The Dubai World Cup Carnival continues at its usual cracking pace at Meydan today (Thursday, 21 January), as several key hopes for Australia's big Autumn Carnivals reappear in Melbourne, and a sprinkling of the best stayers and juveniles in New Zealand also have a shot at big prizemoney.
The Dubai World Cup Carnival continues at its usual cracking pace at Meydan today (Thursday, 21 January), as several key hopes for Australia's big Autumn Carnivals reappear in Melbourne, and a sprinkling of the best stayers and juveniles in New Zealand also have a shot at big prizemoney.
There can be no questioning the variety of racing on offer worldwide this weekend. It is a well-worn cliché, I know, but perfectly fair to say, there is something for everyone.
Godolphin horses are gearing up nicely for the weeks leading up to Dubai World Cup night, and Safety Check will indicate whether he has come to hand as quickly as last season when attempting to land the G2 Al Fahidi Fort for the second successive year. This time, he faces 8 rivals.
Exactly 12 months ago, he beat Eastern Rules, Zahee and Anaerobio in the 1,400-metre contest.
After winning three races in Dubai, Safety Check then returned to the UK where his best run was a solid third to Toormore in the G2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. He has not been seen out since a disappointing run when 10th in the G2 Park Stakes at Doncaster last September.
Eastern Rules and Anaerobio will reoppose, but in all fairness, the beautifully-named Safety Check (out of the mare Doors To Manual) should again have their measure.
The one, who could threaten is the Mike De Kock-trained Tellina, who has finished 4th and 3rd in the last two runnings of the Durban July in South Africa. The son of Silvano is a talented type, who still has improvement in him.
At Moonee Valley, Melbourne, on Saturday, Hucklebuck steps out for the first time following a long break, in the G2 Australia Stakes. This one-time G1 Emirates Stakes winner will come up against Godolphin's well-credentialed Holler, the G1 Underwood Stakes winner Mourinho, and G1 Toorak Stakes winner Trust In A Gust.
Over in New Zealand, officials have taken the sensible decision to return the G2 Wellington Cup at Trentham to its traditional 3,200-metre distance in an attempt to encourage stayers. The country is famous for producing stayers capable of winning big races such as the G1 Melbourne Cup.
On Sunday, in Auckland, the running of the Karaka Million, over 1,200 metres at Ellerslie, will set the scene for a sales week in which records are expected to be broken.
It is particularly pleasing to see G1 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne basking in the limelight generated by her history-making win on Prince Of Penzance at Flemington last November. She has been snapped up for Nashville in the G1 Wellington Cup.
Payne has been playing the sporting celebrity role to perfection, having recently been pictured greeting tennis star Roger Federer, and also 'guesting' at numerous sporting functions throughout Australia. She is capitalising brilliantly on her recent fame.
Nashville, who won the G3 Trentham Stakes, will be a good ride for her, but Rosie Myers, who won on the stayer last start, now partners the John Wheeler-trained Pentathlon, winner of five from 17 to date and a young horse on the improve.
The G3 New Zealand Cup winner Jimmy Mac scraped home in the Marton Cup on January 9, winning by two short heads, but is a big chance for Lisa Allpress.
On the same card, Payne has been booked for Ringo, who faces nines rivals in the Thorndon Mile, ensuring a busy day for the popular jockey.
In Sunday's Karaka Million, over 1,200 metres the Darley shuttle stallion Iffraaj is represented by The Soultaker and Xiong Feng. This sales race, with its big prize, will be hotly contested.
