A fascinating eighth meeting of the Carnival at Meydan takes place on Thursday evening with California Chrome aiming to advertise his Dubai World Cup claims and Safety Check bidding to become the first back-toback winner of the Zabeel Mile.
The official highlight is the Group 2 Zabeel Mile with Godolphin’s Safety Check, winner of the 1600m turf feature last year, trying to overcome a penalty for winning the 1400m Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort – a burden he managed to carry successfully last season having won the same race.
William Buick again rides for Charlie Appleby, who said: “He just loves it at Meydan where the style of racing really suits him.
“He only just stays 1600m but gets away with it at Meydan. He is in great form and seems better than this time last year. Hopefully he will hard to beat.”
South Africa and the UK supply three of his nine opponents apiece and it is Harry’s Son, trained by former South African professional footballer, Paul Lafferty, who looks the main danger.
Making his local debut, he was second to Safety Check in the Al Fahidi Fort but, with the run under his belt, over an extra 200m and receiving weight this time, should make a bold attempt to reverse the form.
South African compatriot Mike de Kock has a record three wins to his name in the race and saddles two. Stable jockey, Christophe Soumillon chooses Johann Strauss with Wayne Smith aboard Zahee.
Also expected to shine and go straight to the big night is California Chrome, runner-up in last year’s Dubai World Cup and currently favourite for this year’s renewal.
He faces seven rivals in a handicap over the same 2000m dirt course and distance as the world’s richest horse race and it will be a major shock were he to not win.
The Doug Watson-trained Storm Belt and Godolphin’s Good Contact look the pair most likely to chase him home.
