The third meeting of the 2011 Dubai International
Racing Carnival at Meydan is scheduled for Thursday, and both Saeed bin Suroor and Mike De Kock
are one winner away from
milestones.
The most successful Carnival trainer, bin Suroor is seeking his 100th winner
at the annual racing extravaganza, while South African De Kock, second to bin
Suroor in the Carnival statistics, is on 99 UAE winners. It will be a major
surprise if at least one does not bring up their century.
Both trainers have leading contenders in the featured Al Rashidiya (UAE-G2),
which will send out 13 runners over the same turf course and about nine-furlong distance as the Dubai
Duty Free (UAE-G1) on Dubai World Cup night. Five handicaps and one conditions race complete the all Thoroughbred card,
but all eyes will be on bin Suroor and De Kock as they seek to complete their
respective milestones.
Bin Suroor, who won this last year with Alexandros (Kingmambo), has already saddled the
big race winners on the first two nights of the Carnival and relies on CAYMANS
(Secret Savings),
a Group 2 winner in his native Australia. The bay was eased down when sixth in
his only start of 2010 in a mile conditions race on heavy ground at Nottingham
in November.
“He did disappoint in England but that was on very
heavy ground and the Meydan surface will be much more to his liking,” bin Suroor
explained. “He is in good form and I am hopeful.
“He will like racing on fast ground and his form in Australia is very good.
He will improve for this run but I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on.”
De Kock also has a good record in the Al Rashidiya and is looking to win it for a
fourth time. He saddles South African Horse of the Year IRISH FLAME (Dynasty), who has to
give weight to all his 12 rivals.
“The horse is in great form but has
to concede weight over a trip short of his best,” De Kock said. “He should run well but I am
hopeful as opposed to confident.”
It appears a very competitive renewal with the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained duo
of SEA LORD (Cape Cross [Ire]) and FROZEN POWER (Oasis Dream [GB]) both appearing to have chances. Ahmed Ajtebi
has elected to partner Sea Lord.
“It was not an easy choice and both should run well,” Ajtebi admitted. “They ran
on Tapeta last time and will much prefer this return to grass.”
Both Frozen Power and Sea Lord competed in Round 1 of the Al Maktoum
Challenge (UAE-G3) on January 13, finishing seventh and eighth, respectively.
They each have wins from last season, with Frozen Lord taking the German Two
Thousand Guineas (Ger-G2) and Sea Lord capturing the Sovereign S. (Eng-G3).
“Sea Lord has improved for his first run of the season and I think that the
return to turf will suit him,” Al Zarooni remarked. “Nine furlongs should be no
problem and he has a good draw, so I am hopeful that he goes into the race with
a good chance.
“Frozen Power will also enjoy the return to turf and the step up in distance
will also play to his strengths. It looks like he stays further than a mile now
and I am keen to see how he gets on over nine furlongs.”
Mickael Barzalona will be aboard Frozen Power.
Among those representing England is Group 3 scorer STEELE TANGO (Okawang),
who was a course and distance winner in a handicap on the first
night of the Carnival.
“It is a great
spare ride and the horse seems to have thrived in Dubai,” said jockey Ted Durcan,
who has the mount. “He did it well last
time but this is obviously a better race.”
Durcan rides him because Ryan Moore, who was in the saddle a fortnight ago,
rides PRESVIS (Sakhee) for Luca Cumani. A Carnival winner in each of the last two years, Cumani’s charge has a touch of class
with past wins in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup S. (HK-G1) and Jebel Hatta
(UAE-G2), but will be returning from a layoff.
“He is in good form at home but has not raced since June and is certain to
improve from the run,” assistant trainer Charlie Henson said.
Completing a strong challenge from England is BUSHMAN (Maria’s Mon) for David
Simcock and jockey Jamie Spencer. The seven-year-old added the Diomed S.
(Eng-G3) and Royal Windsor S. to his resume last year.