This is indeed a "super" Saturday which many runners hoping to proceed to the Dubai World Cup Meeting in 3 weeks time.
The Dubai City of Gold is G2 on turf over the 2400m and is the prep for the Sheema. Owen Burrows is hoping that Hukum can win again to honour the memory of Sheik Hamdan who bred the son of Sea The Stars. As usual the following prices are what is quoted in the UK as there is no betting in the UAE. Hukum is on 6/4, Global Storm is a c&d winner for Appleby-Buick and is on 4/1 and the Crisfords' Without A Fight is on 5/1. We have a roughie here in Valyrian Steel 25/1 Fawzi Naas and Barzalona riding.
The Burj Nahaar G3 over 1600m dirt is the prep for the Godolphin Mile. The locals form a strong group here with Watson's Golden Goal on 7/2 and Seemar's Imperial Empire on 9/2. Watson also saddle Mubakker on 11/2 and the top raider here is Doug O'Neill's Strongconstitution with William Buick booked for the ride.
The Nad Al Sheba Sprint G3 turf is the prep for the Al Quoz Sprint and here the market has Emiraaty Anna on 5/2 but we might push Man of Promise ahead here on 11/4 for Appleby-Buick. Prix de l'Abbaye winner A Case of You is on 7/2 and we will have a little something on our Aussie runner Parsifal with Cailin Jones riding and 25/1 tempting.
The Al Bastikaya G3 over 1900m dirt is one of the most competitive of the night with the Seemar runner Bendoog ticking lots of boxes. The South American rep Quality Boone is on 9/2 after a good run in the Guineas and there's another Fawzi Naas raider in Withering on 5/1 and an Appleby-Buick runner Secret Image on 7/1.
The third and final round of the Maktoum Challenge is G1 over 2000m dirt. Salute The Soldier is trying to win this for the second year and is on 11/2 with Watson's Everfast on the same quote but Hypothetical is a bit shorter on 7/2. American raider Appreciated is on 11/1.
The Ras Al Khar is a new race over 1400 turf. Godolphin seems to have a strong hold here with the top rated buy quirky Al Suhail on 11/8 for Appleby-Buick. Bin Suroor saddles Storm Damage on 4/1 and Mutafawwig on 20/1 which we are pairing in the roughie section with Prince Eiji on the same quote from Doug Watson's yard.
The Jebel Hatta G1 is over 1800m turf and as such is the trial for the Dubai Turf. The wonderful Lord Glitters comes into this on 2/1 just ahead of the talented Zakouski on 7/2 with good old Barney Roy on 4/1. And a roughie here is Felix on 12/1 for Marco Botti and good to see the ride has gone to Noel Callan.
The Mahab Al Shimaal G3 is over 1200m dirt and a prep for the Golden Shaheen. The locals have Canvassed 2/1 and Al Tariq 5/2 from Doug Watson's yard with the Seemar ruuner Freedom Fighter on 11/2. We'll put in the American raider Positivity on 8/1 with Doug O'Neill booking Fernando Jara for the ride.
