Newmarket, England: Trade Storm, an English-trained challenger making his second attempt at winning the $5 million Dubai Duty Free, could well be second time lucky.
The David Simcock trainee is six years old now. He has plenty of experience but could still be open to improvement.
He ran fourth to Sajjhaa in last year’s edition, when he came with his customary run from off the pace to close into a decent effort, passing the judge less than three lengths behind the winner.
Trade Storm started from the dreaded stall 14 that day in a race where a wide draw is always incredibly difficult. He did well to finish as close as he did. He had won the Zabeel Mile on his preceding start (beating Musir by one-and-a-half lengths) and Trade Storm was also successful over the Duty Free course and distance in 2013.
He ran a race full of promise when second to another contender, the French-trained Mshawish, in this year’s Zabeel Mile. While the winner enjoyed a perfect trip close to a slow pace, Trade Storm was compromised by such a sedate scenario and had to make his way from the back, finding gaps between horses, in the home straight.
He never threatened the winner but the way the race panned out he came out of it with just as much credit at Mshawish.
He ran a similar race when fourth to Vercingetorix on Super Saturday, and is a live longshot in the Duty Free. Give him a good draw and a strong pace and he could well beat them all.
— The author is a thoroughbred form expert and editor of www.stabell.co.uk
