Dubai: Duty Free contender Rajsaman is a French import who was just a touch below the world's best in his division last year.
He raced twice without enhancing his reputation at Meydan during the 2011 season and he has been below par here also this season, but do not underrate him by believing that his past efforts represent his true form.
Far from it. Rajsaman is a high class racehorse with some excellent efforts to prove it. Last year he was placed behind superstars like Goldikova and Frankel in Group One in Europe, and he also gained a valuable win at Longchamp during the Arc de Triomphe weekend in October.
Rajsaman had finished third to Excelebration in the Prix du Moulin (G1) over 1600 metres on very soft ground at the same venue three weeks earlier, and he faced 10 rivals in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2), also over 1600 metres but this race was run on good ground.
The contest developed into an exciting battle between Rajsaman and Godolphin's Rio de la Plata, who started favourite. Rajsaman got the upper hand in the dying strides and won by a neck.
He next shipped east for the Hong Kong Mile (G1) in December and ran another fine race. Though when a horse finishing seventh is beaten by no more than 2.5 lengths it is also an excellent illustration of how competitive the world's top races are.
Rajsaman returned to Dubai for this year's Carnival, and his first run of the year was a bit dull. He finished last of eight behind Musir in the Al Rashaiyida (G2) in January. His next task was the Burj Nahaar (G3) on Super Saturday, where he was seventh behind Godolphin Mile favourite African Story over the Tapeta surface.
At his best, Rajsaman is capable of winning a big event and he could spring a surprise on World Cup night.
Geir Stabell is the editor of Globeform, a Newmarket-based independent racing and handicapping publication.
