The highlight of the evening which is the USUS$200,000 Al Shindagha Sprint is a high quality affair with only six superior thoroughbreds competing. Ten Furlongs takes a look at each of the contenders in the race is the prep for Gr.1 USUS$2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen.
Switzerland: The highest rated horse in the field, trained by Steve Asmussen has a penalty in this because of a Gr.3 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash victory in the fall. “It’s a good spot for him,” Asmussen said. “I hope he handles the circumstances of the race and runs well. That’s what we’re expecting. I’m very pleased with how he shipped over there and Carlos (assistant and exercise rider) thought he worked great over the racetrack.” The sprinter has also won Gr.3 Maryland Sprint Stakes at Plimlico. According to well-regarded HorseRacingNation, ‘he (Assmusen) brings an accomplished and impeccably swift sprinter into the US$200,000 Gr.3 Al Shindagha Sprint.’
Tato Key: The other top rated sprinter, from Argentine is the 4YO colt trained by David Marnane. The son of Key Deputy who will be ridden by Shane Foley arrives as the winner of 12 of his 14 starts in his native Argentina, including twice in Group 2 company.
Marnane said: “He is a very exciting new recruit and we decided to give him plenty of time to settle in, so we waited for this race. He seems in great form and we are looking forward to getting him on the track.”
Drafted: The Doug Watson trained well regarded colt by Field Commission will be guided by Pat Dobbs in this epic renewal of the US$200,000 race won by the same stable for two years in a row. Tactically, Drafted is a late runner who shows great tenacity to win in the final furlongs with amazing bursts of energy while least three of his rivals expected to vie for the early pace. The Garhoud Sprint (2018) winner has three victories over this dirt course and appears to be in top form.
“We know Drafted will be staying on in the straight and he has been pleasing us at home, so hopefully we have two live chances in a good renewal,” said Watson of his charge.
My Catch: “Obviously we have done well in this race recently,” said trained Doug Watson of his other charge and defending champion. “My Catch could have been drawn better, given his style of racing, but is in very good form at home and goes there in great shape.” The 8YO son of Camacho was never headed on that occasion and attempted similar tactics on his lone outing this season, when third in the Gr.3 Dubawi Stakes over this trip under Sam Hitchcott.
Ibn Malik: Tied into a rating of 107 with My Catch, the Musabbeh Al Mheiri trained colt was third last out on the turf Faatinah and he was a photo-finish from defeating Drafted in the Garhoud Sprint.
Nine Below Zero: The progressive lightly-raced colt won his local dirt debut at a non-Carnival C&D handicap for Fawzi Nass. The impressive 4YO Showcasing gelding will be ridden by Adrie de Vries again.
De Vries said: “He had been working well on dirt, so we were hopeful, but probably did not expect him to win as well as he did. Obviously this is a big step up in class, but we think he deserves his chance in this company.”
Fifteen have been declared for the US$250,000 UAE 1000 Guineas headlined by Godolphin’s Swift Rose and Dubai Beauty who are both trained by Saeed bin Suroor who is seeking an 11th victory in this top quality affair.
Bin Suroor said: “We were disappointed with them both in the Trial, but they came out of the race very well and the extra 200m should suit them, so we are happy to try again.”
Fellow Godolphin handler, Charlie Appleby, saddles local debutantes Lover’s Knot and the exciting Divine Image, winner of her only start, on the all-weather at Chelmsford, in December. Returning from suspension and competing at Meydan for the first time this year, William Buick rides the latter.
Well regarded Al Hayette and Razeena will also be competing along with the likes of well-intended Starry Eyes from the Simon Crisford yard, Emma Point for Marco Botti, Lady Parma for Satish Seemar and Silva for Pia Brandt.
The 2200m Purebred Arabian Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 has 12 set to face the starter, including the 2017 winner Faucon Du Loup, who has not won since. He is joined in the field by fellow Group 1 winners Ziyadd and Al Zahir in what appears a wide open renewal.
And the 1400m Meydan Classic Trial features the turf debut of Golden Jaguar, who was ultra-impressive making a winning debut at Jebel Ali three weeks ago. Trained by Ahmad bin Harmash for Phoenix Ladies Syndicate, he and Connor Beasley have been drawn widest of all in 15 and must take on the likes of Group 3 winner Sporting Chance for trainer Crisford, as well as Dubai Trophy runner-up Woven, from the yard of David Simcock.
Godolphin’s 2018 Gr.3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Gold Town tops an intriguing 1600m handicap, the US$175,000 Mina Rashid on dirt in which he must again take on Crisford-trained African Ride. Fly at Dawn flaunts a super dirt pedigree for the same Appleby-Godolphin team as Gold Town, but is trying the surface for the first time since finishing fifth in the 2017 Gr.2 UAE Derby behind Thunder Snow. American trainer Kenny McPeek-trained Honorable Treasure returns, following a solid runner-up effort last out behind I Kirk in handicap company two weeks prior.
The US$175,000 Jafza Handicap field is headlined by Gr.1 winner Deauville and Gr. 3 winners Light the Lights and Euginio.
Ryan Moore is riding Seniority in the US$135,000 Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal Handicap for owner Her Majesty The Queen. Others of note in the race include improving Charlie Fellowes pupil Escalator and last-out-winning Mike de Kock trainee Baroot, while Hors de Combat looks to return to the form that saw him win a similar race last year.
Click here for Runner Race Card 2019
Full Finishing list With Trainer & Jockey 2018
1st My Catch (D. Watson, P. Dobbs), 2nd Comicas (C. Appleby, W. Buick ), 3rd Reynaldothewizard (S. Seemar, R. Mullen), 4th Taamol (A. Al-Rayhi, S. Sousa), 5th Muarrab (A. Al-Rayhi, J. Crowley), 6th Wonder Of Qatar (R. Bouresly, G. Mosse), 7th Scrutineer (A. Al-Rayhi, T. O'Shea)
Credit: Dubai Racing Club