Midge returns in Sheema; Kinsale King defends title in Golden Shaheen

Dangerous Midge and Champ Pegasus (left) will put their Breeders’ Cup Turf form to the test in the Sheema (Copyright Breeders’ Cup Ltd.)

While the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) is the marquee event at Meydan
on Saturday, the
six supporting Thoroughbred stakes on the card will begin the
crescendo.

The $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) features a rematch of the top
two from the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), with winner DANGEROUS MIDGE (Lion Heart)
and runner-up CHAMP PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) squaring off in the about 1
1/2-mile grass event. Dangerous Midge hasn’t raced since the November 6
Breeders’ Cup, but trainer Brian Meehan sent out David Junior to lift the Dubai
Duty Free (UAE-G1) off a similar layoff in 2006.

Champ Pegasus, on the other hand, has two subsequent starts under his belt at
Santa Anita. Runner-up to BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]) in the January 17 San
Marcos S. (G2), the Richard Mandella charge turned the tables after a thrilling
duel in the February 19 San Luis Obispo (G2). Bourbon Bay may not have relished
the rain-softened ground in his latest, according to horseman Neil Drysdale.

Godolphin fields a serious threat in REWILDING (Tiger Hill). Third in last
year’s Derby (Eng-G1) at Epsom, the Mahmood al Zarooni pupil later romped by
four lengths in the Great Voltigeur S. (Eng-G2) at York. Rewilding hasn’t been
seen since his subpar sixth in the September 11 St Leger (Eng-G1) over an
extended 1 3/4 miles, but figures to thrive back at this distance. Godolphin’s
second-stringer, CALVADOS BLUES (Lando [Ger]), exits a second-place effort in
the March 3 Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G2).

Wigmore Hall (left) comes into the Duty Free off a last-stride score in the Jebel Hatta (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club)

As usual, the $5 million Dubai Duty Free shapes up as a contentious affair at
about 1 1/8 miles on turf. The seven-year-old PRESVIS (Sakhee) hopes that the
third time is the charm, having finished second in the 2009 Duty Free and 11th
when suffering traffic woes in 2010. The Luca Cumani trainee was right back to
his crushing best with a 4 3/4-length triumph in the January 27 Al Rashidiya
(UAE-G2), but was narrowly denied in third in the March 3 Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2),
both contested over this course and distance. Presvis will get another chance at
Jebel Hatta winner WIGMORE HALL (Ire) (High Chaparral [Ire]) here, but Jebel
Hatta runner-up Poet’s Voice (Dubawi) is in the World Cup.

Mike de Kock will be double-handed, courtesy of South African Group 1 queen
RIVER JETEZ (Jet Master), a convincing winner of the February 18 Balanchine S.
(UAE-G2), and RAIHANA (Elusive Quality), a close second to the razor-sharp
DERBAAS (Seeking the Gold) in the February 17 Al Fahidi Fort (UAE-G2).

BANKABLE (Medicean), the second-place finisher in last year’s Duty Free, took
an unorthodox route by prepping in the about six-furlong Mahab al Shimaal
(UAE-G3) on the Tapeta. When he exploded from the rear of the field to win going
away, he posted by far his best effort of the Carnival for trainer Herman Brown.

Kinsale King and Rocket Man finished one-two in the 2010 Golden Shaheen (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club)

In the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) for sprinters on the Tapeta,
defending champion KINSALE KING (Yankee Victor) will try to emulate Caller One,
a back-to-back winner at old Nad al Sheba in 2001-02. Conditioned by the
ebullient Carl O’Callaghan, Kinsale King upended Singapore’s pride ROCKET MAN
(Viscount) in this about six-furlong scramble last year. His form deteriorated
later in the season, but Kinsale King got back on track with a strong allowance
win over the Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields on February 17.

The Bob Baffert-trained EUROEARS (Langfuhr) prepped in the race that Kinsale
King used last year, the January 22 Palos Verdes H. (G2), and sizzled to a
front-running score. The seven-year-old figures to show similar speed here, but
he has never before tried a synthetic surface.

Rocket Man, the recently-crowned Horse of the Year in Singapore, is still in
search of his first international Group 1 victory after a few agonizing
near-misses. He was compromised by a bad trip in the 2010 Golden Shaheen,
however, and a more sensible passage can see him take the laurels.

Khawlah and Mahbooba (left) figure to stage another battle royal in the UAE Derby (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club)

The $2 million U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) could witness its first female winner,
for three of the prime threats are fillies. Godolphin’s highly-regarded KHAWLAH
(Cape Cross [Ire]) benefited from a perfect trip to thwart de Kock’s number one
MAHBOOBA (Galileo [Ire]) in the February 24 U.A.E. Oaks (UAE-G3) at this 1
3/16-mile trip.

De Kock later revealed the depth of his bench when REEM (Galileo [Ire]),
previously runner-up to Mahbooba in the U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas, annihilated
a suspect group of males in the March 3 Al Bastakiya. Yet the form was given a
decent look by the fact that Al Bastakiya runner-up AHLAAIN (Bernstein) had also
finished second to INTROVERT (Iffraaj) in the February 24 Meydan Classic on
turf.

Thus the top two colts from the February 10 U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas
(UAE-G3), Godolphin’s SPLASH POINT (Street Cry [Ire]) and de Kock’s ZANZAMAR
(Fort Wood), rate as lesser lights from their yards.

If riding assignments are any indication, Godolphin’s best prospect could be
multiple Brazilian Group 1 star XIN XU LIN (Wondertross), who lures Frankie
Dettori into the saddle. Last seen trumping older horses in the prestigious Gran
Premio Carlos Pellegrini (Arg-G1), Xin Xu Lin will be trying synthetic in his
first start for new connections. Also debuting for new ownership is multiple
stakes winner SWEET DUCKY (Pulpit), the runner-up to Dialed In (Mineshaft) in
the January 30 Holy Bull S. (G3), who was just purchased by Chechen President
Ramzan Kadyrov.