It's Dubai World Cup day, the richest day thoroughbred racing and one of my favorite first big racing days on the calendar. Six stakes races, on the Meydan synthetic and turf racecourse at distances from a straight six furlong dash to a mile and a half on the grass. As usual, we have a large United States contingent that made the trip to the desert to contest these million dollar races. After watching the "Super Thursday" prep card on March 3rd, we see several horses return today with hopes of winning these group races versus some of the best in the world. We'll take a look at these six races and give my selections for each.
The first is the Godolphin Mile which goes as the 3rd race. My top selection here is a Kentucky Derby runner from last year. Conveyance (#2) was the pace setter on the sloppy Churchill surface and trained by Bob Baffert at the time. He made his return to the races this year on Super Thursday in a six furlong sprint where he tired after setting the pace for 2nd. Today with that return race under his belt and stretching out to the mile distance, he will be tough from his inside post. We'll go to the outside for my 2nd pick; Skysurfers (#13) who won in his first start of the year at this distance and was 3rd in this same race last year. Horses to use underneath my exacta box selection are; Zafeen Speed (#8) I Want Revenge (#10) Rileyskeepingthefaith (#12).
The Dubai version of the Kentucky Derby is next up with the UAE Derby . A race that has both males and females, plus Southern Hemisphere horses. Here I'm taking a longshot filly who defeated males in the prep race for this last time out. Reem (#1) has enjoyed the Meydan racecourse when two wins and two second place finishes this past winter. Her 10-1 morning line odds look very good off her blowout victory last time out. Splash Point (#3) won the UAE 2000 Guineas another prep race for this event and is my second choice. There's a lot to choose underneath my top two selections with no clear cut favorite. Here I'll use; Xin Xu Lin (#13) Master of Hounds (#9) Zanzamar (#8).
Sprinters are up next in the six furlong Dubai Golden Shaheen. A seven year old horse (not gelding) is my pick here and a favorite of many. Euroears (#7) won first time out for new trainer Bob Baffert and makes the trip across the ocean to find his "fountain of youth". The logical 2nd choice is last year's winner; Kinsale King (#1) and runner up Rocket Man (#5) with longshot Dynamic Blitz (#9) underneath.
The first of two grass races comes up with the mile and eighth; Dubai Duty Free. I'm going to the far outside post and to a mare again. Raihana (#16) was good here last year on the main track and this year has reproduced that form on the "proper surface" - grass. The post position is my only concern here. For 2nd, the Godolphin connections decided to put their runner; Mendip (#7) in this spot, instead of the World Cup field. He'll be making his first career start on the weeds after six career starts never out-of-the-money on the main track. Underneath these two.....use; the consistent Bankable (#9) Better Than Ever (#12) who sports 15 career victories in 16 lifetime starts and Victor's Cry (#14) who should be closing late.
The Dubai Sheema Classic comes up a little more clear cut with the two California shippers. Champ Pegasus (#7) and Bourbon Bay (#9) are my top two choices. It's tough to separate these two and underneath I'll use; Redwood (#5) Dangerous Midge (#12) last year's Breeder's Cup Turf winner making his first start of 2011 and Chinchon (#3). I think all the shippers from stateside have a edge over the rest of the field.
The big event of the day is of course, the Dubai World Cup with a ten million purse going a mile and a quarter. Twice Over (#12) will most likely be the favorite off his prep victory here on Super Thursday. But, he'll be my 2nd choice today. The well thought of and last year's UAE Derby winner ; Musir (#7) is my top pick and recent runner-up behind Twice Over last time out. Never worst than second in eight career starts, he's making his third start off a layoff and that's a dangerous angle. With these two runners, I'll be using underneath; Gio Ponti (#5) which I STILL question at the mile & a quarter distance, Fly Down (#1) my favorite "underachiever" making his first career start on a synthetic surface and old reliable; Gitano Hernando (#8) who always makes a good account of himself.
No comments:
Post a Comment