PREVIEW: DWCC (Race Video, Full Runner list 2021)

Race 1 - Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 (US$49,000, PA, 1900m D)

The curtain raiser and only Purebred Arabian contest of the evening have attracted a quality field of nine.

Brraqjoined by stable companion Aoun and Bandar was a first Group One and local winner for trainer Jean-Claude Pecout when landing the 1600m first round. The UAE bred son of Mahabb is the one to beat in this contest of equals.

Yas Racing’s Bandar beat Doug Watson-trained RB Texas Hold Em in the Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 and will be facing his old foe once again.

Watson’s charge was sixth on his latest start in December’s 1900m Gr.2 The Madjani Stakes, won by RB FrynchhDude for Helal Alalawi with Aoun in third.

Race- 2 - Al Bastakiya Trial (US$ 50,000, TB – Conditions, 1900m D)

The exhaustive quality field of 15 is lead by the daughter of Sea Of Starstrained by Saeed bin Suroor. Although the race is a significant back up in trip compared to her last win, she seems primed to repeat her feat. The fairly useful filly boasts of one win from 3 runs last year. Final Thought will be piloted by top jockey Harry Bentley.

Mark Johnston trainedLeopardoseems to be a promising sort with one win from three starts last year. Should improve in his Meydan debut under William Buick.

Ali Al Riyahi’s Irish bred Grand Dubai is another interesting colt who also won one of his three starts. Interestingly the win was at Meydan in December.

Race 3 - Zabeel Turf (US$ 88,000, TB - Listed Handicap, 2000m T)

Godolphin dominates highly competitive ten-furlong handicap, with seven of the 15 entrants in royal blue silks.

Saeed bin Suroor trained High Endis international jockey Frankie Dettori’s first mount. The son of

Tabasco Cat has been absent since a second-place finish in a Goodwood Listed event in September, giving him an excellent chance in a handicap contest off this sort of mark.

Both Star Safari and Passion And Glory were last time out winners, but have been off the track for 336 and 461 days respectively. While Cape Cavalli runs for Simon Crisford and was last seen finishing second over nine furlongs. He bumped into a runaway winner that day and could do well with the up in distance.

Seniority is another useful sort of colt. He finished second in a Grade 3 at Abu Dhabi in March 2020, over eleven furlongs. After an inadequate seven furlongs earlier this month, he seems like a shoo in the top three.

Race 4 - Gr.2 Cape Verdi (US$ 163,000, 2160m TB, T)

The first highlight race of the evening is headlined by Roger Varian’s Stylistique. The daughter of Dansili delivered her career-best when winning 15-runner listed race at Deauville 65 days ago by 1¼ lengths from Perfect Inch. Having landed in Dubai a few weeks ago, the in-form filly is keeping on well.

Saeed bin Suroor trained-Stunning Beauty, ridden by Dettori, who is unbeaten from a pair of novice runs in England in the summer is the chief danger to Stylistique. Her winning form has worked out very well. C&D Listed winner Dubai Love is another to consider, however, she lacks the potential of her two stablemates.

Gr.3 winner Summer Romance, trained by Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby was poor in a Group One at Deauville when last seen, but is probably dangerous if allowed a soft lead.

Althiqa makes her Meydan with three placed efforts in Group Three company. A strong pace should set up the race for her, especially on just her second start over the mile.

Race 5 - UAE 1000 Guineas (US$ 125,000, TB – Listed, 1600m D)

The feature race, the UAE 1000 Guineas is dominated by Saeed bin Suroor and his Soft Whisper will be unsurprisingly ridden by Dettori.

Second, on her opening two starts, she since completed a hat-trick with an authoritative victory in the Listed trial race earlier this month. The in-form filly is the one to beat, but it won’t be easy for her either.

Bred by Godolphin, the 3Yo daughter of top Darley stallion Dubawiis out of Placidia by the sire of sires Sea The Stars.

Both Mnasek and Charles Fipke’s Super Chianti beat Nayefah in their opening debuts at Meydan. However, the difference is that the former beat Nayefah by nearly seven lengths while the latter beat Nicholas Bachalard’s charge by three-quarters of a length but she does have the stamina to prove up in distance.

Race 6 - Longines Spirit Collection Trophy (US$68,000, TB – Handicap, 1600m - T)

The last race of the day boasts of a strong card with several international contenders, headlined by Count Of Amazonia under Harry Bentley. The 4YO trained by Marco Botti must prove himself fully effective on turf and the unfortunate wide draw no help.

Dettori’s final mount of the evening - Bedouin’s Story is a handicap winner at York (2019) and has been absent since October of the same year. The Saeed bin Suroor charge will be looking to acquit himself well in a race of this calibre. While David O’Meara’s Balmoral Handicap winner Escobar, the top weight in this field is likely to put up a great showing.

Dubai Mirage under Hector Crouch will relish the test after his last in Cambridgeshire when he landed fifth and holds a strong chance.

Our Picks: Race-1 Barraq, Race-2 Final Thought, Race-3 High End, Race-4 Stylistique, Race-5 Soft Whisper, Race-6 Count Of Amazonia

Review - Dubai World Cup Carnival (Meeting 1): The first night of the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival was officially highlighted by the dirt feature, the Gr.2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 was won stylishly by Military Law. While Gr.2 Singspiel Stakes was claimed by Lord Glitters under Meydan’s seasoned jockey Adrie de Vries. The 1000m Dubai Dash (L) was won by Equilateral for Charlie Hills, just as it was 12 months ago. The Gr.3 Dubawi Stakes is clearly a race Satish Seemar likes. He has now won the race three years consecutively and seven times since 2013. The master of Zabeel Stables landed the spoils with Switzerland, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea.