Meydan Overview & Selections – Dubai World Cup card:

There is a fabulous card at Meydan on Saturday where the Dubai World Cup takes centre stage at the end of a top class night of action.
There are some strong looking favourites through the night and the best international challenge that we have seen for many years at this meeting.
I have six selections for you and hopefully a few decent winners.

Race 2 Meydan (8.20am ET): Al Nefud

The dirt track at Meydan tends to be more speed favouring when races are run in the afternoon and with this being the first race on the card I am expecting a big run from this pacey, strong travelling gelding. He has been a revelation since moving to the Seemar yard in Dubai and has taken to the dirt track particularly well. The key to the turnaround in his form has been the fact that his new yard identified that he is a speed horse who is best suited to racing around this one turn mile at Meydan. He made all to win his first two starts here and was beaten into second last time by Hot Rod Charlie in round 2 of the Maktoum Challenge. That was a big effort from a wide draw in stall 11 over a 9 1/2 furlong trip that stretches his stamina. Returning to a mile here from a cracking draw in stall 2 he figures to make all here against the rail and land the Godolphin mile.

Race 3 Meydan (8.55am ET): Manobo

This horse is a potential superstar and although he will go off at restrictive odds he cannot be opposed. He was wildly impressive in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy where he comfortably beat East Asia. He surged clear under minimal pressure producing one of the most exciting performances of the Carnival. He has plenty of speed and looks to be a cut above his rivals here. This is not as deep a race as it can be and it’s hard to imagine that any of his rivals could win a Listed race by 10 lengths as this horse did at St. Cloud last season. A number of firms already make him the second favourite for the Ascot Gold Cup which is reflective of the impression that this horse has created throughout his career so far. He steps up to two miles here which should be no problem and his speed should prove way too much for his rivals.

Race 4 Meydan (9.35am ET): Casa Creed (Win & Show)

Man of Promise is a worthy favourite here, but he has never been the most consistent type and there is a chance he may recoil from a huge effort on Super Saturday where he thrashed the useful A Case Of You by just under 5 lengths. I prefer to get with Casa Creed win and show. He has a high draw on this straight sprint course which is advantageous and his main rivals are drawn high as well so he looks to be in the right spot to employ his late closing style. A likely strong pace will suit him as he is an off the pace type and he ran well off a three and a half month lay-off in Saudi last time where he ran on strongly to be beaten a neck by Songline. I can see him coming home strongly here to at least make the frame and if Man of promise is below form this is wide open.

Race 6 Meydan (10.45am ET): Dr Schivel

The USA have dominated this race winning thirteen of the last twenty renewals and Dr Schivel looks likely to continue that trend. He has only been beaten once over 6 furlongs and that was when narrowly denied in the Breeders Cup Sprint. He bombed in the 7f Malibu stakes last time out behind the brilliant Flightline, but he was found to have spiked a temperature after the race. If he turns up in the form that he was in at Del Mar he will be tough to beat even from his birth in stall 9. This looks as if it will be a race dominated by international raiders and it’s my opinion that Dr Schivel brings the best form to the party.

Race 7 Meydan (11.20am ET): Lord North

Lord North won this last year and I am supporting him to do it again. He was very impressive when he won here last year albeit in a slightly weaker renewal than this one. His seasonal debut at Lingfield has ducked under the radar. He was second to Alenquer who thrashed the track record and the time figure that lord North achieved was a career best. Align that with the fact he looked a bit rusty and was forced a bit wide on the home turn then we have a performance that should make everyone sit up and take notice. He has clearly not been easy to train and is lightly raced for his age, but we know that this superb surface suits him and his turn of foot could prove decisive in what is a tremendous renewal.

Race 9 Meydan (12.30pm ET): Life is good

The best horse in the world will strut his stuff in the Dubai World Cup and it’s hard to envisage defeat. He is drawn in stall 1 and as long as he jumps smartly out of the gates he looks set to utilise his abundant speed and make all against the rail. He was hugely impressive when he beat Knicks Go in the Pegasus and his Breeders Cup Mile win was the best performance on a stellar card. He has to go one furlong further than he ever has and that is a concern. His sire Into Mischief tends to get fast horses rather than stayers, however I think this horse can carry his speed which is often something that is overlooked in dirt racing. Afterall 6f horses in the States regularly stretch out to a one turn mile successfully. I think his speed will carry him clear of his field and the advantage he could establish will be too much for the likes of Hot Rod Charlie to breach. His trainer Todd Pletcher told me he is “Super Confident”. I will leave it at that.

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