This is the most open looking race on the night, and well over half the field are in with a realistic winning chance.
The Japanese filly Buena Vista gets a narrow vote, as her form at home has a solid look about it, and as she ran such a nice race on her seasonal debut, beating the reliable yardstick Jaguar Mail in the Kyoto Kinen Stakes. That she was ready to beat the boys was a good sign, and her runner-up has run well twice in this sort of company at the Hong Kong international meeting.
Buena Vista's form was also well advertised when Red Desire won the Al Maktoum Challenge III on Super Thursday, to set her up for a run in the World Cup. There is very little between these two fillies on previous form and if Red Desire is to have a chance in the biggest race of them all, well then Buena Vista must a have winning chance in the Sheema Classic.
She gained back-to-back classic wins in the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks at home last year. Godolphin's colt Cavalryman runs here rather than in the World Cup, following his defeat behind Red Desire in the Maktoum Challenge III, and he also has a big chance - despite a wide draw. Cavalryman did not show his best on Super Thursday but he ran well enough to suggest that he has trained on at four, and he is good enough to beat them all, based on his excellent third to Sea The Stars in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris last autumn.
Dar Re Mi was a good fifth in the ‘Arc', having previously landed two prestigious G1 races for fillies and mares and been first past the post in a third (demoted), and she went on to take third in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita — behind Presious Passion but in front of Spanish Moon.
William Buick, a young rider who has shot through the ranks the past two years, takes the ride. It will be his first big race task for new boss John Gosden. Youmzain, three times runner-up in the ‘Arc' but yet to show his true colours when racing in Dubai, last year's first and second,Eastern Anthem and Spanish Moon, are others well worth a mention.
And then we have the German contenderQuijano, well capable of matching strides with the best over this distance and already proven with a good run over the Meydan turf course. Even Anmar, who looked potentially top class on his first run of the year but was unsuited by the slow pace in the City of Gold, can win without it being a shock. This is not easy!
Globeform Selections
1. Buena Vista
2. Cavalryman
3. Youmzain
