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| Staff Writer |
The fifth meeting of the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival (DWCC) at Meydan on Thursday evening is a quality seven races, all sponsored by Pillar Partners Al Tayer Motors, officially highlighted by the Group 2 Zabeel Mile, but also featuring the Group 2 Balanchine, Group 2 Meydan Sprint and Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint, not to mention the second fillies’ Classic of the season, the Group 3 UAE Oaks.
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Group 2 $163,000 Zabeel Mile (1600m T)
Eleven have been declared for what appears a wide-open renewal of the 1600m Gr.2 Zabeel Mile sponsored by Al Tayer Motors with four Godolphin runners all holding strong claims.
Charlie Appleby is seeking a third consecutive win in the turf feature and has a trio of chances this year, stable jockey William Buick opting to ride carnival regular D’Bai, runner-up in the 1400m Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort, a race he won in 2019, on his reappearance.
Mickael Barzalona rides Appleby’s Velorum, well beaten in that Al Fahidi Fort with James Doyle aboard the trainer’s third runner, Althiqa, fourth in the 1800m Singspiel Stakes on his one previous outing this year.
Group 2 $163,000 Balanchine (1800m T)
The main support race and restricted to fillies and mares, the 1800m Gr.2 Balanchine sponsored by Range Rover has been won by Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William Buick in each of the last two years and they seek the hat-trick with Althiqa.
Under a penalty, she will actually seek to emulate both 2019 heroine Poetic Charm and last year’s winner, Magic Lily, by adding this prize to the 1600m Group 2 Cape Verdi tiara she won three weeks ago.
Stable companion, Summer Romance, was only fifth in the Cape Verdi and Appleby added: “That was a bit disappointing from Summer Romance in the Cape Verdi, but she has worked well since and we will race her in a hood. The trip should suit her.”
Also for Godolphin, Saeed bin Suroor duo Dubai Love, the choice of Frankie Dettori, and Last Look were third and eighth respectively in the Cape Verdi.
Group 2 $163,000 Meydan Sprint (1000m T)
This 1000m turf Gr.2 Meydan Sprint sponsored by Land Rover was won last year by Waady, saddled by Doug Watson for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and back to defend his crown with Jim Crowley again in the saddle.
Second, last year was Equilateral, again in opposition for Charlie Hills and arriving here, as was the case in 2020, having won the Dubai Dash over the same course and distance.
However, Frankie Dettori, aboard for that success a month ago, switches to A’Ali for Simon Crisford and a 1000m Group Two winner on The Curragh last July, a victory for which he is penalised here.
Group 3 $125,000 UAE Oaks (3YO fillies, 1900m D)
The second fillies’ Classic of the season, the Gr.3 UAE Oaks sponsored by New Jaguar F-Type, has attracted a field of just seven, including Doug Watson duo Mnasek and Super Chianti, second and third respectively in the UAE 1000 Guineas.
That 1600m fillies’ crown was won by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin with Soft Whisper who also won the 1400m trial when chased home by stable companion Last Sunset. The latter has since filled the same runner-up berth, over 1400m on turf, in the Meydan Classic Trial and looks to go one better here in a race the trainer has already won 10 times.
Group 3 $130,000 Al Shindagha Sprint (1200m D)
The final race on a cracking card, the Gr. 3 Al Shindagha Sprint sponsored by New Land Rover Defender was won last year by Gladiator King for Satish Seemar who is joined in the 2021 renewal by stablemates Bochart and Behavioral Bias.
Salem bin Ghadayer saddles local debutant The Perfect Crown as well as Important Mission, the choice of Mickael Barzalona.
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