Man On The Spot previews the latest card at the 2023 Dubai Carnival at Meydan on Friday with One Nation fancied to strike.
Fast-Uno, a dual winner in Uruguay, has competed at a high level in three starts here but will need to find more under his southern hemisphere penalty. AH JEEZ has only ever raced on Turf in the USA, winning twice over 5f on firm ground at Del Mar. Listed placed at Santa Anita, Doug O'Neill wouldn't be running him here unless thought capable of handling the conditions. Bay Of Plenty made a winning debut for Johnny Murtagh at Naas in September and takes a drop in grade after racing at a much higher level in two starts here on Turf. Silent Defense looks best of his yard's three entries after a head defeat on Turf here on Sunday.
2.35 - Defender 90 Handicap
Shamlaan won five times in the UK, all over the minimum, and looks his stable's pick with Tadhg O'Shea on board. At the opposite end of the handicap Royal Commando, a Listed winner over this trip at Doncaster, should be spot-on after staying on strongly over 5f at Jebel Ali, his first start on Dirt. COLOUR UP won a couple of minor races in December before headed close home in a better race over the track and trip last month and has the scope to do better. King Gold, four times a winner in France, led at this trip before being swallowed up inside the final furlong when tackling 7f on Dirt here last month and Get Back Goldie won here a year ago before racing in top company and will be better for his run over a mile three weeks ago.
3.10 - Defender 110 Handicap - Turf
Godolphin have four entries with William Buick on board Silent Film for Charlie Appleby. A winner here and in Bahrain at the beginning of last year, he didn't impress in the UK last summer but will have come on for a run here last month. The stable also run Bay Of Honour, who led for a long way over a mile three weeks ago. Wild Lion, three times a winner at Newcastle, goes for Saeed bin Suroor from the bottom of the handicap but the yard can take this with MAJOR PARTNERSHIP, a Listed winner here last year and a close fifth in similar company a fortnight ago with Spirit Of Light just behind. Ouzo has been staying on over a mile and might get tapped for toe.
MAWJ, a Group 2 winner at Newmarket and a close third in the Cheveley Park, scrambled home on her debut over 7f here after looking like winning comfortably. She has another furlong to travel but should have come on for the run and may be held up for longer. She had the front-running Alseyoob in third with Perdika, Axdaliva and Got A Lot behind and should have few problems confirming the form. Godolphin also have Fairy Cross engaged and she won the Group 3 Prestige Fillies' Stakes over 7f at Goodwood in August, though also has her first start over a mile.
4.20 - Balanchine Presented By Land Rover Stakes (Group 2) - Turf
Several of these ran in the Group 2 Cape Verdi over a mile in which WITH THE MOONLIGHT, runner-up in a Grade 1 at Belmont last summer, made an impressive track debut, staying on strongly off a fast gallop. She holds Ascot Brass, In Time, Katoucha and Kennella and the only realistic threat looks to be stable companion Tranquil Lady. She won Group 3's at Naas and Saint-Cloud for Joseph O'Brien last year but has produced her best form on ground with plenty of give over further.
4.55 - Jumeirah Derby Presented By Al Tayer Motors Conditions Stakes - Turf
Long Kiss scored twice over 7f here before finding the 1m1f of the Listed Jumeirah Classic beyond him on soft ground. ONE NATION (NAP) attempted make all in that event and looked to have the race in safe keeping in the straight only to succumb to a late swoop by Naval Power. Highbank had every chance three lengths back in third while Slava Ukraini and Nopoli were well beaten so Charlie Appleby's charge should go one better. Sharar has improved with each run and easily won a minor handicap over 1m1f here a fortnight ago but faces much stronger opposition.
5.30 - Defender 75th Limited Edition Handicap
STORMY OCEAN quickened off a slow pace to score over the trip on the Turf track earlier this month. He's making his debut on Dirt but has won at Newcastle and is expected to handle the surface. Street Mood has won two minor handicaps over a mile on Dirt here in recent weeks and ran well when stepped up in grade a couple of weeks ago, staying on nicely and suggesting this trip will suit. He had Legionario and Josephino behind and should confirm the form but United Front, five times a winner in the UK, ran very well in a strong handicap that same day and looks a threat with Oisin Murphy on board. George Villiers has run some cracking races in his time on this track and looked back in a bit of form at Sharjah in November.
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