Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips for the Dubai World Cup Race Day.
Meydan
Race 2 GODOLPHIN MILE (Group 2)
No4 CHIEFDOM
Trainer: S Ghadayer – Jockey: Mikael Barzalona
With the bounce factor a looming worry for Burj Nahar winner Midnight Sands, there’s a good chance that CHIEFDOM can take his revenge. The grey improved nicely from his first outing of the year to chase home his rival and has been afforded a perfect draw for a horse that likes to be on the pace. Avant Garde appeals as another that could trouble the judge in a first-time tongue tie, while that device is also added to American Snapper Sinclair.
Prediction: 1st CHIEFDOM 2nd Midnight Sands 3rd Avant Garde
Race 3 DUBAI GOLD CUP (Group 2)
No11 SUBJECTIVIST
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
SUBJECTIVIST looks a fine staying prospect for the Johnston stable and is afforded abundant respect as that man’s only runner on the card. The Teofilio colt has impressed in his training here and looks ready to build on his Group 1 triumph when last seen at Longchamp in the autumn. This is as good a field as there’s been for a race that is often overshadowed and Andrew Balding’s Spanish Mission adds lustre following his second in a valuable handicap at Riyadh. Secret Advisor should also go into all exotics for the Appleby/Buick combo.
Prediction: 1st SUBJECTIVIST 2nd Spanish Mission 3rd Secret Advisor
Race 4 AL QUOZ SPRINT (Group 1)
No8 SPACE BLUES (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
While Godolphin offers up fewer hot shots than is usually the case the ‘boys in blue’ should take this out with SPACE BLUES, who can make it a sixth triumph in succession. The Dubawi entire is a proper Group 1 horse although he has to prove a mile is within his compass distance-wise. That is a task made easier by the fact he settles off a strong pace, and thereby conserves energy for his potent turn of foot at the finish. Another Godolphin-owned contender is Final Song, who has Christophe Soumillon in the irons, and enters calculations on the back of a Group 3 win here last time. At a huge price, Moss Gill could take home a minor cheque for his rookie trainer.
Prediction: 1st SPACE BLUES 2nd Final Song 3rd Moss Gill
Race 5 UAE Derby (Group 2)
No13 MNASEK
Trainer: Doug Watson – Jockey: Sam Hitchcott
France Go De Ina looks one of Japan’s best chances of the night whose homeland form stands up to close inspection. His trainer recently bagged the Saudi Derby to give him a good line with his American-bred colt but at a bigger price MNASEK is preferred. The Empire Maker filly has twice obliterated the useful Nayefah, latterly by six and a half lengths in a Group 3 last month, while her trainer rarely leaves World Cup night empty handed. Elsewhere it might pay to put another Japanese into the mix, in the form of Takeru Pegasus.
Prediction: 1st MNASEK 2nd France Go De Ina 3rd Takeru Pegasus
Race 6 DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN (Group 1)
No3 COPANO KICKING
Trainer: A Murayama – Jockey: William Buick
With plenty of speed stacked amongst the higher drawn runners, COPANO KICKING can put his best for forward under Buick. The selection reacted positively to a first time hood to surprise Matera Sky in a valuable spring in Riyadh. Many good judges believe the placings will be reversed tonight but at the respective prices Copano Kicking is the value play, with hat-trick seeker Canvassed with including in exotic permutations.
Prediction: 1st COPANO KICKING 2nd Matera Sky 3rd Canvassed
Race 7 DUBAI TURF (Group 1)
No10 LORD NORTH
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
LORD NORTH enjoyed a select campaign in 2020, and although unable to add to his scintillating Royal Ascot triumph ended the year with an earning run at the Breeders’ Cup. On the book he has the upper hand, and can have the measure of veteran Lord Glitters who rates the main threat on the back of his Jebel Hotta success three weeks ago. Second and third that day Eqtiraan and Al Suhail could also have a say, especially the latter, who was heavily backed and might have needed it.
Prediction: 1st LORD NORTH 2nd Lord Glitters 3rd Al Suhail
Race 8 DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC (Group 1)
No9 CHRONO GENESIS
Trainer: T Sato – Jockey: Y Kitamura
In colours familiar to past World Cups, CHRONO GENESIS can follow-up her Arima Kinen triumph when last seen in December. The daughter of Bago saw off the best middle distance horses in Japan on that occasion and can help make it a memorable night for distaffers by eclipsing the colts Mogul and Mishriff. Mogul floored Hong Kong’s top stayer Exultant at Sha Tin in December, and although it wasn’t the strongest of Vase renewals he has to be taken seriously. Mishriff attempts to follow-up his Saudi Cup success but probably needs to find extra to win this.
Prediction: 1st CHRONO GENESIS 2nd Mogul 3rd Mishriff
Race 9 DUBAI WORLD CUP (Group 1)
No7 JESUS’ TEAM
Trainer: J D’angelo – Jockey: Joel Rosario
The fact that 14 horses are set to contest this concluding feature tells you it is up for grabs and more open than in recent years. Godolphin America sends out the ante post favourite Mystic Guide who is an ultra consistent son of Ghostzapper with strong form in New York. Salute The Soldier has been on a winning spree for Fawzi Nass. He’s taken out a Group 2 and a Group 1 in his last two outings and his track craft should lend itself to an earning run. Andre Fabre can never be discounted, and if there’s a dark one in the field it could be his Magny Cours, who is bred to enjoy the dirt but needs to step up from a Group 3 win at Chantilly. Hypothetical could get into the money for the Ghadayer stable at a double figure price but the horse I think will join the pantheon of former US-trained winners of this glittering prize is rags to riches horse JESUS’ TEAM. Since walking into trainer D’angelo’s Palm Meadows barn Jesus’ Team has finished third in the Preakness and runner-up in both the Breeders’ Cup Mile and Pegasus. Those credentials stamp him as the type of hardened dirt specialist to take out the richest nightcap in the world.
Prediction: 1st JESUS’ TEAM 2nd Magny Cours 3rd Mystic Guide
