Race 1 – $40,000 Bani Yas (G2) for purebred Arabians, 1,200 meters, Tapeta
#6 MONARKOS CS was scratched out of the first round of the Maktoum Challenge on opening night and caught a much softer spot here. He showed speed in his American races and I think that could carry him home in this event. #4 NESNAAS has the best company lines here and switches back to the non-grass surface, I just doubt if he will like just going 1,200 meters and might think he is asked for run a bit too soon. #9 PALAPAL has also kept solid company but appreciates the shorter distances. An improvement is not without question.
1st – #6 MONARKOS CS, 2nd – #9 PALAPAL, 3rd – #4 NESNAAS
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Race 2 – $120,000 Al Dana Handicap, 1,400 meters, Tapeta
This race stands out as interesting in that the top choice, Godolphin’s #1 SECRECY, has never gone over an all-weather surface, but is 6-for-6 in the placings in his brief and well-spaced career. He was well-backed when third to Snaffy over the turf in his first Meydan start. There are question marks up and down the form in this race and taking a short price on seems somewhat foolish. I’m siding with #6 AXIOM for Luca Cumani. He should come on for the run, especially considering that last race form has been almost a complete toss.
#11 SILVERSIDE was quite decent for Mauricio Delcher a week ago and he stands as good a chance as any to keep on progressing. The Spanish trained son of Pleasantly Perfect might prefer some more ground than this 1,400 meters trip.
1st – #6 AXIOM, 2nd – #11 SILVERSIDE, 3rd – #1 SECRECY
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Race 3 – $120,000 CBD Financial Services Handicap, 2,200 meters, Tapeta
We get a very intriguing matchup between two 2010 Carnival winners with #1 KING OF ROME and #5 DRUNKEN SAILOR, both impressive runners over the Tapeta. King of Rome has had success over longer distances while Drunken Sailor won this trip last time. You cannot fault his running line ahead of Monte Alto, who came back with another grand finish on Thursday, his fourth start at the Carnival. #3 MASHAAHED comes out of the last race that produced Emirates Champion, also a Thursday winner, and was just behind Monte Alto. It doesn’t put him in top company, but placings aren’t out of the question.
What about #4 DETONATOR? The son of Fantastic Light has both of his career scores on all-weather surfaces and he was a strong second when trying to make all the running over the turf at Abu Dhabi. This is his third race off the shelf and Musabah Al Muhairi can certainly get them ready as we saw with Snaffy. He will be a price with a chance, but is tough to use in the top spot with quality course performers present. Not without a shot. Let’s take that shot.
1st – #4 DETONATOR, 2nd – #5 DRUNKEN SAILOR, 3rd – #1 KING OF ROME
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Race 4 – $120,000 Attijari Al Islami Handicap, 1,200 meters, Tapeta
The course has been playing much faster at Meydan (the topic of a blog post to come) and it makes you believe #3 OASIS STAR stands a better chance to improve. The Indian import was coming at So Shiny last time and the form was franked when Frosty Secret came back to win on Thursday. I’ll give India a chance to get back to the winner’s circle for the first time since Mystical in 2007.
#6 GLOBAL CITY won when Frankie Dettori timed his ride so incredibly well against #2 MONTPELLIER and should have even more pace to run at, but that particular race wasn’t as fast as some others and both could have it tougher. #5 MRS. BOSS is an unknown quantity for Antonio Pereira and was at least well-backed when in Brazil, now she’ll face older males and it could undue her perfect mark.
1st – #3 OASIS STAR, 2nd – #6 GLOBAL CITY, 3rd – #2 MONTPELLIER
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Race 5 – $120,000 CBD Visa Infinite Card Handicap, 2,000 meters, Tapeta
#6 JAROSLAW ran on with aplomb in the third race on opening night, a move that wasn’t exactly expected. He seemed to relish the surface and could enjoy the extra 100 meters, while the slight weight break can only help. #4 WALZERTRAUM is bred for dirt and while the Tapeta isn’t dirt, he ran like the Tapeta was, improving over some of his turf races in Germany. Christophe Soumillon picks up this mount as Olivier Peslier is contracted to #3 NAVAL OFFICER, the colt who was so well-intentioned from the barn of Jerry Barton when going in the Al Rashidiya (G3). How will he adapt, again, to the Tapeta? #2 FIREBET was first or second in seven of seven 2009 starts. How he adapts to the surface is the question. We could go in a variety of directions.
1st – #6 JAROSLAW, 2nd – #4 WALZERTRAUM, 3rd – #3 NAVAL OFFICER
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Race 6 – $110,000 CBD Worldmaster Card Handicap, 1,600 meters, Tapeta
What a competitive event. Bottom line – toughest race of the night. #9 EAGLE MOUNTAIN will draw plenty of attention but this is clearly a spot to bring the big horse back and round into form after two poor runs (comparatively) in Hong Kong. Mike De Kock wants to see how he gets over the Tapeta and the flat mile might not be enough for him on the new surface. I refuse to take a short price on him. #2 CONSUL GENERAL was one we believed could contend at a price in the Maktoum Challenge and presumably takes a step down in class (on paper) but not in reality. He struck the lead briefly and stayed on better than Midshipman, who backed-up in the stretch. Another placing is more likely than a win.
#4 LELAH DORAK scratched out of a decent race on King’s Cup night in Saudi in favor of this spot. He prepared well in Dubai for the UAE Derby last year and is essentially third off a long layoff.
#7 FOURPENNY LANE is the pick. A mare against the boys here, she drops in company after a strong effort in the Cape Verdi but suffered an abyssmal trip, getting slammed by Frankie Dettori’s mount Aspectoflove when commencing her run in the straight. In 2009, her three wins came over synthetic surfaces (one in open company) and reports from morning trackwork indicate she is eating it up. #8 CAT JUNIOR, #6 WITHOUT A PRAYER both stand placing chances. #5 STOIC is always prominent and was decent when second a few weeks back. He has every right to improve, but we land with the longshot who was running well before being completely stopped.
1st – #7 FOURPENNY LANE, 2nd – #5 STOIC, 3rd – #2 CONSUL GENERAL
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Race 7 – $250,000 Al Fahidi Fort (G2), 1,600 meters, turf
#5 IBN BATTUTA was one we tipped before the Carnival as a top local horse that could do some damage at the Carnival. He is a fast improving, late-performer, and unbeaten over the turf. Could he be this year’s Snaffy? He caught a brutally difficult field first up at the Carnival but his most recent form is so encouraging that he deserves the chance to disprove it.
#3 BANKABLE has been held up for Herman Brown, whose runners are showing up, even if not winning, to make a Carnival reappearance. Bankable won first off the shelf last year before a decent fifth in the Dubai Duty Free (G1). The distance is right on for him, whereas stablemate #2 BRONZE CANNON is likely using this as a Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) prep. While Bankable is prepping for the Duty Free, his fresh running success from before gives him the edge.
#1 JUSTENUFFHUMOR is a likely top choice in the international tote with that third behind Goldikova in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) sticking out on his form. I can’t deny that he would be an easy pick but Godolphin has rarely developed turf runners at the Carnival after shipping in from America, especially at the top class levels. How will this full brother to Dreaming of Anna get over without the Lasix? Some question marks and a short price lead me away. The typical American early speed will not be present here and he often needs some pace to run into.
#7 PREMIO LOCO gave it a go over the Tapeta and it was a decent run, even with past form over the synthetics. The return to the the turf can’t hurt, where he is 4-for-9 in his lifetime. A chance indeed.
1st – #3 BANKABLE, 2nd – #5 IBN BATTUTA, 3rd – #7 PREMIO LOCO
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Race 8 – $110,000 Commercial Bank of Dubai Handicap, 1,900 meters, Tapeta
#7 KAL BARG was a surprise winner on the third night of the Carnival and has shown incredibly spotty form over the years. Expecting him to bounce back with another win would be a bit surprising.
#12 ROMAN REPUBLIC makes his first try on the synthetic and his dam sire, Caerleon, has had several successful offspring get over the surface well. The long layoff is a bit of a concern but he was victorious off the shelf at Doncaster in June. This field lacks extreme quality, so expecting a good result is not out of the question. #3 BLACK EAGLE had two solid performances this fall and gets a handy weigh increase as a result. That performance in the Al Rashidiya (G3) wasn’t bad and a return to top form could be in the offing.
1st – #3 BLACK EAGLE, 2nd – #12 ROMAN REPUBLIC, 3rd – #7 KAL BARG