3 minute read
Several of these races provide a direct route to or a last chance of starting on Cup day,
We will go through the fields in race book order starting with the Listed Jumeirah 1000 Guineas with 7 fillies to run the 1600m. Almost unbackable odds-on favourite Cinderella's Dream (Appleby-Buick) is a cleverly named daughter of Shamardal out of Espadrille (a type of Spanish shoe!). Nadelia is a filly by Spanish Moon who won at Deauville last year and is with Nicholas Caullery and will be ridden by De Vries.
The Burj Nahaar is G3 over 1600m with 16 runners competing for the entry into the Godolphin Mile. The Crisfords' Swing Vote is going for a 4th consecutive win and will have Will Buick on board – 3/1. Sound Money (Watson-Dobbs) is on 7/2 and Hypothetical had a win over this c&d in January – 4/1 for bin Ghadayer-Barzalona.
The winner of the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint gets into the Al Quoz. It's G3 over 1000m with a field of 15 headed by Godolphin's Star of Mystery on 4/5, who has won his last two starts here. Equality is on 7/1 and Tajalla 8/1 but the rest really quite open.
The Dubai City of Gold G2 on the turf is a prep for the Sheema and has 9 runners. As usual Godolphin holds the call with Castle Way (Appleby-Buick) on 11/10 and stablemates Bold Act on 11/2 and Warren Point 7/1. We quite liked the last run of the latter and could make him pick #1.
The Al Maktoum Classic G2 over 1900m has 13 runners and is the prep for the Cup. Clapton heads the market here on 2/1 – he was third in the Al Maktoum Challenge last year and trainer Chad Summers has booked Will Buick for the ride. Nevershow Weakness has won his last three starts following his gelding and is on 9/4 here for Seemar-Spencer. Our roughie here is the Argentinian Ajuste Fiscal.
The Ras Al Khor G3 is over 1400m turf and looks to be a contest between Appleby-Buick and Michael Costa with the former saddling Noble Dynasty 2/1 and the latter Yonafis 13/2 and Marbaan 10/1. Our roughie here is El Patriota on 40/1.
The Mahaab Al Shimaal is over 1200m dirt with 10 to run. Ignoring what may have happened with Costa's runners in the previous race, he has a very good chance of picking up this race with Ma Yetal on 2/1 and Ben Coen riding. Go Chrome Go has won his last 5 starts in Argentina and is on 9/1 with Freedom Fighter on 4/1.
