Meydan Overview & Selections – Week 6:
Lord Glitters was a winner here last week on the Dubai International Carnival blog and I have five selections this week across the six-race card. The action is a bit low key compared to previous weeks but still provides competitive action and some good opportunities to find a winner.
The dirt track did not perform to type last week, it was deep and slow and suited closers rather than front-runners. This is unusual, but it would pay to tread carefully with the dirt races this week, bearing in mind that the pace bias may well return.
9:00am (ET) Meydan: Desert Safari
I am taking a chance on this horse from the Salem Bin Ghadayer yard despite his wide draw in stall 10. Essentially, he is a speedy horse who looks sure to be ridden aggressively, he is likely to lead and if the track has returned to type may be capable of making all. His UK form is certainly good enough to win a race of this type. He boasts a very good second place last season at Ascot in a Class 2 handicap off a mark of 95. He seemed to handle the dirt on his first Meydan start where he showed bright speed before weakening in the straight as if needing the run. He will be much better for that effort and with the best gate jockey in Dubai in the form of Mikael Barzalona I expect him to jump quickly and lead this field all the way to the wire.
9:35am (ET) Meydan: Silent Speech
I see no reason why this horse cannot back up his recent success over course and distance. He is a lightly raced Dubawi with only three starts to his name, two of which he has won. He looks certain to improve, yet to win this he will just have to repeat his effort last time out. He travelled strongly in that race and from off the pace hit the line strongly to win going away. For a horse with a fairly stout pedigree on the Dams side he is speedy and his main asset seems to be a bright turn of foot that he has displayed in winning his last two starts. He can go in again.
10:10 am (ET) Meydan: Shahama
The 1000 Guineas winner should make short work of this Oaks field with the slight caveat that she is as of yet unproven at this 9 furlong trip. This 3yo fillies’ division is traditionally quite weak and she has looked to be head and shoulders above her rivals. She was very impressive in the Guineas cruising clear of her rivals to win by an untroubled 3 and ¾ lengths. She has a furlong further to go today, but that should not trouble her and there are no new shooters turning up in this race to provide a new test. It is possible that she is not only the best 3yo filly around in the UAE, but the best 3yo full stop.
10:45am (ET) Meydan: He’s A Balter
I am taking a chance on this Australian raider who should be a decent price. I thought he shaped like the best horse in the race when finishing second to Batwan on his Meydan debut. He travelled strongly and quickened up to lead just after passing two furlongs out. He looked the winner before Batwan, whom he had shot past when he quickened, came back to catch him close home. If his challenge had been delayed a little longer I believe he would have won. This is a slightly tougher task, however I felt he was a horse to follow after his recent effort and I am not deserting him now. Watch for him swooping late here on this fast turf sprint-track.
11:20am (ET) Meydan: Manobo
William Buick and Charlie Appleby can combine for another winner at this year’s Carnival with this unbeaten gelding. Four wins in Europe preface his Meydan debut and he looks to be a thoroughly progressive son of Sea the Stars. He was a 10-length winner of a listed race at St Cloud before stepping up in class to win a Grade 2 at Longchamp. Charlie Appleby has a great record in this race, including with the useful Ispolini and Secret Advisor and this horse looks capable of following in their hoof prints. It is possible that he may make up into a Dubai Gold Cup horse and if that is a legitimate aim, he should be able to land this prize. William Buick needs to overcome a wide draw in stall 10 but given a smooth passage I think he will win.
