Super Thursday serves up dress rehearsals for Dubai World Cup night

Super Thursday serves up dress rehearsals for Dubai World
Cup night

Bold Silvano will try to sweep the final two-thirds of the Maktoum Challenge (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) Meydan’s Super Thursday program features seven Thoroughbred races, each one a course-and-distance prep for major stakes on the blockbuster World Cup card on March 26. Although final declarations will be announced on Tuesday, the fields have begun to firm up at Monday’s entry stage. The $300,000 Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G2), held over the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) distance of about 1 1/4 miles on Tapeta, marks the reappearance of TWICE OVER (GB) (Observatory), who is expected to clash with Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (UAE-G3) romper MENDIP (Harlan’s Holiday) and Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (UAE-G3) conqueror BOLD SILVANO (Silvano [Ger]). Trained by Henry Cecil at Newmarket, Twice Over was last seen landing the October 16 Champion S. (Eng-G1) for the second straight year. The Juddmonte Farms homebred hopes that his second visit to Meydan will be more profitable than his first. At last year’s Dubai World Cup, Twice Over drew post 11, never got involved from off the pace, and was beaten less than four lengths when finishing 10th. This time, he will have the benefit of a race over the track in advance of the $10 million prize. In his only prior attempt on a synthetic surface, Twice Over garnered third in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) behind Zenyatta and Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat).

Four of Twice Over’s opponents from the Champion are also entered in the
Maktoum Challenge Round 3 — third-placer DEBUSSY (Ire) (Diesis [GB]), fourth
GITANO HERNANDO (GB) (Hernando [Fr]), fifth WIGMORE HALL (Ire) (High Chaparral
[Ire]) and ninth POET’S VOICE (Dubawi). Debussy, whose 2010 highlight was an
upset of defending champion Gio Ponti in the Arlington Million (G1), has not
raced since checking in fifth in the November 6 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).
Subsequently promoted to Godolphin, he would be making his first start for
Mahmood al Zarooni here.

The Marco Botti-trained Gitano Hernando, hero of the 2009 Goodwood S. (G1),
performed with great credit when sixth in the 2010 Dubai World Cup. The Team
Valor International colorbearer was an early shipper into Dubai this winter, and
kicked off his 2011 campaign with a fifth to Bold Silvano in the Maktoum
Challenge Round 2. Although cross-entered to Thursday’s Dubai City of Gold
(UAE-G2) on the turf, Gitano Hernando is expected to line up in the Maktoum
Challenge’s final round. Wigmore Hall, the runner-up in last summer’s
Secretariat S. (G1) for trainer Michael Bell, could instead tackle Thursday’s
grassy Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2), while Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1) winner Poet’s
Voice has the Jebel Hatta and the Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3) as other possible
engagements.

Zabeel Racing International’s RICHARD’S KID (Lemon Drop Kid) could make his
debut for new trainer Satish Seemar in the Maktoum Challenge Round 3, or in the
Burj Nahaar. Formerly based in Southern California with Bob Baffert, Richard’s
Kid was seventh in last year’s World Cup, but ended the season by successfully
defending his title in the Pacific Classic (G1) and driving to victory in the
Goodwood. He was in line for another crack at the Breeders’ Cup Classic until
Zabeel’s Sheikh Rashid opted to concentrate on the World Cup instead, and sent
him to Dubai to join Seemar.

Mendip was last seen romping in Round 1 of the Maktoum Challenge (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed’s Mendip, another with the Burj Nahaar as an alternative, is likelier to seek the Maktoum Challenge. Boasting a three-for-four career mark at Meydan, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee demolished the field in the Al Bastakiya on Super Thursday a year ago, and returned from a nine-month holiday to impress in the January 13 Maktoum Challenge Round 1 at a metric mile. This is a far stiffer task for Mendip, who can sometimes get a bit hot on the way to post. Godolphin’s multiple Grade 2 victor ETCHED (Forestry), most recently sixth in the epic renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 6, has the Maktoum Challenge as his lone entry. South Africa’s Bold Silvano rocketed up the World Cup charts with his commanding victory in the February 3 Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at about 1 3/16 miles. The Mike de Kock charge’s front-running tour de force was especially commendable because he had been off since capturing the prestigious Durban July (SAf-G1) six months earlier. Bold Silvano could be joined in the gate by his stablemate, South African Horse of the Year IRISH FLAME (Dynasty), who has failed to shine in his two starts of the Carnival on turf. The two have met before at home, with Irish Flame just holding off Bold Silvano in the Daily News 2000 (SAf-G1), and Bold Silvano gaining sweet revenge in the Durban July.

Argentinean Horse of the Year INTERACTION (Arg) (Easing Along), who rallied
smartly from last to finish third behind Bold Silvano in Round 2, might seek to
press his World Cup claims in Round 3. But the Pascal Bary charge is also
entered in the $250,000 Dubai City of Gold, the final stepping stone to the
Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) at about 1 1/2 grassy miles.

Should Interaction contest the Dubai City of Gold, his chief opponents could
be the fellow French-trained MARINOUS (Numerous) and KASBAH BLISS (Kahyasi).
Marinous scored in the Grand Prix de Deauville (Fr-G2) last August, and reported
home a solid sixth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), but the Freddie
Head trainee did not run up to that level when only 17th in the November 28
Japan Cup (Jpn-G1). Francois Doumen’s Kasbah Bliss, a former hurdler who
developed into a top-class stayer on the Flat in 2009, was most recently third
in the Prix du Cadran (Fr-G1) on Arc Day.

Others single-mindedly focused on the City of Gold are three of Godolphin’s
bevy of entrants — CALVADOS BLUES (Lando [Ger]), WHISPERING GALLERY (Daylami
[Ire]) and MONTEROSSO (Dubawi). While Calvados Blues and Whispering Gallery are
both coming off wins in marathon turf handicaps at the Carnival, Monterosso has
been sidelined since his fifth in the August 17 Great Voltigeur S. (Eng-G2) for
former trainer Mark Johnston. The progressive PRINCE BISHOP (Dubawi), who
extended his winning streak to four in the October 17 Prix du Conseil de Paris
(Fr-G2), could end up making his Godolphin bow here rather than in the Maktoum
Challenge Round 3.

Presvis will once again use the Jebel Hatta as his prep for the Duty Free (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) There is no such ambiguity surrounding PRESVIS (Sakhee), who will mount a title defense in the $250,000 Jebel Hatta at about 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Artfully lifted from handicaps to the international stage a couple of years ago by Luca Cumani, Presvis is on course for a third straight tilt at the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1). The gelding flew late for runner-up honors behind the loose-on-the-lead Gladiatorus in the 2009 Duty Free at old Nad al Sheba, and following his impressive Jebel Hatta coup in 2010, he appeared ready to go one better in the first Duty Free at Meydan. Unfortunately, Presvis suffered traffic troubles and wound up 11th behind the surprising AL SHEMALI (Medicean). After flopping the rest of the spring, Presvis was freshened in advance of the Carnival, and the rejuvenated seven-year-old returned with a smashing 4 3/4-length conquest of STEELE TANGO (Okawango) in the Al Rashidiya (UAE-G2) here on January 27. Al Shemali, who followed up his Duty Free upset with a fine third in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Sin-G1) last May, resurfaced this winter on the Tapeta. Fourth to Bold Silvano in the Maktoum Challenge Round 2, Al Shemali fared even worse in a February 18 conditions event, where he folded to a well-beaten sixth behind de Kock’s track record-setter Golden Sword (High Chaparral [Ire]). Trainer Ali Rashid al Raihe thus decided to put his seven-year-old back on the grass in this spot.

HEARTS OF FIRE (Firebreak), a $905,808 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training
purchase, was fourth in the February 17 Al Fahidi Fort (UAE-G2) in his debut 
for conditioner Ibrahim Saeed al Malki, and is eligible to improve second time
out in the Jebel Hatta. Hearts of Fire was a great success story for
jockey-turned-trainer Pat Eddery, who bought him for only $23,744 as a yearling.
The Italian and German highweight juvenile of 2009, he was a bang-up third to
Canford Cliffs (Tagula) in last summer’s St James’s Palace S. (Eng-G1) at Royal
Ascot. Hearts of Fire concluded his European career with a sixth to Jebel Hatta
possible Poets Voice in the Queen Elizabeth II back at Ascot, his final race
before his lucrative sale.

Godolphin’s once-beaten SIMON DE MONTFORT (King’s Best), a comfortable
handicap winner over the course in his comeback, would be a prime contender, if
he doesn’t go in the City of Gold instead. The same can be said of the
Head-trained RAJSAMAN (Linamix), a strong fourth in the December 12 Hong Kong
Mile (HK-G1), who’s also engaged in the Burj Nahaar as well as in Maktoum
Challenge Round 3. WIN FOR SURE (Stravinsky), third to Mendip in the Maktoum
Challenge Round 1, could also contest Round 3, or stay on turf for the Jebel
Hatta after his recent handicap score.

Musir can catapult himself into the World Cup with a strong showing in the Burj Nahaar (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) Although many of the leading lights in the Burj Nahaar are uncertain participants because of their various cross-entries, former South African champion MUSIR (Redoute’s Choice) will definitely opt for this spot. Ostensibly a prep for the Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) over the same metric mile on the Tapeta, the Burj Nahaar nevertheless promises to yield clues for the World Cup itself. As one of de Kock’s primary World Cup hopes, Musir was also cross-entered in the Maktoum Challenge Round 3. But the trainer is intent on keeping him away from stablemate Bold Silvano, leaving Musir to tune up for the big event in the Burj Nahaar, where he will most likely be the horse to beat. Musir, a star at the 2010 Carnival, impressed in the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) and U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2). Sent to his native Australia in hopes of a Cox Plate (Aus-G1) campaign, he never made it to the races there for trainer David Payne, and was returned to de Kock. Musir reappeared from an 11-month absence in the February 10 Firebreak S. at the Burj Nahaar track and trip and finished an encouraging second to Godolphin’s Skysurfers (E Dubai), who was not entered for Super Thursday.

De Kock’s other Burj Nahaar entrants are IMBONGI (Russian Revival), exiting a
third in the Firebreak, and OUR GIANT (Giant’s Causeway), who’s dropped two
straight since landing a January 13 sprint on the Tapeta.

Among those entered solely in the Burj Nahaar are its past two winners —
defending champion CAT JUNIOR (Storm Cat), most recently seventh in the
Firebreak for new trainer Niels Petersen, and SNAAFY (Kingmambo), the 2009
winner who romped in the February 4 Jebel Ali Mile two starts back.

CONVEYANCE (Indian Charlie), 15th after setting the pace in the Kentucky
Derby (G1) when last seen under silks, could return on Super Thursday. Like his
fellow Zabeel colorbearer Richard’s Kid, the gray has since been transferred
from Baffert to Seemar. Conveyance is cross-entered to the Burj Nahaar and the
$200,000 Mahab al Shimaal (UAE-G3), an about six-furlong dash on the Tapeta that
leads to the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1).

Perhaps unexpectedly, multiple Group 1 sprint star J J THE JET PLANE (Jet
Master) was entered solely in the Mahab al Shimaal, despite retreating badly to
11th in his synthetic debut here on February 17. That snapped a three-race
winning skein for the Lucky Houdalakis pupil, who had marched through the Golden
Horse Casino Sprint (SAf-G1), Mercury Sprint (SAf-G1) and Hong Kong Sprint
(HK-G1) on the turf. On a related note, the Herman Brown-trained BANKABLE (Medicean),
whose best form has been over further, was cross-entered to the Mahab al Shimaal,
with his other options being the Burj Nahaar and the Maktoum Challenge Round 3.

MUTHEEB (Danzig), runner-up in the 2010 Mahab al Shimaal, is one of a number
of sprinters who are also eligible for an about five-furlong scramble down the
straight turf course, a $175,000 tune-up for the Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G2) on World Cup
night. The two top-rated horses in the Al Quoz prep, however — PROHIBIT (Oasis
Dream [GB]) and HAPPY DUBAI (Indian Ridge) — are entered only for that grassy
conditions event. Prohibit looks to make it two in a row at this course and
distance, while Happy Dubai, twice a winner at the Carnival, exits a fifth
behind Prohibit.

Reem, shown upsetting Mahbooba in January, can pay her a compliment against the boys in the Al Bastakiya (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) The $250,000 Al Bastakiya, the middle leg of the U.A.E. Triple Crown, hasn’t drawn any of the principals from the February 10 Two Thousand Guineas. Rather, the about 1 3/16-mile test shapes up as a proxy war of sorts between Godolphin and de Kock’s lesser ranks. Godolphin’s BRIDGEFIELD (Speightstown), fourth behind fellow al Zarooni pupil Splash Point (Street Cry [Ire]) and de Kock’s Zanzamar (Fort Wood) in the Guineas, will try to uphold the form of the first classic. Guineas also-rans SONORAN SANDS (Footstepsinthesand [GB]), PAULINHO (Equal Stripes), AIR OF GRACE (Dalakhani) and ABJER (Singspiel [Ire]) would all need to move forward dramatically to factor. De Kock has entered the filly REEM (Galileo [Ire]), who could be on a scouting expedition on behalf of his most highly-regarded filly Mahbooba (Galileo [Ire]). Reem upended Mahbooba in the January 13 U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas Trial at about seven furlongs, but Mahbooba quickly restored order by dismissing Reem over the metric mile of the Guineas on February 3. Reem came back to flatter the form when runner-up to another de Kock powerhouse, the older mare River Jetez (Jet Master), in the February 18 Balanchine S. (UAE-G2) on the turf. That made Mahbooba’s upset loss in last Thursday’s U.A.E. Oaks (UAE-G3) all the more surprising, but de Kock believed that tactics undid her that day. She is still bound for the March 26 U.A.E. Derby against males, and a strong showing from Reem in the Al Bastakiya would enhance Mahbooba’s credentials for the meet’s final classic.

Intriguing new shooters are AHLAAIN (Bernstein), who wheels back off a fine
second in last Thursday’s Meydan Classic on the grass, and Godolphin’s BORUG (Kingmambo),
the winner of his only prior synthetic try at Kempton for bin Suroor.