The eighth meeting of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival takes place tomorrow, please find below the Week 8 Meydan Overview and bet selections written by Racing TV’s Angus McNae.
Meydan Overview & Selections – Week 8:
Firstly, a bold statement: Blue Point will this year become one of the best turf sprinters in the world.
I say this on the back of his demolition of a decent field at Meydan last week. His winning time was not far off the course record set by Ertijaal. The manner in which he dropped his shoulder, changed legs in a flash and flew away from his rivals was poetry in motion. The Al Quoz Sprint is his for the taking as the easy six furlongs should be ideal for him. He is a superstar.
Last week I tipped three winners at short prices, but they did the business and I hope to keep up the momentum on Thursday with five selections.
9:30am Meydan: Nine Below Zero
Fawzi Naas has his horses in great form. He is a tremendous trainer and an amenable character who deserves all the success he gets. He has a sure hand with sprinters – Jordan Sport, Mazzini, Legendary Lunch to name but three – and he is now shrewdly upping Nine Below Zero to seven furlongs. He was sent off favourite when finishing third here on the dirt last time out. He coped with a lot of kickback and ran bravely through it to be placed. I do not really believe in late-headway horses, especially on the dirt, but this isn’t the first time Nine Below Zero has shaped as if seven furlongs will be his bag. He looks sure to run well.
10:05am Meydan: Riflescope
The Satish Seemar yard continues to tick along efficiently and they can have another winner here with a horse who is beginning to realise his potential. I thought he was very impressive when winning a domestic handicap here at Meydan last time out. He travelled strongly off the pace and picked up well to run down Legendary Lunch, who re-opposes. Both are on the upgrade but on similar terms I believe Riflescope can win again.
10:40am Meydan: First Nation
You could not fail to be impressed with this horse last time out when winning here at Meydan. He seemed to relish dropping to ten furlongs and from off the pace he quickened in great style to win going away in a fast time. He was a decent performer in the UK in 2018, where he won over 12 furlongs but he now seems to have found his trip at 10 furlongs and from the red hot Charlie Appleby yard he can strike again.
Among the opposition, I am a massive fan of Oasis Charm and his win last time out had me purring with belief in his future, but I would prefer him at a mile.
His sire, Oasis Dream has a tremendous overall record, but his progeny have a much better record at up to a mile. First Nation rates a stronger stayer at the trip.
11:15am Meydan: Silva
She won the UAE 1000 Guineas by more than nine lengths. Now you have to decide whether she can confirm the form with Divine Image, who blew the start badly in that race yet ran on strongly in the latter stages to finish second. It certainly was eye-catching from Divine Image and many will be with her this time. I won’t be, though, as I believe that Silva relished switching to the dirt. Watch the race and look at the way she curls her knee and grabs the ground, gaining traction as the others floundered. For me, she was impressive and loved the surface. By contrast, Divine Image is more of a galloper and, to my eye, not really a dirt horse but one whose raw ability in this grade makes her competitive. In addition, remember it was a fiercely run race and the winner was always close to the strong gallop. Whatever the visuals suggest, she was slowing down markedly late on, thereby exaggerating the effort of the runner-up.
11:50am Meydan: Mythical Magic
I fancy Mythical Magic to go one better here than when second to the very useful D’Bai last time out. That was a big effort from this consistent type and he can provide William Buick and Charlie Appleby with yet another winner.
He would have been a cosy winner last time out but for the presence of the very speedy winner and he travelled just as well as that horse through the race; he just lacked a similar turn of foot. There is no D’Bai to contend with this time and he can go one better.
Good luck and remember to place your wagers at IdaBet.com!
