Meydan Overview & Selections – Week 1:
The return of the Dubai International Carnival this Thursday has put a real spring in my step and I am looking forward to covering every Carnival race leading up to the Dubai World Cup itself at the end of March .
The domestic season in the UAE is already well underway and those fixtures have provided some very competitive dirt action . It appears to me that most local trainers have looked to recruit proper dirt bred horses and this will make for some competitive fare. In years gone by it was easy to identify horses who should not be racing on the dirt and thus narrow down the potential number of live players . With trainers becoming a lot wiser as to what is required to win on the dirt at Meydan that narrowing down process has become much tougher . It will make for some fantastic action which this week is headed up by the 6 furlong Dubawi Stakes where last year’s winner Drafted heads a decent field.
As there will be most weeks, four selections for you.
9.30am Meydan – Final Song
With a mark of 103 this filly already sets a decent standard in a division that tends to be notoriously weak. She won on her debut at Ascot and thereafter kept very good company running in two Group two contests and one Group three. She acquitted herself well albeit a little outclassed in those contests and now effectively steps down in grade trying the dirt for the first time. This begs the question as to whether she will handle the surface ? A classy and fast pedigree only gives a modicum of hope that a dirt surface will suit but what encourages me is her style of racing . She has a lot of speed and that is crucial on dirt . She made all to win at Ascot on debut and in her other starts showed a high cruising speed. This is an important quality when it comes to dirt racing and should enable her to adopt a handy position out of the kickback. Stall 11 is not an ideal draw but she has enough pace to find a good early position.
10:05am Meydan – A momentofmadness
This sharp five furlong turf track should really suit this raider from the Charlie Hills yard. He is a very speedy prominent racer who finds plenty for pressure and I can see him being hard to peg back here under James Doyle . When last seen he was a very good second in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster where he attempted to make all and only went down by a neck in the end to the talented Oxted. To bring him to race at this track seems an eminently sensible decision from his connections and he can reward them first time up .
10:40am Meydan – Saltarin Dubai
This horse has had a recent run here which could give him an edge in sharpness over some of these. That run came on the fifth of December where he made all until being headed and beaten by the useful Military Law. That was a typically tough effort and if he is allowed to lead here he will be hard to peg back. The dirt track has not looked particularly pace favouring as of yet but leading by showing pace on the inside rail is an advantage that is recognised worldwide and Saltarin Dubai can make all to win here .
11:50am Meydan – Drafted
Back to back wins in this race await Drafted. He is an admirable sprinter who ran well all last season here in Dubai. Strictly on the book there should not be much between him and Ibn Malik but even though that horse won here recently he is drawn wide and has never been the most consistent. Drafted on the other hand is drawn in stall 6 which is ideal for his run style . He tends to get behind and is best kept wide out of the kickback. That will be no problem from his stall and his late surge should carry him to victory here under Pat Dobbs who knows him so well .
