This marks the fourth week of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, and yet another major prize is offered at Meydan. The US$200,000 G2 Al Rashidiya, run over 1,800m on Turf, has attracted an interesting field of 14 runners for its latest renewal.
This marks the fourth week of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, and yet another major prize is offered at Meydan. The US$200,000 G2 Al Rashidiya, run over 1,800m on Turf, has attracted an interesting field of 14 runners for its latest renewal.
The light blue silks of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, are expected to be to the fore again with Earnshaw, a five-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro, who has taken time to settle in Dubai.
There were high hopes for Earnshaw earlier in his career. He won his first two outings and then finished a handy second to Ectot in the G1 Criterium International, in very heavy ground, at Saint-Cloud.
At three, he was considered good enough by trainer Andre Fabre to have a crack at the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly. That he finished 13th of 16 runners behind The Grey Gatsby could be largely put down to immaturity.
This campaign he has a good chance of fulfilling the promise he displayed earlier in his career, and this G2 race on Turf is a good place to start his upward climb through the ranks.
The highest rated officially in the Al Rashidiya is the William Muir-trained six-year-old Big Baz, the winner of seven from 24 starts. He comes here off the back of a second to More Aspen in the Listed Singspiel Stakes, over 1,800m.
Another worth noting is the Mick Channon-trained Bossy Guest, who could prove a really smart four-year-old. His fourth in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and subsequent third in the G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot were both indications that he has potential to win a decent race.
On the same high-quality card at Meydan, trainer Charlie Appleby has a good claims with Flash Fire for Godolphin in the Bab Al Shams Resort and Spa Handicap (on Turf), over 1,400m. The four-year-old faces 11 rivals.
With a record-breaking sales week having taken place at Karaka, Auckland, most of the leading owners and trainers from Australia will have returned home for the key preliminary races this weekend to the big Autumn Carnivals, scheduled for February, March and April.
The G2 Expressway Stakes at Rosehill, Sydney, is arguably the most important of them, with eight runners set to contest the 1,200-metre race. Godolphin are represented by Generalife, who has not run since finishing second in the G3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes last November. He has run in two barrier trials since and is ready to run.
The remarkable Our Boy Malachi has won 17 of his 21 starts and faces an important test here in his first run back from a lengthy spell after reportedly having bled in the Doomben 10,000 in Brisbane last year. He recently won a trial. Under Australian rules, he faces a lifetime ban if he bleeds again.
The Joe Pride-trained Tiger Tees is set to make his presence felt, while Solicit and King's Troop, both trained by Gerald Ryan, are also set for what should be a cracking race.
Smart two-year-old Tessera, who won first-up for Godolphin on January 16, faces an interesting clash with the much-discussed newcomer Defcon, trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, in the G3 Canonbury Stakes, over 1,100m on the same card.
Defcon has the same connections as Capitalist, the recent winner of the Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (Restricted Listed) on the Gold Coast earlier this month, and comparisons have already been drawn between the two juveniles.
The G3 Widden Stakes is also a fascinating two-year-old race, but this time for the fillies, with Chipanda (James McDonald) and newcomer Nonpareil representing Godolphin against the Gai Waterhouse-trained So Serene in the 13-runner field.
In Melbourne, Godolphin colours are carried by Barbed in the Listed Kensington Stakes, over 1,000m at Flemington, but there is stiff opposition awaiting in the shape of The Quarterback, Yesterday's Songs and Headwater.
