Long John
Long John has the looks of a serious contender for this year’s Derby. He impressed when landing the UAE 2,000 Guineas over 1,600 metres, and should not have any stamina worries. He looks well capable of staying and if he does he holds a leading chance of winning his second classic at Meydan. Offering a purse of $2 million, this is one of the most valuable races in the calendar, so he will be facing stiff opposition, much stiffer than the Guineas. Racing in the UAE for the first time, he came home 4¼ lengths ahead of Emirates Flyer in the Guineas.
The son of World Cup winner and top-class stallion Street Cry did start a warm favourite — and the win was by no means a surprise. He was a smart runner in his native Australia before coming to Dubai, winning five of his eight races down under. At the time trained by Peter Snowden, he took on some of the best older horses in the land on his next start, stepping up in class in the prestigious Cox Plate (G1). He was not at his best on the day and finished ninth.
Giovanni Boldini
Aidan O’Brien, training a top-class team of thoroughbreds at the famous Ballydoyle in Ireland, won the UAE Derby with Lines Of Battle twelve months ago and just hours later captured the Sheema Classic with St Nicholas Abbey. His colt Magician is among the favourites for the Sheema this time, while the same can safely be said for Giovanni Boldini in this classic.
Named after the famous Italian artist, the four-legged Giovanni Boldini made his mark on the international stage when finishing second to Godolphin’s colt Outstrip in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in California. Beaten only by half a length, he showed an improved form compared to his preceding runs at home, where he had two wins from three starts but had not faced high-calibre rivals. Last year’s UAE Derby winner (currently racing under the name Helene Super Star in Hong Kong) was coming off a seventh place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and Giovanni Boldini appears to be a better horse. He has a big chance here.
Asmar
Fawzi Abdullah Nass, best known as the trainer of high-class sprinter Krypton Factor, has a live contender for the UAE Derby this year, and his name is Asmar. Making only his fourth career start, and seeking his first win, this handsome son of Cape Cross gained an impressive win in the Al Bastakiya over the full Derby distance on Super Saturday.
He had been fifth to Long John in the UAE 2,000 Guineas three weeks earlier, but more experience and a longer distance brought out considerable improvement in Asmar, who is a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup winner Zagora, a filly who improved with age. Asmar was ridden by English champion jockey Richard Hughes, and he was sent to the lead a long way from home. The slow early pace would not have suited a staying type like Asmar, something Hughes was well aware of. His early move paid off. Asmar lengthened his stride in the home straight and won the race comfortably by six lengths from the favourite Emirates Flyer, who had finished three places in front of Asmar in the Guineas. This colt is not to be underestimated.
