Tot of ‘Whisky’ for Meydan
ZABEEL MILE: 2017 SUN MET CHAMPION MAKES HIS DUBAI DEBUT, BUT MAY NEED THE RUN
Mike de Kock saddles four lively contenders on a high-class card
The Dubai World Cup Carnival continues with a high-quality seven-race card today and there will be much interest in the performance of 2017 Sun Met winner Whisky Baron as he makes his eagerly awaited Meydan debut – along with a handful of other South African runners.
Racing starts with a bang with the Group 2 Meydan Sprint, a stepping stone for the $1-million Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup undercard. The Group 2 contest sees last year’s winner Ertijaal bid to emulate South African sprinter Shea Shea by successfully defending his crown.
The seven-year-old, trained by Al Rashid Al Rayhi, made a winning comeback and showed all his old zest when defeating Hit The Bid and 14 others under a big weight in a fast time, extending his formidable record over today’s course and distance to five wins from six appearances. On today’s terms, Ertijaal has nothing to fear from reopposing Hit The Bid, a recent winner at Meydan.
Blue Point, trained by Charlie Appleby, was one of the top threeyear-old sprinters in Britain last year, twice winning at Listed level and running a close third behind Caravaggio in Group 1 company at Royal Ascot. He is likely to mount a serious challenge.
Whisky Baron, trained by Brent Crawford, steps out in the Zabeel Mile, a race fellow South African trainer Mike de Kock has won three times, the most recent with Imbongi eight years ago.
First run in 2007, the Zabeel Mile carries Group 2 status and Whisky Baron, who is reported to need the run after a near fivemonth break, is joined by the Mike de Kock-trained pair Noah From Goa and Janoobi in a threepronged South African assault.
Of the trio, preference is for the last-named, the mount of Jim Crowley for his main employer Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. He split Jungle Cat and Dream Castle in the Al Fahdidi Fort, nearly causing a big shock. He is open to improvement stepping back up in distance today.
Charlie Appleby has a tremendous record in the Zabeel Mile, winning two of the last three renewals. He relies on Bay Of Poets, a gelding that has progressed nicely with racing this year. William Buick’s mount produced a solid effort behind the highly progressive Benbatl in the Al Rashidiya on his latest outing.
Kimbear, an impressive winner on his Meydan debut last month, can resume winning ways in the second 1400m dirt handicap, Race 3. On his latest appearance, Doug Watson’s US import was no match for Boynton, having to settle for a minor role behind the impressive front-running winner.
Kimbear, who has to concede weight to his seven rivals, will take plenty of stopping in what looks a weaker race and can punch his ticket for a tilt at the Godolphin Mile, a race Watson landed with Second Summer last season.
The Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes, named after the 2000 Dubai World Cup hero, has attracted 10 runners, with the international challenge headed by the South African pair Light The Lights and Al Sahem, both trained by Mike de Kock. The former, a winner here two starts back, wasn’t disgraced in the Al Rashidiya on his most recent start and has to be high on any shortlist in a race in which plenty do not appeal.
The globe-trotting Folkswood, stepping down from Group 1 company after campaigning in Australia late last year, spearheads the local challenge for the all-conquering Godolphin.