The Dubai World Cup Carnival heats up Thursday with a card which boasts two
classy Group 2 turf contests, the 1800-meter Al Rashidiya and the 1600-meter
Cape Verdi, both worth $200,000.
Last season the winners of these races, Godolphin’s Sajjhaa (Cape Verdi) and
the Mike de Kock-trained The Apache (Al Rashidiya) went on to finish first and
second, respectively, in the Dubai Duty Free on Dubai World Cup day.
Indeed, last year’s version of the card saw all the other winners proceed to
gain starting places in Dubai World Cup day races, including Mushreq (Duty
Free), Medicean Man (Al Quoz Sprint) and Rerouted (Godolphin Mile).
This season’s renewal sees 12 declared for the Al Rashidiya, a race South
African de Kock is seeking to win for a third consecutive year and sixth time in
total.
De Kock saddles two this year, the previously-mentioned Mushreq and Mujaarib,
both owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose second retained jockey,
Dane O’Neill (in the absence of first jockey Paul Hanagan who is suspended),
unsurprisingly chooses to ride Mushreq.
In addition to the 2000-meter turf handicap that he landed on this card last
year, De Kock’s charge progressed to win the Al Fahidi Fort and made a winning
return this season on the opening night of the Dubai World Cup Carnival in the
Singspiel Stakes.
“He ran well in the Dubai Duty Free last year to be beaten less than seven
lengths in a red-hot race after a busy Meydan campaign,” de Kock said. “He ran
six times last season but will be campaigned more sparingly this time. A good
run here, Super Saturday and World Cup night in the Duty Free would probably be
the ideal.”
Stable companion Mujaarib will reportedly need the run and it could well be
the Godolphin trainers who supply the biggest dangers.
No filly or mare has ever won the Al Rashidiya, but Godolphin’s Tasaday,
having her first start for Saeed bin Suroor, looks a big danger to all having
campaigned with distinction at Group 1 level in France. Never out of the first
four in a quartet of outings at the highest level, she won both her races
outside of Group 1 company last year
“She is a lovely new filly in the yard and she has been pleasing us at home,”
said bin Suroor, who has won the race four times. “She will improve for this run
but we expect a big effort.”
Fellow Godolphin handler, Charlie Appleby has made a bright start to his
first Dubai World Cup Carnival and saddles both Steeler and Maputo.
“Steeler really pleased us with his comeback run three weeks ago after his
long break,” Appleby said. “He has improved for that, while Maputo is having his
first start for us. He was progressive last year and a great addition to the
team who has been working well. It is a good race, as you would expect, but our
two should go well.”
The Cape Verdi, restricted to fillies and mares, is definitely a case of
quality over quantity with only six declared. Those include Godolphin’s unbeaten
Group 1-winner Certify, dual Meydan big-race heroine Shuruq, as well as
formidable French challenger Flotilla, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Fillies Turf in 2012 and last year’s French One Thousand Guineas for trainer
Mikel Delzangles.
Flotilla, who picked up a bruised foot following her effort in the Prix de
Moulin in September, has been away from the track for some time and is expected
to improve for her first racecourse appearance for 136 days.
Meanwhile the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Shuruq has the benefit of a run under
her belt, having galloped home the winner of the opening round of the Al Maktoum
Challenge three weeks ago. She has great U.A.E. form, having also landed last
year’s U.A.E. Oaks, but will be seeking a first career win on turf.
Certify, will be saddled by Appleby who hopes she can keep her 100 percent
record intact. Winner of all four starts as a juvenile, highlighted by victory
in the Fillies’ Mile, Certify missed all last season but she has been pleasing
Appleby.
“Obviously she has been off a long time and will improve for a run but her
work has been good,” Appleby said. “We always thought she was very good and
hopefully she will prove us right this year.”
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