The ninth meeting of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival takes place tomorrow, please find below the Week 9 Meydan Overview and bet selections written by Racing TV’s Angus McNae.
Also attached are the race cards for the ninth race meeting of the Carnival.
Meydan Overview & Selections – Week 9:
A winning tip last week kept the show on the road and after all this game is all about winners, not also rans, and on a very tricky card this week I have four more selections for you.
There are only two more meetings left at Meydan before the World Cup meeting takes place at the end of March and the World Cup itself presents a very muddled picture at the moment. Last year’s winner Thunder Snow will give it more clarity when he runs on Super Saturday 10 days from now and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that this horse will become the first ever back-to-back winner. It is a massive ask and he may not be up to it but maybe…just maybe.
One thing is for sure, the Dubai World Cup will once again be one of the greatest races in the calendar and I for one cannot wait.
Here are my four selections for this week:
10:05am Meydan: Golden Jaguar
This unbeaten horse is another fine example of the talents of Ahmed Bin Harmash who has had a tremendous season in the UAE. Golden Jaguar is unbeaten in two starts and was particularly impressive last time out where he managed to win despite being green, slowly away and forced wide throughout. He was much better than the bare result that day and given that the opposition here is not much better, he must run well again. His jockey Connor Beasley just needs to keep a cool head from stall 11 and fashion a decent trip. If he can drop in and get cover, save as much ground as possible and then launch in the straight this is all over. Over to you, Connor!
10:40am Meydan: Ibn Malik
Ibn Malik has had a busy Carnival, knocking heads with the best local Dirt and Turf sprinters. On most occasions he has run respectably and now down in grade and up in trip to a mile from a good draw in stall 2 he looks set to dominate this field. There is a slight doubt about the trip, but he won the Free Handicap a few years ago at Newmarket over 7 Furlongs and a mile on dirt, given his speed should be ok for him. On dirt it pays not to focus on getting a trip but rather focus on early pace. Even if Ibn Malik struggles to see this mile out his early pace will have bought him the yards he needs early in the race to hold on as the finishing-speed gauge dips well below 100 percent.
11:50am Meydan: Very Talented
When I first had a look at this race my instinct was to say that Saltarin Dubai will once again make all the running against the rail and emulate his recent success. Then, I remembered my words when he won last time. I said that he will never get a trip like that so long as he keeps stepping out on a racecourse. Now, whilst acknowledging his obvious chance I am going to take him on with Very Talented. Saeed bin Suroor’s runner did not stay last time on turf and will be better suited to the test of speed provided here. He made all to win at Chelmsford last year and he can sit outside Saltarin Dubai here, before taking up the running turning for home. He is a decent alternative to the likely favourite.
12:25pm Meydan: Mubtasim
Formerly with William Haggas, this horse won on his debut for Charlie Appleby and was impressive in making all the running for a cosy success. I thought it was a performance worthy of a crack at Stakes company but he is kept in handicap company here and should go in again. He is tactically versatile and thus it is not fatal to his chances if he doesn’t make the running here. He can win this before stepping up in grade.
Remember to place your wagers at IdaBet.com! Good luck!
