Dubai Sheema Classic tips and runner-by-runner guide to Meydan 4.00 on Saturday

Can Auguste Rodin make a successful return to the track?

Auguste Rodin

By / Horse Racing Tips / 1 month ago

Auguste Rodin makes his seasonal reappearance in the lucrative Dubai Sheema Classic on World Cup night at Meydan this Saturday.

The dual Derby and Breeders’ Cup hero has been kept in training and Ballydoyle master Aidan O’Brien has mapped out an exciting four-year-old campaign for his stable star, starting with this £6,000,000 Group 1.

A whole host of familiar names will be in opposition including last season’s Coronation Cup heroine Emily Upjohn, who will be ridden by Kieran Shoemark for the first time.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel’s Romance brings Group 1 form to the table and Ballydoyle also pitch Point Lonsdale into the mix, but the biggest threats to the leading Irish and British runners are likely to be the three-strong Japanese contingent.

Liberty Island was only 4l behind Equinox in last year’s Japan Cup, Stars On Earth was only 1l further behind, while Justin Palace was 1¼l off the now-retired superstar in that season’s Takarazuka Kinen.

The latest Dubai Sheema Classic odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.

Dubai Sheema Classic verdict

Timeform: A very strong renewal. EMILY UPJOHN left subsequent King George/Arc runner-up Westover for dead when making a winning reappearance in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last season and looks the value call for a stable that has won this a record 3 times. Japan have won the last 2 renewals and hold a powerful hand once again, headed by last season’s champion 3-y-o filly Liberty Island. It looks significant that Auguste Rodin has been kept in training and he is another big player.

*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

Dubai Sheema Classic runners and riders

The following horses have been declared for the Dubai Sheema Classic 2024.

Junko

Trainer: A. Fabre Jockey: Maxime Guyon Age: 5 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 6

Ended his 4-y-o season with Group 1 wins in Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich and Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin (showing fine turn of foot from rear in slowly-run race). Disappointed in minor event at Chantilly on return but might have needed it. Better expected but this is a strong renewal.

***

Justin Palace

Trainer: Haruki Sugiyama Jockey: Joao Moreira Age: 5 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 3

High-class Japanese performer. Group 1 winner at 2m but proved he’s effective at middle distances when hitting the frame in Group 1s next 3 starts. Likely to find a few too good again under these conditions.

***

Point Lonsdale

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: W. M. Lordan Age: 5 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 1

Smart performer but not up to this level. Possible pacemaker.

*

Rebel’s Romance

Trainer: Charlie Appleby Jockey: William Buick Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 11

Won 5 on the spin at 4 yrs, including 3 Group/Grade 1s (Breeders’ Cup Turf winner). Failed to hit those heights last season but looked back to his best when winning Group 3 at Doha on return last month. This is much tougher, however.

***

Shahryar

Trainer: Hideaki Fujiwara Jockey: Cristian Demuro Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 2

A high-class horse who won the Japanese Derby 3 years ago and this race in 2022. Failed to win in 4 starts last season, including when only fifth in this on return, though he might have won the Breeders’ Cup Turf had he stuck to the rail. Not taken lightly.

***

Simca Mille

Trainer: A. De Mieulle Jockey: James Doyle Age: 5 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 5

Very smart performer, winning Group 2s at Longchamp/Chantilly and Group 1 at Hoppegarten last season. A narrow winner of a minor event at Doha on first start for this yard on return but was over 7 lengths behind Rebel’s Romance in Group 3 there since.

*

Sisfahan

Trainer: Henk Grewe Jockey: Lukas Delozier Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 12

Winner of the German Derby in 2021 but just one win since and was below par in Group 2 here on return.

*

Spirit Dancer

Trainer: Richard Fahey Jockey: Oisin James Orr Age: 7 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 10

A real money-spinner for connections, adding another valuable success in the Middle East in Group 2 at Saudi Arabia, but this challenge looks beyond him.

**

Auguste Rodin

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 4 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 7

Flopped in 2000 Guineas in King George at Ascot but won all other outings at 3 yrs, namely Derby at Epsom, Irish Derby at the Curragh, Irish Champion at Leopardstown and Breeders’ Cup Turf final start. This is arguably his toughest challenge yet but he may well prove up to it.

****

Emily Upjohn

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Kieran Shoemark Age: 5 Weight: 8st 9lbs Draw: 4

Unlucky in Oaks at 3 yrs. Signed off 2022 with an emphatic success in Fillies and Mares at Ascot. Took form to another level when making an impressive winning return in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last season before a good second in Eclipse. Not seen since flopping in King George but big shout on best form.

*****

Stars On Earth

Trainer: Mizuki Takayanagi Jockey: Christophe Lemaire Age: 5 Weight: 8st 9lbs Draw: 8

Won Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) at 3 yrs. Placed all starts in 2023, including in Japan Cup at Tokyo (5 lengths third to Equinox) and Arima Kinen at Nakayama (½-length second to Do Deuce) on last 2. Should be in the mix again.

***

Liberty Island

Trainer: Mitsumasa Nakauchida Jockey: Yuga Kawada Age: 4 Weight: 8st 8lbs Draw: 9

High-class Japanese filly who has won 5 of her 7 starts, including Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, by 6 lengths). Beaten only by the imperious Equinox in the Japan Cup at Tokyo the final start. Obvious claims.

****

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