Meydan 24 January 2025
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BARAKKA sets the standard based on his second in the Kahayla Classic on World Cup night last year and he is likely to improve for his seasonal return over a mile here last month. That trip is on the sharp side for him these days and he may well bounce back now over further. Unleashed is a progressive six-year-old who has to be noted following his track-record success in the Madjani Stakes. If there is to be a surprise, it could come from Rajeh, who has the rail draw and may put up a big fight if able to get to the front. Others to note are Ska De L'aigle and Af Alajaj.
Heart Of Honor and Golden Vekoma have to be of some interest on the back of impressive victories at this venue in recent weeks. That said, they are both drawn wide and will need luck to be successful. As a result, a chance can be taken on RAFID, who remains a maiden but showed plenty of ability when trained in the US. The son of Into Mischief was second at stakes level over a mile at Gulfstream Park in September and that level of form may well be good enough given that he has a decent enough draw. Nimble Boy was an eyecatcher behind Golden Vekoma on his UAE debut and he should not be underestimated, while Nam Phrik may be able to reward each-way support.
Cases can be made for several, but preference is for HEART OF HONOR, who made it 2-2 over C&D a fortnight ago and with better still to come, Jamie Osborne's colt can complete the hat-trick at the expense of Golden Vekoma, who caused a surprise when winning the Trial for this race 3 weeks ago. Giustino, Royal Favour and Don Vaccaro are just a handful of others to consider, too.
Things have not gone to plan for Mysterious Night since his victory in this race 12 months ago and he hasn't been seen since finishing second in a Grade 3 at Saratoga in June. That may be part of the reason why William Buick partners the unexposed NATIVE APPROACH, who had much more in hand than the winning distance suggests in a C&D Listed race last month and further improvement looks highly likely. Danyah was behind the selection in third and will do well to reverse the form, although it would be no surprise to see him in the mix for the minor honours.
As with several races at the Carnival, Charlie Appleby looks to hold the aces, and his NATIVE APPROACH gets the nod to supplement his remarkable last-to-first success in a listed contest over C&D 5 weeks ago. Stablemate Mysterious Night was a dual C&D around this time last year (including this race), so he can give the selection most to think about, with Danyah taken to edge out Marbaan for minor honours.
After finding 6f too sharp on his UAE debut, LAUREL RIVER hasn't looked back and plundered the Burj Nahaar and Dubai World Cup last season. Obviously his main targets are later in the campaign, but it would be no surprise to see him prove a class above this field. If there was to be a surprise, Sound Money may be the one to provide it. The son of Flatter tries a mile for the first time since chasing home Cody's Wish in a US Grade 3 back in 2022 and his sprint pace could see him put it up to the selection early on. Cagliostro is another who showed ability in America and completes the shortlist.
Last year's devastating Dubai World Cup winner LAUREL RIVER has plenty in hand aganst these rivals and while he lacks a recet run, he's eecpected to outclass these. Meshtri and Cagliostro may do battle for second spot.
This will be run at a rapid pace but it will be somewhat surprising to see anything lead PONNTOS early on. The Czech raider was behind Cover Up (first) and Bilhayl (second) in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash over C&D, but he did look in need of the run and a slow start didn't help. With the benefit of that behind him and now 2lb better off with those rivals, the seven-year-old gets the vote with Mickael Barzalona back in the saddle. Cover Up did well to win that day, but the pace may hold up better here and Bilhayl could prove to be the biggest threat. Now switched to turf, Freedom Fighter makes some appeal and should not be underestimated.
BILHAYL was picked off late by Cover Up over C&D a month ago and while there won't be much between the pair again, the former is taken to hold on this time. West Acre has a bit to find on form but he's going the right way so a bigger performance may well be forthcoming.
Walk Of Stars put a frustrating run of seconds behind him when bolting up in The Entisar over C&D last month. If able to dominate again, Bhupat Seemar's gelding could be hard to stop but he takes on better rivals and KABIRKHAN readily disposed of him when landing this prize 12 months ago. The son of California Chrome disappointed when favourite for the Dubai World Cup on his sole subsequent start, but it is far too soon to be writing him off. Facteur Cheval has the form to go very well, although the switch to dirt is a concern.
KABIRKHAN fell way short of market expectations in the Dubai World Cup when last seen in March but he was an impressive winner of this 12 months ago and can bounce back with a bang. Last season's Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval is a big threat if taking to this surface at the first attempt, with Walk of Stars and Imperial Emperor also in the mix.
The brilliant Romantic Warrior makes another international trip having won at the top level in Hong Kong, Australia and Japan in the last 15 months. The seven-year-old is without doubt one of the best turf horses in the world, but he will be at his most vulnerable here. Danny Shum's gelding was beaten in the Turnbull when prepping for the Cox Plate back in 2023, although that came off a longer break than this, and he takes on MEASURED TIME arguably at the top of his game. Charlie Appleby's entire has C&D form figures of 1141 and he broke the track record when easily winning the Al Rashidiya last month. If Romantic Warrior does slightly underperform, the son of Frankel could be there to take advantage. The rest all need to improve, but Ottoman Fleet may be the one for third.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR carried all before him in 2024 and holds the clear edge on form so gets a confident vote to extend his winning spree to eight in this Group 1 contest. Last year's victor Measured Time appeals as the one to chase him home ahead of Poker Face and Holloway Boy, who fought out a good finish here last time out. Ottoman Fleet completes the shortlist.
It is very hard to oppose TUZ, who arrives unbeaten over C&D since the beginning of last year. Easy wins in the Al Garhoud Sprint and Dubawi Stakes in recent months have confirmed him as the best dirt sprinter in Dubai and he is likely to be too good once more. Colour Up has chased him home the last twice and may do so again, although Drew's Gold placed in a Grade 1 in the US and should not be discounted. Those looking for an each-way alternative should consider Morning, who will be staying on when plenty have cried enough.
TUZ confirmed himself as good as ever when bringing up the hat-trick in the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes over C&D 21 days ago and he ought to take some stopping once more kept to this level. Ma Yetal, who boasts a record of 2-2 ahead of this could emerge as the lead threat with further progress distinctly possible. Colour Up, who chased home the selection latest, is another holding sound each-way claims once more.
KEFFAAF has yet to finish outside the first three on turf and was an eyecatcher on his first try at this trip when narrowly behind Epic Poet (first) and King Of Conquest (second) over C&D. Now that connections know he stays, he may not be given so much to do, and the booking of James McDonald is noteworthy. Trafalgar Square was purchased for 1.15m euros after finishing second to Illinois in the Prix Chaudenay and cannot be discounted. Caius Chorister arguably has the best form of these, but very quick ground may catch her out.
KING OF CONQUEST put a lesser effort behind him after 5 months off when going down narrowly to re-opposing Epic Poet over C&D 3 weeks ago, and he could be up to reversing those placings on these revised terms. Epic Poet's record at this sort of trip now stands at 2 wins from 3 starts and he, along with Caius Chorister, can provide chief resistance. Trafalgar Square is another worth a second look.
