The sprinters take centre stage at Meydan this evening, the sixth meeting of the 2016 Dubai World Cup Carnival and Reynaldothewizard will be hoping to repeat his victory of 12 months ago in the 1200m Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint.
Trained by Satish Seemar, and winner of the 2013 Group 1 Golden Shaheen (on Meydan’s previous Tapeta surface), Reynaldothewizard is currently unbeaten on Meydan’s current dirt surface.
On Thursday night will be his fourth Meydan start since the switch to dirt and he also won the Listed Dubawi Stakes, over the same 1200m course and distance, on his seasonal debut in each of the last two seasons.
His jockey, Richard Mullen, said: “He seems in good shape but you never really know with him as he does very little at home in the mornings. He saves his best for the track, which is probably why, as a 10yo, he is still going so strong.
“This is a stronger race than the one we won last time but there looks a guaranteed fast gallop which will really suit him.”
Arguably the most interesting runner is Godolphin’s Marking; in the care of former UAE Champion Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who has only had three starts. After winning his first two he was second on Boxing Day in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes behind Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner, Runhappy.
That was over 1400m and this will be the shortest trip he has tried but McLaughlin said: “We genuinely hope he could develop into a top sprinter. The drop in trip should not hurt and, when we arrived, I actually thought he was the most likely of the four Godolphin horses I have brought over to win.”
Another Group One winner among the 10 declared, in what appears a very strong renewal, is Hong Kong’s Rich Tapestry. He beat Reynaldothewizard in the 2014 Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal (Tapeta) on Super Saturday but also boasts an excellent record on dirt.
Paul Hanagan remains loyal to Muarrab, despite his disappointing effort behind Reynaldothewizard last time, leaving Dane O’Neill to ride Kifaah. Both are owned by Sheikh Hamdan who retains both jockeys.
Drawn in one, the Doug Watson-trained My Catch is another to consider but, however he gets on, Watson and stable jockey Pat Dobbs will be hoping they have already tasted Classic glory. They combine with Polar River, winner of both her career starts to date, and who faces just four rivals in the UAE 1000 Guineas.
Having turned the 1400m trial into a procession, it will be a major surprise if she is beaten here. Watson said: “She is a really nice filly and we are excited about her chances. Hopefully she will be hard to beat and, luckily, it is the first race on the card so I do not have too long to worry about the race.”
The UAE 2000 Guineas, over the same 1600m dirt course and distance, is the penultimate race on the card and has attracted a field of seven. Godolphin duo Steady Pace and Rouleau fought out the trial with the former, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, just holding off the latter, in the care of Charlie Appleby.
It would be no surprise were they to dominate this with French challenger, Qurbaan, a potential fly in the ointment. Trained by Francois Rohaut, for Sheikh Hamdan, he has yet to taste defeat after two career outings but will be racing on dirt for the first time.
Hanagan rides and said: “He is a nice colt. His work on the dirt has been good but, until they race on it, you just never know. Hopefully he takes to it.”
