mubadala (Handicap) (Turf) (Div 2) (3yo+ 90-108) 7f
The day’s feature race is supported by Group Three and Listed action as well as some competitive handicaps. Brian Healy assesses all seven scheduled races and gives his Meydan Thursday tips on another unmissable card.
MEYDAN THURSDAY TIPS 6 FEBRUARY AT A GLANCE
2:30 – FINAL SONG (13/8, Ladbrokes)
3:05 – SUMMERGHAND (11/2, Paddy Power)
3:40 – COMMANDING (5/1, Bet365)
4:15 – ANGEL ALEXANDER (7/1, Paddy Power)
4:50 – BENBATL (15/8, William Hill)
5:25 – DUBAI ICON (11/2, Paddy Power)
6:00 – BEYOND REASON (7/4, Ladbrokes)
2:30 – Meydan Classic Trial Sponsored By Sanad Aerotech (Conditions) (Turf) (3yo) 7f
FINAL SONG (13/8, Ladbrokes) was a shade disappointing when finishing third in the UAE 1000 Guineas here two weeks ago; bt the Dark Angel filly might have been stretched by the extra furlong and could bounce back returned to this shorter distance.
Saeed bin Suroor’s charge had won over course and distance the time before with an impressive success over Down On Da Bayou, and he could prove a different proposition now returning to turf where he sets a decent standard on his form of last season which saw him twice finish third in Group Two company.
He looks well worth another chance over this seven furlongs trip and he can bounce back to winning form.
Saeed bin Suroor features in our Meydan Thursday tips for week six of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
3:05 – Yahsat Trophy (Handicap) (Turf) (Div 1) (3yo+ 90-108) 7f
SUMMERGHAND (11/2, Paddy Power) ran much better than the bare result here last time out, racing on the far side which is often a disadvantage; but he finished just over three lengths’ fourth and was doing some good late work so the Lope De Vega gelding could be worth chancing to get back on the scoresheet.
David O’Meara’s charge is a useful sort, often placing last term in strong handicaps and following a win at Wolverhampton in December on Boxing Day he has finished fourth outings here, latterly behind Roulston Scar.
Dropped 1lb in the weights following his last run, he has a more central draw for this latest assignment and no surprise to see him going well.
3:40 – UAE 2000 Guineas Sponsored By Masdar (Group 3) (Dirt) (3yo) 1m
COMMANDING (5/1, Bet365) can live up to his name with another strong performance as he takes a step up in grade.
Sateesh Seemar’s charge is 2-2 over course and distance, latterly running out a short-head victor over Al Modayar and Dark Of Night in a blanket finish between the trio.
Both those rivals reoppose here, but the Camacho colt still looked a bit raw and the application of blinkers could help deliver another jolt of improvement given he remains lightly raced with just three starts to his name.
There is a s suspicion he won a shade easier than the official winning margin might suggest, and he can take another forward step here to land further success with the prospect of another strong pace likely to play into his strengths.
4:15 – Dubai Sprint Sponsored By Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Trophy (Listed Handicap) (Turf) (3yo+ 95-112) 6f
Ayr Gold Cup winner ANGEL ALEXANDER (7/1, Paddy Power) could be worth chancing on his return from 100 days off where Tom Dascombe’s charge gets 6lbs at the weights from recent Meydan scorer Ekhtiyaar.
The Dark Angel gelding won four times in all last term, culminating in his Ayr success where he beat the tough Growl by a half-length. That win was followed up by a very creditable runner-up finish behind Trois Mille in a French Group Three contest and he can find further improvement here to get back to winning ways.
Assuming the break hasn’t taken the edge off him then he ought to post a big run here despite his wider draw; but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Tom Dascombe’s charge firmly in the mix on these terms.
4:50 – Al Maktoum Challenge R2 Sponsored By Mubadala (Group 2) (Dirt) (3yo+) 1m1½f
BENBATL (15/8, William Hill) bolted up in the Singspiel Stakes last month and the Dubawi entire can follow up.
Saeed bin Suroor’s charge is high-class at his best and he has an excellent record at the Emirates venue where he has won four of his five starts at this track, most recently when beating For The Top by five lengths.
The 2018 Dubai Turf winner didn’t have the best of summers that year, but he did chase home the imperious Winx at Moonee Valley in that season’s Cox Plate before returning to action eleven months on to beat King Of Comedy in the Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket.
Heavy ground was an obvious excuse for his subsequent flop in the QEII Stakes on Champions Day, but he showed all his class on his reappearance and a repeat of that will likely suffice if he can replicate that form switching to dirt.
Although unproven on this surface, his sire has a very good record on dirt and he looks the one to beat again.
Benbatl can win again at Meydan switching to dirt from turf.
5:25 – Strata Trophy (Handicap) (Turf) (3yo+ 90-105) 1m1f
DUBAI ICON (11/2, Paddy Power) hasn’t been at his best in recent starts here, but those have come on dirt and the New Approach colt can do better returning to turf for this outing.
Saeed bin Suroor’s charge proved smart last term in a light campaign, winning both starts which include over ten furlongs at York where he ran out a three-parts winner over Cockalorum having previously struck at Chelmsford and Nottingham either side of an eleven-month break.
He had shaped well on his first start here in January where he was only beaten one length despite finishing fifth behind Grand Argentier; but he was a shade disappointing when last seen.
He could bounce back though on this surface and every chance he can turn in an improved showing now.
6:00 – Mubadala (Handicap) (Turf) (Div 2) (3yo+ 90-108) 7f
BEYOND REASON (7/4, Ladbrokes) possibly didn’t quite get home here three weeks ago in the Cape Verdi where she finished third behind Magic Lily. But dropping back to seven furlongs for this latest outing could suit the Australia filly who can build on that reappearance to get back on the scoresheet.
Charlie Appleby’s charge won twice over seven furlongs during the 2018 campaign, which included a French Group Two contest prior to being tested in Group One company with little success.
Two runs last term were disappointing, and she might have needed her latest run which came on the back of six months off the track. She was only beaten just over two lengths, but she ought to strip fitter and could improve.
She makes her handicap debut here where a mark of 95 doesn’t look harsh and she could exploit that rating to get back on the winning trail.
Charlie Appleby can strike a win for our Meydan Thursday tips with success in the finale.
MEYDAN THURSDAY TIPS 6 FEBRUARY AT A GLANCE
2:30 – FINAL SONG (13/8, Ladbrokes)
3:05 – SUMMERGHAND (11/2, Paddy Power)
3:40 – COMMANDING (5/1, Bet365)
4:15 – ANGEL ALEXANDER (7/1, Paddy Power)
4:50 – BENBATL (15/8, William Hill)
5:25 – DUBAI ICON (11/2, Paddy Power)
6:00 – BEYOND REASON (7/4, Ladbrokes)