*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
With no Dubai World Cup extravaganza in 2020, it’s all systems go at Meydan this coming Saturday for their biggest race day of the year and with some of the biggest names in the equine world supporting the eight-race card, it promises to be something special.
Five Group one races, along with a further three Group two contests, will make sure that the stakes are as high as ever and winners won’t come easy. But as the saying goes, ‘there’s a winner in every race’ and here are five horses which could just take the plaudits under the desert sun this coming Saturday.
What’s more, Paddy is Non-Runner, Money-Back for this weekend’s big night at Meydan so if your selection doesn’t run your stake will be returned.
It’s Dubai World Cup night – and here’s five to follow…
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GODOLPHIN MILE – Midnight Sands
A big field has been confirmed for the first of the Group action on Saturday but very few come into this Godolphin Mile in great form. Only two of the 15 runners managed to win last time out and that must enhance the chances of Midnight Sands, which was a comfortable winner of a Group three contest over course and distance at the start of the month.
Doug Watson’s charge has become a real favourite at Meydan and he goes into Saturday’s showpiece having won his last six starts at the track. He’s two from two over C&D and Pat Dobbs, who once again takes the ride, has never been beaten on him from six starts either. Secret Ambition is worth noting from a value angle, given that he seldom runs a bad race at the track, but if you’re looking for a banker on this World Cup card, look no further than Midnight Sands in the Godolphin Mile.
DUBAI GOLD CUP – Global Heat
With no Vazirabad or Cross Counter, this year’s Dubai Gold Cup most definitely has a very open look to it and there’s no doubting that cases can be made for many of the runners tackling this two-mile trip.
Four of these locked horns in the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh last month, when Spanish Moon fared best of that quartet, finishing just ahead of Secret Advisor and Red Vernon. There’s likely to be no hiding place with French St Leger winner Subjectivist sure to take them along at a decent clip but as for him making all, he’s probably going to struggle given that his best form has come on much softer conditions. With four chances, Godolphin are going to have a big say in the finish and while Volcanic Sky beat Global Heat over 1m6f last month, the extra two furlongs will most definitely suit the latter far more.
On his two most recent starts, Global Heat has been motoring home inside the closing stages and the combination of the extended trip, along with Frankie Dettori being on board, he looks to have a huge chance of giving the boys in blue back-to-back winnings of the Dubai Gold Cup.
AL QUOZ SPRINT – Space Blues
There’s no doubting that Godolphin have plenty of firepower for the months ahead but there will be fewer horses, if any, higher on their list than Space Blues given what he has achieved in the last nine months. A promising three-year-old, the son of Dubawi has been a revelation since he returned to action at Haydock last June and since then, he’s managed to rattle off a fabulous five-timer which culminated in a dominant display at Riyadh last month.
He heads the line-up for Saturday’s Al Quoz Sprint in a bid to give Charlie Appleby and William Buick three consecutive victories in the race and while the one slight negative to his chances is the fact that he’s never won over six furlongs, the electric early pace of this race will play to his strengths. Remember, he won the Prix Maurice de Gheest over 110 yards further than Saturday’s trip and on official ratings, he’s six pounds better than his closer pursuer.
For Space Blues to win on Saturday, he doesn’t need good luck or bad luck. If he gets normal luck, he’ll win and it’s as simple as that.
DUBAI TURF – Lord Glitters
From running into Addeybb in the 2018 Lincoln, Lord Glitters has come a long way and three years on from that Doncaster defeat, to the very day, he will line up in his 14th Group one race when he takes to the stalls in the Dubai Turf. A two-time Group one hero already, Daniel Tudhope’s terrific grey has gone from being renowned as mud-lover to a magnificent big race contender and he bids to avenge his third-placed effort in this race two years ago.
Along with his overall form, his Meydan record gives him a wonderful chance of glory on Saturday, as from four starts he’s never been out of the placings, and his win at Group one level over course and distance earlier this month saw him beat four of Saturday’s rivals.
Again, the fast pace is likely to be to his advantage here, unlike Al Suhail and Eqtiraan and his fast-finishing third behind Almond Eye in the 2019 renewal is probably the best piece of form in the race. So, while he will need luck getting a clear run late on, he’s got everything required to bag this big prize.
DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC – Chrono Genesis
Dubai World Cup night wouldn’t be the same without some Japanese interest and following on from Almond Eye’s success two years ago, they may very well taste more big-race triumph with Chrono Genesis in the Sheema Classic. The five-year-old mare has been one of the stars of Japanese racing over the past 18 months and it’s worth noting that her only two defeats in that period have come over an inadequate 1m2f, which is some two furlongs shorter than Saturday’s race.
Her win in last year’s Takarazuka Kinen was simply sensational and she perhaps would have followed up in the Tenno Sho, when given too much to do by Yuichi Kitamura, instead of finishing a close third to Almond Eye. As well as being a strong traveller, the long home straight at Meydan will give her plenty to aim at on Saturday and while Mishriff and Mogul will have their supporters, it’s unlikely that either will be in Chrono Genesis’ league come the business end of the race.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
Tips summary:
Godolphin mile – Midnight Sands
Dubai Gold Cup – Global Heat
Al Quoz Sprint – Space Blues
Dubai Turf – Lord Glitters
Dubai Sheema Classic – Chrono Genesis
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