Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Musir skips Super Thursday

Derrinstown Stud, the Irish arm of the breeding operation of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, sponsors tonight’s (March 4) Super Thursday meeting at Meydan in Dubai, the seven race card designed as the ideal preparation for Dubai World Cup night on Saturday 27th March.
The Group 1 Purebred Arabian version opens the card and there has to be every chance the sponsor will maintain his 100% strike rate in Purebred Arabian races at Meydan.
He owns five of the 14 runners and his stable jockey, Richard Hills, elects to ride No Risk Al Maury on whom he rode the first ever Meydan winner in the opening round.
That was over 1 600m but the horse, trained by Gill Duffield, stays and the jockey expects a big run: “He is a quality Purebred Arabian and fairly versatile. He has to have a big chance.”
The Group 2 Thoroughbred Al Maktoum Challenge Round III is
also over 2 000m on Tapeta, the same course and distance as the $10million Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race.
This is the race chosen by Godolphin for the mighty Dubai Millennium as his prep race in 2000, one of three occasions Saeed bin Suroor has won both races with the same horse and he has two live chances this year.
Third in Arc
Frankie Dettori rides UAE debutant Cavalryman, having his first start for Bin Suroor, while Ahmed Ajtebi retains his partnership with Allybar, who won the second round.
Cavalryman was a Group 1 winner in France and was an excellent third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Bin Suroor said: “He (Cavalryman) is a very nice horse and one we like a lot. He is training well and should handle the surface, in which case he will run a big race.
“Allybar keeps improving and we know conditions suit him and he
also won over this trip in France.”
Also seeking third Carnival wins are the Mike de Kock duo Mr Brock and Lizard’s Desire - like Allybar, both course and distance winners. Both are stepping up in class but the trainer explains: “They deserve this step up and have both done very well since arriving in Dubai. They clearly like this surface and we will find out just how far they have progressed.”
Gloria De Campeao won the opening round and was runner-up in last year’s Dubai World Cup. He has to go well, while Japan Cup first and third, Vodka and Red Desire are interesting challengers.
Sadly De Kock’s UAE 2000 Guineas winner Musir is a late defection from the Al Bastakiya so Godolphin’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vale of York could be hard to beat.
The two turf races are quality affairs and the concluding Group 2 Jebel Hatta, over 1 800m, has attracted a quality field headed by Group 1 winner Presvis who was runner-up in last year’s Dubai Duty Free.
Back on grass, he looks certain to run a big race. Godolphin’s Alexandros was just behind him in that Dubai Duty Free and renews rivalry, with stable companions Justenuffhumor and Ibn Battuta.
Bin Suroor said: “Alexandros was unlucky not to win a Group I race last year and he showed his class when winning on his latest appearance. He came out of that run in very good order, looks in great condition, and we are looking to see another good run from him.
“Justenuffhumor was a little disappointing on his latest start but he needed that run and has improved since. I have been pleased with his work and I am hopeful that he can run a better race [tonight].
“Ibn Khaldun hadn’t run for nearly two years prior to his latest start and he came out of that race in good form. He is ready to race and he has the class to run well.” - Dubairacingclub

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