Race 7 – GROUP 1 DUBAI DUTY FREE (1800m, Turf)
The first of the big races on the cards, and probably the one which holds the most interest to Australians.
It would be remiss of me not to tip OCEAN PARK. Having seen the horse this week, he looks splendid, just perfect. He lost 10kg on the flight over, but he’d put 5kg of it back on by Thursday so he won’t be too far below his normal racing weight. The Cox Plate form has continued to stand up in the months since the race and I am firmly convinced he goes better the counterclockwise direction, which he gets here. Everything has lined up perfectly, and I think he’s a great hope of giving New Zealand their first Dubai World Cup night success.
The danger is the American LITTLE MIKE, a winner of the Arlington Million and the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year. I reckon this trip is around his best journey, and he’ll get out in front and prove hard to run down. He gets the services of comeback jockey Gary Stevens, who only returned in January from a seven year hiatus. Forget his first run in Dubai on the Tapeta – he didn’t handle it, hence why he’s here and not contesting the Dubai World Cup. He’s a big danger.
I tipped IGUGU third yesterday, although I’ve now started to think it may be the wrong call. By all reports, she hasn’t settled into Dubai whatsoever and continues to struggle here. If Mike de Kock takes her to the United Kingdom, I think she’ll prove to be the horse we all know she is. However, I’m becoming less and less convinced by the minute that she’ll be in the finish.
One horse I reckon will be up there, though, is SAJJHAA, who has upset Igugu at her last two starts. She’s in a rich vein of form and it tends to hold true that mares in form hold their form. I’d have her third now, for sure.
Next best appears to be MUSHREQ, while I wouldn’t be surprised to see FRENCH FIFTEEN improve. Remember, he did run second in the English 2000 Guineas last year behind Camelot.
7 – OCEAN PARK
4 – LITTLE MIKE
5 – SAJJHAA
6 – IGUGU
Written by Andrew Hawkins – Get the latest Dubai World Cup updates by following him on twitter: @AndrewNJHawkins
