The top four horses lining up for the 2010 Singapore International Airlines Cup (G1) represent some of the best success in Dubai racing, and features a rare lineup of two winners from the same Dubai World Cup meeting. Set for Sunday, 16 May at Singapore’s Kranji Racecourse, 2010 Dubai World Cup winner GLORIA DE CAMPEAO, runner-up LIZARD’S DESIRE, 2010 Dubai Duty Free (G1) victor AL SHEMALI, and 2010 Jebel Hatta (G2) winner PRESVIS will take their spot against as many as ten other rivals for the S$3,000,000 event.
Over 2,000 meters on the turf, Gloria De Campeao landed a knock-out blow to Presvis last year, winning with a prominent ride from Tiago Pereira. Presvis, as is his usual style, settled in the rear and made a flashing run through traffic, but fell just short of catching the Brazilian-bred, French-trained, Swedish-owned winner. Lizard’s Desire just missed in Dubai, then followed up with a neck loss to Viva Pataca in Hong Kong’s Audemars Piguet QE II Cup (G1). Now, the South African-trained and bred son of Lizard’s Island hopes to finally turn the tables on the big stage. And how about Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s Al Shemali – the improbable winner of the Duty Free, sent off at 129-1 on the international commingled tote.
There will be no lack of action from Kranji, especially when 2010 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) second ROCKET MAN takes his spot earlier in the KrisFlyer International Sprint (G1), a race in which he was nosed out a year earlier by the gallant Sacred Kingdom.
DubaiRaceNight.com coverage begins on May 12 from Singapore. In the meantime, take a look back at the 2009 SIA Cup and KrisFlyer Sprint.