٢١ يناير ٢٠٢٢
Carnival aspirants get their chance to sign in Sunday’s Meydan feature
Racing at Meydan on Sunday, a non-Dubai World Cup Carnival fixture, is highlighted by a 1600m turf handicap in which at least half the field must have realistic claims of a carnival berth if producing a good performance here.
The weights are headed by Franz Kafka, the mount of James Doyle for Simon Crisford and, with an official rating of 95, already qualified for the carnival.
However, this will be his first public appearance since February 2020 so he has an absence of 696 days to overcome. He did, however, win on his first start for Crisford, in a 2000m Meydan turf handicap, after 143 days off and he has a good record when fresh so he should not be discounted.
For Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, Valiant Prince probably needs to win this for a place in the carnival and it would not be a great surprise were he to do so.
A 4yo gelded son of Dubawi, he has only had four starts and did not debut until April last year. Sixth, but only beaten two lengths, on that occasion in the prestigious Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, he was then twice second, on the Newmarket July Course and on the all-weather at Kempton.
Subsequently gelded, he lost his maiden tag, again on the all-weather but this time at Chelmsford, in a 1600m novice stakes in early September.
Appleby said: “We like him and hope he still improving. He is in good order at home and this looks an ideal chance to find out where we stand with him regarding the carnival.”
For South African Mike de Kock, Magical Land is another on the cusp of carnival qualification and came within a nose of making a winning debut for new connections when just failing to catch Appleby’s Silent Film in a 1400m Meydan turf handicap just over a fortnight ago.
A winner once for Godolphin and Appleby, on his final start for previous connections and over 1600m, he looks sure to relish the return to this longer trip.
De Kock said: “He ran very well first time for us and would have won in another few metres so the extra trip here should be ideal. We are hoping for another big run but it does look a very competitive race.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Country, looks an interesting recruit to the UAE. Richard Mullen rides for Nicholas Bachalard and he should be a lot sharper after his local debut at Abu Dhabi five weeks ago. That was his first start for 511 days.
The best of the dirt action is a 1900m handicap in which Mickael Barzalona rides Book Review from a pair of Salem bin Ghadayer runners for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The other, Untold Secret, will be partnered by Royston Ffrench and both would appear to hold genuine claims in another wide open race.
Doug Watson saddles five of the 13 runners with stable jockey Pat Dobbs electing to partner Far Sky and Sam Hitchcott siding with Winners Club.
George Buckell, also based with Watson at Red Stables, is aboard Mulfit leaving the spare rides on Pharoah King and Celtic Striker for William Buick and Richard Mullen respectively.
The weights are headed by Franz Kafka, the mount of James Doyle for Simon Crisford and, with an official rating of 95, already qualified for the carnival.
However, this will be his first public appearance since February 2020 so he has an absence of 696 days to overcome. He did, however, win on his first start for Crisford, in a 2000m Meydan turf handicap, after 143 days off and he has a good record when fresh so he should not be discounted.
For Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, Valiant Prince probably needs to win this for a place in the carnival and it would not be a great surprise were he to do so.
A 4yo gelded son of Dubawi, he has only had four starts and did not debut until April last year. Sixth, but only beaten two lengths, on that occasion in the prestigious Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, he was then twice second, on the Newmarket July Course and on the all-weather at Kempton.
Subsequently gelded, he lost his maiden tag, again on the all-weather but this time at Chelmsford, in a 1600m novice stakes in early September.
Appleby said: “We like him and hope he still improving. He is in good order at home and this looks an ideal chance to find out where we stand with him regarding the carnival.”
For South African Mike de Kock, Magical Land is another on the cusp of carnival qualification and came within a nose of making a winning debut for new connections when just failing to catch Appleby’s Silent Film in a 1400m Meydan turf handicap just over a fortnight ago.
A winner once for Godolphin and Appleby, on his final start for previous connections and over 1600m, he looks sure to relish the return to this longer trip.
De Kock said: “He ran very well first time for us and would have won in another few metres so the extra trip here should be ideal. We are hoping for another big run but it does look a very competitive race.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Country, looks an interesting recruit to the UAE. Richard Mullen rides for Nicholas Bachalard and he should be a lot sharper after his local debut at Abu Dhabi five weeks ago. That was his first start for 511 days.
The best of the dirt action is a 1900m handicap in which Mickael Barzalona rides Book Review from a pair of Salem bin Ghadayer runners for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The other, Untold Secret, will be partnered by Royston Ffrench and both would appear to hold genuine claims in another wide open race.
Doug Watson saddles five of the 13 runners with stable jockey Pat Dobbs electing to partner Far Sky and Sam Hitchcott siding with Winners Club.
George Buckell, also based with Watson at Red Stables, is aboard Mulfit leaving the spare rides on Pharoah King and Celtic Striker for William Buick and Richard Mullen respectively.