Meydan Overview & Selections – Week 7:
A low-key Carnival meeting on account of the action in Saudi this weekend and the looming presence of Super Saturday next week.
Nonetheless I am going with four selections to hopefully back up the two winners we had last week.
9:00am (ET) Meydan: Rawy
The drop back in trip can see this horse once again break well and make all against the rail. He disappointed in the UAE 2000 Guineas where he was ridden aggressively from the front over 1800 metres but did not get home. He is now down in grade and trip and looks set to dominate this field from stall 2. This is not a strong race and Mikael Barzalona should be able to dictate matters from the front. He is a confident selection to land the spoils.
10:10am (ET) Meydan: Bochart
This talented sprinter has been out of form this season, but now that he has had his sights lowered and returns to a viable level he is very much of interest. The last time he ran in a handicap was here at Meydan, where off a mark of 98 he made all for a comfortable success. He gets to race off a mark of 95 again here and that gives him a good chance of getting back into the winners’ enclosure. My confidence is increased by the fact that he has a low draw in stall 4 and I anticipate him making a bold show from the front.
10:45am (ET) Meydan: Star Safari
Charlie Appleby has won the last 4 renewals of this race and he can win it again with this classy individual. He won the Listed Zabeel Turf last time out with a bit in hand, after not experiencing the easiest of passages through the race. His trademark turn-of-foot got him out of trouble. He also won this race last year from Bedouins Story. That race didn’t look very deep, and this is not that deep either, thus I am expecting a repeat performance from this talented gelding.
11:20am (ET) Meydan: Nations Pride
New Kingdom will be a short-priced favourite here for Charlie Appleby and the step up to 10 furlongs will certainly suit him, but I thought he looked one paced here last time and am disconcerted by the fitting of a hood. I prefer to side with his stable companion Nations Pride. He is lightly raced having just had three starts in the UK and has won two of them. He was impressive in gaining both off those wins showing a decent turn-of-foot in races that were run at steady gallops. Stall 2 should enable him to get a decent handy stalking position and his change of gear could prove decisive.
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