John Gosden hopes freshness angle works again with Tazeez, Utley, in Dubai return

One Comment

1. Medlocke
   Posted March 25, 2011 at 2:27 am | Permalink

   Of all the races on the DWC card, for me, the Duty Free looks the most competitive and difficult to handicap. Several different horses in the race with live chances. Right off the cuff, you can’t overlook Wigmore Hall or Presvis. Wigmore Hall looked brilliant coming wide and nailing Poet’s Voice and Presvis in the Jebel Hatta. Arguably, the most talent in any one race to this point. Presvis was astonishing when winning the Al Rashidiya, and for a brief fleeting moment in the Jebel Hatta, looked like he might get home first. I also think you can’t dismiss Derbaas’s chances in the race. Winner of 4 straight races at Meydan, he really looked brilliant when defeating Raihana in the Al Fahidi Fort. It’s also noteworthy that Richard Hills has chosen to ride Derbaas over Tazeez in this race. It’s the first time I’ve ever known Hills to chose a different mount over Tazeez in a race. I also believe both of Mike De Kock’s filly/mare’s in this race are live. River Jetez has been brilliant in both of her starts on the Meydan turf, and if not for a moment of lapse in judgement by Christophe Soumillon, likely would’ve won both the Cape Verdi and Balanchine. Raihana also run’s the turf at Meydan extremely well, and finished a game 2nd behind Derbaas in the Al Fahidi Fort. The wide draw didn’t particularly do her any favors though. The last horse I’d mention is an unknown quantity on turf, and that’s Mendip. No doubt, this colt had been brilliant over the past 2 carnivals on the tapeta, but he makes his first ever turf start in the Duty Free. But Mendip certainly doesn’t lack for talent, and if he finds form coming as easily on turf as it came on tapeta? Could be right there abouts at races end.