Thunder Snow ready to melt his conqueror
REVERSE: HEAVY METAL BEAT HIM LAST TIME BUT 1900M SUITS SUROOR’S CHARGE MORE
In the 1000 Guineas Rayya can also turn the tables on a horse who has beaten him before. Dubai
Meydan hosts the best meeting of the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival to date with a starstudded card, where round two of the $250,000 Al Maktoum Challenge is the feature.
Heavy Metal, impressive winner of round one takes on a small but select field in his quest to become only the third horse to win the opening two legs since the inaugural running in 1994.
Trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, the six-year-old arrives in the form of his life and had Thunder Snow, last year’s UAE Derby winner, 5.50 lengths behind when winning the Meydan’s opening Group 2 race of the season.
Godolphin’s runner-up will appreciate the step up to 1900m and is expected to be sharper for that race, his first after an almost three-month break. He can upset Heavy Metal and give trainer Saeed bin Suroor a record 11th win in the event.
Winter Lightning and Rayya renew rivalry in the UAE 1000 Guineas, the opening Classic of the season. They dominated last month’s trial with Winter Lightning, trained by Suroor, narrowly coming out on top after a protracted duel, the lightly raced pair pulling clear of the rest.
Two years ago Polar River gave Doug Watson his first UAE Classic in the same race and Rayya is fancied to give the American his second win in the race. The filly looks open to improvement stepping up to 1600m and should avenge that narrow defeat.
Last month’s Dubawi Stakes holds the key to the Al Shindagha Sprint, the Group 3 race on dirt that should provide some clues to the $2-million Golden Shaheen.
In the Dubawi Stakes Charlie Appleby-trained Comicas was delivered late by William Buick to cut down Muarrab close home with veteran Reynaldothewizard running on strongly to complete the minor places.
The winner benefitted from a pace meltdown after the early leaders went too hard, and swooped fast and late to grab the spoils. Comicas, penalised for the victory, must concede weight to his six rivals and will need to produce a career-best to follow up.
Muarrab, trained by Al Rashid Al Rayhi, is preferred and can turn the tables on Appleby’s sprinter. He is talented under these conditions and this looks a good opportunity to confirm his status as the best dirt sprinter in the Emirates.
Exciting young Hit The Bid can raise the Irish flag in Race 4, the 1000m turf handicap. He created a good impression on his Meydan debut on the opening night of the Dubai World Cup Carnival behind local champion turf sprinter Ertijaal, nearly upsetting the odds-on favourite in a driving finish. This looks a good opportunity to open his Meydan account and book his place in the $1-million Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup under card next month.
Former Irish champion Pat Smullen rides recent Meydan winner Dutch Masterpiece for Bahrain handler Jaber Ramadhan. Getting weight from the selection, he looks the main threat. A useful sprinter in the UK in his prime, winning at Group 3 level, he confirmed the promise of his UAE debut behind Ertijaal when getting better of Jordan Sport in the hands of Smullen next time.
Godolphin holds a strong hand in Race 7, a 2000m turf handicap. They’re responsible for five runners with Blair House looking their main hope. Appleby’s charge went into many notebooks when a fast-finishing second to Light The Lights on his Meydan debut three weeks ago.
He just failed to reel in the Mike de Kock-trained six-year-old, having been too keen early – unsurprisingly as he was returning from a break and was unsuited by the muddling pace.
Gilt Complex, one of three runners representing Singapore, is one to consider at decent odds. He completed a Group 1 double in the Singapore Gold Cup and Raffles Cup last year. He had an encouraging pipe-opener at Kranji last month, staying on strongly from the rear to finish fourth over 1400m and the step up in distance will play to his strengths.