* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Godolphin Mile (12:20) – Storm Damage
The Godolphin Mile is surprisingly the one dirt race on Dubai World Cup day where the American challengers don’t have much success, winning just one renewal over the past decade. STORM DAMAGE makes his dirt debut here and I’m hopeful he’ll handle the surface on pedigree and win for Saeed Bin Suroor. He’s by Night Of Thunder, who was himself sired by Dubawi with dirt breeding also on his dam side, out of a Sunday Silence mare. He’s been a classy turf performer and has already shown tactical speed and should get a good position and challenge under Christophe Soumillon.
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UAE Derby (14:10) – Combustion
There’s plenty of speed on offer in the Group 2 UAE Derby with the frontrunners likely to fade in the closing stages and set things up for a closer. COMBUSTION will look for cover behind the leaders and has already shown some lovely dirt form in Japan and has close lines of form with fellow Japanese raider Sekifu. Summer Is Tomorrow, Bendoog and Pinehurst are going to make this a fast affair and I’m not sure the Bob Baffert runner will see out the extra-distance from his victory in the Saudi Derby. I’m hoping it will be another Godolphin winner on the day with William Buick riding and making some history for Keizo Ito and Japan in this one.
Dubai Turf (15:20) – Schnell Meister
SCHNELL MEISTER has some excellent form in the book and I’m siding with Japan again on Saturday afternoon with Takahisa Tezuka’s runner my best bet in the Dubai Turf under Christophe Lemaire. He was a Group 1 winner last May in Japan and was a fantastic second to Gran Alegria when last seen last November. Gran Alegria has been a superstar and arguably the best horse in Japan over the last couple of years, so a narrow defeat to her was an excellent performance. I wasn’t overly impressed by Lord North’s run at Lingfield last month and in truth this race doesn’t hold much depth in my opinion, so SCHNELL MEISTER is by far the best horse for me.
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Dubai Sheema Classic (15:55) – Yibir
Charlie Appleby and his team have done some amazing work with YIBIR over the past year, and I believe he secure victory in the Sheema Classic and give Godolphin another winner on Dubai World Cup day. He’s got some turn of foot having progressed further from victory at York in August to success in Belmont and at the Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar last November. He’s turned into a new horse since been gelded last summer and finally learned to settle and race and shown a new lease of life from his Great Voltigeur success onwards. His experience in America has seen him settle and kick, settle and kick and I can see William Buick riding him cold out the back before unleashing his speed.
Dubai World Cup (16:30) – Life is good
There’s not much more you can say about LIFE IS GOOD having won seven of his eight career starts and he’s clearly the one to beat in the Dubai World Cup. There’s been a lot of talk about his draw this week, but I believe his inside position in stall 1 won’t be an issue with Irad Oritz in the saddle. Oritz is not only one of the best jockeys in the world but one of the best gate jockeys and he’ll get the favourite out and into his early lead. He’ll have Hot Rod Charlie and Country Grammar just behind and despite racing over this 10-furlong trip for the first time, I think he wins. Life Is Good is such a good horse for connections and I’m hopeful of seeing something special from him in the big race of the Dubai season.
Meydan Top Tips:
- Godolphin Mile (12:20) – Storm Damage
- UAE Derby (14:10) – Combustion
- Dubai Turf (15:20) – Schnell Meister
- Dubai Sheema Classic (15:55) – Yibir
- Dubai World Cup (16:30) – Life is good
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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