Man On The Spot previews Dubai World Cup at Meydan


Our resident tipster Man On The Spot previews Dubai World Cup night from Meydan and isn't expecting Arrogate to suffer a shock defeat.

11.45 - Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Meydan Sobha

Doug Watson had an incredible 1-2-3 in this a year ago. The UAE champion trainer runs Second Summer and Etijaah this time and neither can be dismissed. The former looks the better of the pair as he's a Grade 2 winner at Santa Anita and finished an excellent second on his debut here last month then didn't give his running last time. North America has been the find of the Carnival having started out on a mark of 75 and now on 113 following four victories. He had Heavy Metal in second when scoring in January and should beat that one again but SHARP AZTECA (Nap) looks a different proposition. Jorge Navarro's charge has been making great strides and followed a narrow defeat in a Santa Anita Grade 1 on Boxing Day with an impressive victory in a handicap at this level at Gulfstream. Japan raider Kafuji Take is a prolific winner and ran his best ever race when a close third in a Grade 1 at Tokyo last month. Gifted Master will be better for his run last month and completed a double in the early part of last season including an Ascot Group 3.

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12.50 - Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors

Vazirabad narrowly won this last year beating Big Orange, who was conceding 4lb, a neck. The winner returned to action in the trial for this a month ago and was expected to add to his victory in the Prix Royal-Oak but was run out of it by BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE with the tough and consistent Sheikhzayedroad back in third. The runner-up may just have needed the race the most but the winner is a very progressive mare who was adding to her Grade 2 victory in Australia and is taken to confirm the form. Big Orange has been a wonderful servant to Michael Bell and again looks to have every chance over his favourite trip while the Ebor winner Heartbreak City could beat them all on his brilliant head defeat in the Melbourne Cup and he'll be ridden by Joao Moreira, who has been breaking all records in Hong Kong. Quest For More beat Vazirabad in the Prix du Cadran before a close second to Sheikhzayedroad in the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot while Wall Of Fire has thrived since stepping up in trip though he has more to do than when landing Doncaster's Mallard Handicap.

1.25 - UAE Derby Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group 

Mike De Kock only has two runners at the meeting and his representative here, Fawree, is something of an enigma having given trouble at the start in his races. He passed a stalls test with flying colours last week and hopes are high in the camp that he can prove himself at this sort of level. Master Plan is a bit of an unknown having won two of his four starts, neither at this sort of level, though Todd Pletcher wouldn't be sending him here without good reason. Epicharis has had four races in Japan and won them all, the last two at Listed level. He could be anything while Dewhust runner-up Lancaster Bomber could give the winner, stable companion Churchill, a mighty boost by performing well here. Godolphin always set their stall out for this and have three entries. Top Score reversed earlier running with Fly At Dawn when landing a Listed contest last month and can come out on top again but THUNDER SNOW, beaten a couple of lengths in the Dewhurst, has improved massively subsequently having won in Group 1 and Group 3 company and looks best of the trio so just gets the nod.

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2.00 - Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored By Azizi Developments 

ERTIJAAL started favourite for this a year ago on the back of four successive victories but found the Australia-based Buffering too strong. He's won his two starts this year in fine style and will be very difficult to beat. Jungle Cat, fourth a year ago, was over two lengths behind the selection last month and looks held despite beating Baccarat and The Right Man comfortably three weeks ago. Henry Candy's high-class sprinter Limato, winner of the July Cup and the 7f Prix de la Foret, is the highest rated in the race and his trainer will have him spot-on while Washington DC is the youngest in the line-up and capable of running well though he's never won beyond Listed level. Hong-Kong-based sprinters generally go well here and Amazing Kids wasn't far behind the classy Peniaphobia at Sha Tin last time.

2.35 - Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored By Gulf News 

The wonderful veteran Reynaldothewizard has had his last 26 starts here, winning ten with the highlight coming when landing this in 2013. He's continued in excellent form and surprisingly beat Muarrab, last year's winner of this, in a Listed contest last time. The latter hasn't been at his best but rookie trainer Maria Ritchie will have him spot-on and a double isn't out of the question. MIND YOUR BISCUITS, runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Sprint before going one better in a Grade 1 at Gulfstream, was surprisingly beaten on the latter track last month but that was his first start since moving to Chad Summers and he'll be at his peak for this. He just gets the vote over compatriot St. Joe Bay, a Grade 2 winner at Santa Anita last time but having his first start at the highest level. Cool Cowboy, runner-up in the Mile a year ago, has done very well since dropping back to this trip and there's nothing between he and Morawij, who has been in excellent form since finishing third last year. Not Listenin'tome disappointed in the Al Quoz a year ago but is a tough and consistent sprinter who could snatch a place at a fair price.

3.30 - Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP World 

Zarak has never won at Group 1 or 2 level but been placed several times including when runner-up to Almanzor in the French Derby. He warmed up for this with an effortless victory in a Group 3 last month where he looked better than ever though faces tougher opposition here. RIBCHESTER is already a winner at the highest level having landed the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville from Vadamos, who later beat Zarak in the Prix du Moulin. Richard Fahey's charge couldn't quicken past Minding in the QE II at Ascot but it was another brilliant performance from him and he looks the one to beat. Mutakayyef was Listed class at best before last season where he only had four starts but won the Group 2 Summer Mile before placed in the Juddmonte behind Postponed and the Woodbine Mile behind the top-class Tepin. Werther, the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year, has won three times at the highest level in the past year including the Gold Cup at Sha Tin last month where he overcame trouble in-running. He looks a major threat to all and Championship certainly deserves a place in the line-up having done brilliantly here this year including when landing the Group 2 Zabeel Mile last month though like Decorated Knight, who saw off the challenge of Folkswood in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta, he faces a much sterner test here.  

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4.05 - Longines Dubai Sheema Classic 

POSTPONED won this a year ago though, unlike this time around, he arrived on the back of a facile victory in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold. Surprisingly beaten by Prize Money three weeks ago, he's obviously been prepared solely for another crack at this lucrative prize and will be very difficult to beat. Prize Money had looked a very good handicapper before beating Roger Varian's star and is obviously on the upgrade though it will be a surprise if he can confirm the form as he had a fitness advantage and was receiving 3lb. The globetrotting Highland Reel could only finish fourth a year ago and was also behind the selection when runner-up in the Juddmonte. He reversed the form when runner-up to stable companion Found in the Arc before a brilliant victory over the high-class Flintshire in the Breeders' Cup Turf. His stable companion Seventh Heaven, winner of the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks, is by no means making up the numbers but Sounds Of Earth hasn't won since 2014 despite being placed several times at the highest level in Japan and Earnshaw is on a very long losing run. Jack Hobbs, runner-up in the 2015 Epsom Derby before running away with the Irish version, has had very little racing subsequently but showed he retains his ability with a cracking third place behind Almanzor and Found in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. 

4.45 - Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline 

Last year's runner-up Mubtaahij was unfortunate to come up against the brilliant California Chrome that day and is likely to be just as unlucky this time around with ARROGATE in the line-up. Bob Baffert's grey was beaten on his debut but has since won all six starts, the last three at Grade 1 level including beating California Chrome in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and will be at very short odds to continue his sequence after his superb victory in the inaugural Pegasus Invitational at Gulfstream. The stable also run Hoppertunity, who finished third in the race a year ago and has continued to perform with credit at the highest level though he was a long way behind his stable companion in the Classic. Gun Runner is another high-class entry from the USA having won a Grade 1 handicap at Churchill Downs though he was 15l behind Arrogate in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. Gold Dream won a Grade 1 at Tokyo last month and could snatch a prize under Joao Moreira.


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