Dubai World Cup Carnival- Super Saturday 3/5

[tenfurlongs]

Entries are out, not that you can easily find them in US-UK racing media. Four turf races: a GI, GII, GIII and a new 7F race this year. Dirt races are the GI Al Maktoum Challenge Rd 3 at 10F, two GIIIs, and a listed event for 3yos.

emiratesracing.com/node/3?id=3156&tab=8#tab-13023

For those still playing in the Godolphin contest, they have 18 runners entered.




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[tenfurlongs]

MEY R2 (6:35am ET)- 1m4f Dubai City Of Gold (Group 2) (Turf) (3yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/1231/meydan/2022-03-05/806187

There's not a lot of Group-form on display in this GII, so multiple GIII-winner #7- Hukum (6-5) looks solid despite the October layoff. This race serves as the local prep for the $6M Sheema Classic (GI) in three weeks. Godolphin have two in this, preference is for #6- Global Storm (4-1) for Appleby/Buick. I think they'd be happy to grab a win here and go back to GB, he doesn't appear to be a GI horse. Other contenders for the underneath spots include the gray #2- Alignak (10-1), a closer who usually makes his presence felt too late for the win; #10- Square De Luynes (12-1) 7yo Scandinavian powerhouse with a (11/8-2-1) turf record; #12- Without A Fight (4-1) very consistent Listed-winner which really improved at the end of his 4yo season.

EX- 7/2,6,10,12  Result: 7,12,6  Exacta $15.10  Hukum got decent position from a wide draw, sitting behind a slow pace, fanning out into the stretch and eventually getting the best of runner up Without A Fight, which ran well in defeat. Global Storm had a good trip and could only manage third.


MEY R3 (7:10am ET)- 1m Burj Nahaar (Group 3) (Dirt) (3yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/1231/meydan/2022-03-05/806188

Some of the better ones in here drew poorly, so trying a box of a few that have better posts.

EXBOX- 7,8,13  Result: 4,10,13  Desert Wisdom ($67.90) showed nothing in a GIII last time but was always going best along the rail, from the one post, to spring a big upset.


MEY R4 (7:45am ET)- 6f Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (Group 3) (Turf) (3yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/1231/meydan/2022-03-05/806189

This is the local prep for the $1.5M Al Quoz Sprint (GI) on the World Cup undercard. Going to go with three GB/IRE-based shippers on top. #1- A Case of You (3-1) won the Prix De l'Abbaye (GI) as a 3yo going 5F on Arc day last fall, then shipped to the States and finished a decent fifth of twelve behind Golden Pal in the BC Turf Sprint. Prepped for this on the Dundalk (IRE) AW with an easy tune-up win last month. #2- Acklam Express (8-1) ran here three times against his elders last year as a very young 3yo, with a second and two thirds. Brought him back over last month and he was a hard-charging second behind Lazuli in the Blue Point Sprint (GII). He has a big race in him, maybe today? #4- Emaraaty Ana (5-2) was fourth when last seen in the above-mentioned BC Turf Sprint. Won the GI Sprint Cup at 6F in penultimate start. He may be the one that isn't fully cranked for this, but I wouldn't bet against it.

EX- 1,2,4/1,2,4,8,9,16  Result: 9,1,17  Man of Promise ($5.40) couldn't have been more impressive, just destroyed a high class field of turf sprinters. Son of Into Mischief would be hard to beat three weeks hence unless he over-revved the motor today. A Case of You ran admirably for second, he should move up from that effort.


MEY R5 (8:20am ET)- 1m1½f Al Bastakiya (Listed Race) (Dirt) (3yo)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/1231/meydan/2022-03-05/806190

Only a few of these look like they want to go more than a mile on dirt. Box 'em.

EXBOX- 9,12,13  Result: 1,13,2  Good for Quality Boone ($18.50), and Uruguay. Drawn widest in 13, next to last at the clubhouse turn, he gradually moved up one spot at a time and was one of the only ones still running at the finish. The eyecatcher for me was the Turkish horse Final Dance, which finished strongly down the lane for fourth. Watch that one if they run back in the UAE Derby.


MEY R6 (8:55am ET)- 1m2f Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (Group 1) (Dirt) (3yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/1231/meydan/2022-03-05/806191

I can see only one GI winner in this field, #12- Salute the Soldier (9-2), and he looks to be off his best form. #4- Everfast (6-1) was second in the Preakness, but that was 2019. So I'm left with #10- Remorse (15-1) which drew well in post three for Seemar/O'Shea. Can get the distance, had a nice prep in the Jebel Ali Mile, despite some traffic troubles, with blinkers, and they're on again today.

WP- 10  Result: 7,10,4  Place $22.50  Hypothetical ($7.10) ran a virtual repeat of his GIII win last time, made the front, settled into stride and held off Remorse down the lane. Those two were well clear of the others.


MEY R7 (9:55am ET)- 7f Ras Al Khor (Conditions) (Turf) (3yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/1231/meydan/2022-03-05/806192

The only Super Saturday race without a twin on World Cup Day. Using three over three again. #1- Al Suhail (7-5) improved noticeably when turned back to 7F last summer and fall. GII-winner gets his distance, Buick rides, big chance if he fires fresh. #4- Haqeeqy (6-1) had been running for John (& Thady) Gosden, won the Lincoln Handicap to start off last season before failing three times at Ascot. Owner moved the horse to UAE, new trainer John Hyde, and he won brilliantly in the President's Cup at Abu Dhabi last month. Only had ten starts, could still have some improvement in him. #12- Storm Damage (4-1) has been progressive through six starts, won easily over C&D in last, Frankie has been quiet but maybe he can make some noise in this.

EX- 1,4,12/1,3,4,7,12,14  Result: 12,6,7  Flying dismount for Frankie as Storm Damage ($7.40) sat just off his stablemate Al Suhail and ran away from the rest of them down the lane.



MEY R8- (10:30am ET)- 1m1f Jebel Hatta (Group 1) (Turf) (3yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/1231/meydan/2022-03-05/806193

#2- Barney Roy (7-2) draws the rail, is two-for-two over C&D including this race in 2020. Won two German GIs later that year including the Grosser Preis von Baden over 2021 Arc winner Torquator Tasso. Two starts last fall including a close second to Lord Glitters in Bahrain. #10- Lord Glitters (2-1) just keeps on going, 9yo has a GII & GIII win since November, but is usually pace-dependent, and early foot is conspicuously lacking in this field, unless Buick decides to send Zakouski forward from post 15 (he may have to.) This is a prep for the $5M Dubai Turf (GI) in three weeks, so it's not clear who is all-in today. A surprise result, especially from the front, would not be unexpected.

EX- 10,15/4,10,13,15  Result: 1,4,14  Big guns did no running in a moderately paced affair. Alfareeq ($18.00) proved his second behind Real World in the Zabeel Mile (GII) was no fluke, and he continued his run of good form with a perfect stalking trip from post two. Zakouski was forwardly placed but faded down the lane. Not the strongest GI  race ever run.


MEY R9 (11:05am ET)- 6f Mahab Al Shimaal (Group 3) (Dirt) (3yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/1231/meydan/2022-03-05/806194

Nothing clever in this, other than throwing out the US horses.

EXBOX- 1,2,5




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[tenfurlongs]

LIVE stream:

tinyurl.com/yckr7mfy


Coverage on Super Saturday should be first-class. Broadcasts are always full of backstories and interviews. Make the coffee early, first race is at 6:35am ET.




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[tenfurlongs]

A couple of key scratches:

R3- Algiers

R8- Barney Roy




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[cherokeescot]

Wow .. Man of Promise destroyed that field

[arsignman]

Mar 5, 2022 7:49:36 GMT -5 cherokeescot said:

Wow .. Man of Promise destroyed that field

Yes he did and trainer said he had found what the horse was lacking in previous races, the last two proves that statement.

[cherokeescot]

Remorse certainly gave Tom a good run for his money , hypothetically speaking

[1hooper]

One hour between R6 and R7?

[tenfurlongs]

Mar 5, 2022 9:09:08 GMT -5 1hooper said:

One hour between R6 and R7?

Sheikh Mo giving out some awards for performances during the Carnival, as today is the last day of the meet before World Cup Day.




TW

[1hooper]

Was hoping for a 3 mile race between dromedaries and bactrians.

[tenfurlongs]

Haqeeqy is 16-1, which is ridiculous.

{edit: Or maybe not, he didn't run much at all.}




TW