Click HERE for the full story as linked in the Miami Herald.

#14 WEALD offers an interesting proposition as a longshot chance.  While his performances over the turf courses at Nad Al Sheba and Abu Dhabi were poor, he flourished when over the dirt at Jebel Ali, defeating #9 MONTE ALTO by 1.25 lengths in his first start over the surface.  If you can bring yourself to ignore some otherwise horrific performances on local turf and focus on the dirt win, which took place over Friday’s trip of 1,950 meters, Weald could be the play. 

The hot connections of Dhruba Selvaratnam and William Buick, winners of three consecutive races last meeting at Jebel Ali, settle in with #8 MEERISS, who offers a win and a second in two starts this season.  Going third off the layoff, Meeriss could pop a big one over the track he enjoys so much.  Buick was aboard for his early season win and climbs back for Friday’s race, the richest of the season to date. 

Doug Watson’s #2 DYNAMIC SAINT was a winner at the 2009 DIRC when running third off the layoff and he scored at a juicy price that day.  Down to a 100 rating following two even performances, similar to his early 2009 form, Dynamic Saint could show his best effort with a run on Friday. 

Click HERE to access the form guide for Friday’s races.

Dubai Millennium made all the running in a course record time, fulfilling the goal of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, winning the millenial celebration of the Dubai World Cup.  The son of Seeking the Gold won nine of ten lifetime starts, earning over $4.4 million, and was a picture of perfection in two Nad Al Sheba starts.  In the fourteen runnings of the world’s richest race, Dubai Millennium’s performance towers over all others.  He died in 2001 while standing at stud, having covered about a dozen mares.

DubaiRaceNight.com strongly believes that the 2010 Dubai Golden Shaheen will not be contested on grass, nor will it ever appear on grass.  Conversely, it is our opinion that the Dubai Racing Club will add a new race to the Dubai World Cup meeting in future years that will be similar to the Golden Shaheen, but run on grass. 

The international media has seemingly realized that Meydan is soon to be unveiled, and, oh yes, there is a 1,200 meters straightaway on the exterior grass course.  What some seem to forget is that the Dubai Racing Club has two well established, internationally recognized, group status preps for the Dubai Golden Shaheen on the all-weather Tapeta surface: the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) and Mahab Al Shimaal (G3).  The 2009 winner of the Al Shindagha Sprint, Big City Man, later won the Golden Shaheen while Mahab Al Shimaal victor Gayego was second in the Godolphin Mile (G2) before becoming a Grade 1 winning sprinter in the US when taking the Ancient Title Stakes at Santa Anita.

While the Dubai International Racing Carnival has been used as a launching point to races on the Dubai World Cup meeting, a set of local preps for a logical new sprint stakes would be in order.  As it stands, only the Al Quoz Sprint (G3) stands as an established stake on the DIRC program and no additional turf sprint stakes have been added to the condition book for 2010.  Several American-based sprinters have acknowledged their intent to prepare for the first Tapeta-based Golden Shaheen.  The long-term planning for this established international Group 1 is there – as the first major international turf sprint, not so much.  Also lost in this shuffle is the most ignored fact: Nad Al Sheba HAD a 1,200 meters straight that was used on occasion in previous years at the Carnival. 

The stage is not set for a Golden Shaheen surface switch simply because of the new course at Meydan.  The Carnival is growing and so too will the Dubai World Cup meeting, most likely with a turf sprint and a stayers classic, as the DRC Gold Cup begins to grow towards some level of graded status.  Mourilyan, third home in the Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1) managed a second and third in two new stayers races from the 2009 Carnival, boosting the profile of such additions to the calendar.  It is much more realistic to expect additional stakes races to the Dubai World Cup meeting in future years, perhaps even 2011.  A switch to the 2010 offerings would be surprising to DubaiRaceNight.com.

Photo credit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

The 5-year-old son of Sakhee makes his second start since a second in May’s Singapore International Airlnes Cup (G1), where fellow Dubai International Racing Carnival alum Gloria De Campeao made nearly all the running for the narrowest of victories.  Presvis was hampered by traffic in the stretch run and just missed the win on the wire.  After a second to Gladiatorus in the Dubai Duty Free (G1), Presvis was a flashing winner in the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Sha Tin. 

Click HERE for Cumani’s comments in an article from PressAssociation.

Saturday’s Longchamp card is highlighted by the Total Prix de la Foret (G1) over a distance of about seven furlongs.  The much improved Balthazaar’s Gift headlines the hopes of Dubai when the son of Xaar goes postward for Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.  Since a February 20 win at Nad Al Sheba, Balthazaar’s Gift has raced four times on his preferred surface (grass) and not been out of the placings, which includes a win in the CGA Hungerford Stakes (G2) at Newbury.  The task will be a tall one as the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner, and all around French racing sensation, Goldikova will take her spot in the gate with a weight break over Balthazaar’s Gift.  DIRC vets Mariol, Calrissian, and Cat Junior are also in the Prix Foret.

Kachgai, a mindbending longshot DIRC winner on 6 February, holds an entry in Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2) on the Foret undercard while Dubai’s Saturday hopes finish with Jebel Hatta (G2) winner Balius.  The son of Mujahid is one of 12 to jump off in the Qatar Prix Dollar (G2) over an extended 10.5 furlongs.  Now racing for Godolphin, Balius comes into the Prix Dollar off an impressive victory in the Anatolia Trophy (G2) at Istanbul’s Veliefendi Racecourse. 

On Friday, three Carnival goers will take their chances in the Diamond Stakes (G3) at Dundalk over the synthetic surface.  While Aidan O’Brien trainee Mastercraftsman is using the race as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, several others who have UAE passport stamps will look to take the prize.  2008 Jebel Hatta (G2) winner Lord Admiral is set for the Diamond along with 2009 Carnival placers Big Robert and Fiery Lad.

Eva’s Request, a 2009 Carnival starter when third behind Deem in the Cape Verdi (G3) is scheduled to run in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (G1), an event that has been used as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. 

Stateside, the 2007 UAE Triple Crown winner Asiatic Boy continues searching for his first win in the US when he goes out as one of seven in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park.  Travers winner Summer Bird will be joined by Florida Derby winner Quality Road and Stephen Foster champion Macho Again.

Photo courtesy: TapetaFootings.com

Tapeta was created by former Breeders’ Cup winning trainer Michael Dickinson and is used at Presque Isle Downs and Golden Gate Fields in the United States.  While the marketplace for synthetic surfaces has been quite competitive, with Tapeta fighting for share with Polytrack, Pro-Ride, and Cushion Track, there have been relatively few, if any, published complaints about the surface, its durability, and its place in American racing, which takes place primarily on non-grass surfaces. 

Click HERE for more on the Dubai Racing Club’s announcement.

Click HERE for more from TapetaFootings.com

Over nine furlongs, Regal Ransom broke alertly and willingly advanced to take command under veteran jockey Richard Migliore.  Rationing out the speed of this son of Distorted Humor, Migliore guided his mount through pedestrian early fractions of 24.0 and 49.0 while quickening as the race progressed.  Blame, a fast-improving 3-year-old closed into the pace to run second, beaten 1.25 lengths.  While the winning margin was ordinary and the final time of 1:49.63 was not particularly fast, the way in which Regal Ransom won was most impressive, especially considering the even fractions Regal Ransom unveiled, quickening as the race progressed.  The picture below was taken just after Regal Ransom returned from galloping out, alert and fresh.

Godolphin’s victory was the second Super Derby for the boys in blue who annexed the 2002 edition with Essence of Dubai.  Regal Ransom was a strong wagering favorite, backed in as the 13-10 public choice after a 5-2 morning line.

“The race panned out exactly as I expected,” said Migliore, who has now landed multiple graded stakes efforts for Godolphin this summer.  “We had an easy lead and I knew we would win at the eighth pole, I showed him the whip, but never had to hit him.” 

Rick Mettee, North American assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor, noted that they might have to rethink their future plans for Regal Ransom.  “We all thought he might be tired coming out of this race, it being his first since May, but given how easy he won, we might have to look at some other options.”

One option that does not hold much weight is the Breeders’ Cup.  While Mettee does not question Regal Ransom’s ability to go ten furlongs, the synthetic surface at Santa Anita might keep the improving sophomore away.  “The worst race in his career was the Norfolk out there, so that would be a concern.”  Initially, Mettee mentioned that they collectively thought he would fit the Cigar Mile well, but said that both Migliore and former jockey Alan Garcia both believe the UAE Derby winner can get added ground. 

Mettee keenly mentioned that Regal Ransom trained well in Dubai at the Al Quoz Paddocks over the Tapeta surface, which is widely speculated to be the main track surface used at Meydan.  The Dubai World Cup will be run over ten furlongs at Meydan on March 27, 2010.

Click below to watch Regal Ransom make all in the 30th Super Derby.  Travis Stone had the call. 

In other Carnival news, Bankable landed Wednesday’s Fortune Stakes (Listed) at Sandown, his first victory since the 2009 DIRC.  Bankable was fifth home in the Dubai Duty Free (G1).  Fateh Field, twice placed at the 2009 DIRC, won a turf sprint at Belmont Park on Thursday in allowance conditions.  Clearly a quirky horse, Fateh Field won in hand while jockey Jean-Luc Samyn did everything possible to stay up.