Dubai: Meydan Racecourse stages a mouth-watering card Thursday with the headline act being the Group 3 $250,000 (Dh918,250) UAE 2,000 Guineas, the second Classic of the season which is open to three-year-old colts and fillies.
Seven runners have been declared including the first four home in the Trial won by Mubtaahij three weeks ago, and also the sixth and eighth placed horses.
Mubtaahij is trained by South African champion Mike de Kock, the most successful trainer in the Guineas with five wins including with Soft Falling Rain in 2013.
De Kock also saddles the Argentine-bred Ajwad who finished five lengths behind Mubtaahij in last month’s trial over 1400m.
Big-race Belgian rider Christophe Soumillon, who won the race in 2010 aboard Musir, takes the ride on Ajwad, while Pat Dobbs has a big chance of securing a first Group race success at Meydan, following the call-up to partner the exciting Mubtaahij.
In fact the Irish-bred son of Dubawi is held in such a high regard by his connections that he has been short-listed for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.
“Mubtaahij will have to step up to the plate,” de Kock explained on his website. “We’ll have to test him against the strongest in Dubai to see if he has the mettle to compete in a race like the Kentucky Derby, but racing is made of dreams and we’ve done our initial bit to make the journey possible.”
A good showing in Thursday’s 2000 Guineas will solidify Mubhtaahij’s Kentucky hopes, subsequent to a run in the UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai World Cup night.
Meanwhile, Godolphin are confident the highly-regarded Maftool, who finished third in the Guineas Trial after a sluggish start, will give a better account of himself on Thursday as he bids to complete a Classic double for his handler Saeed Bin Surour who won the UAE 1000 Guineas earlier this month with Local Time.
“He was a Group 3 winner in England last year,” said the experienced Emirati trainer. “He ran well in the trial having messed up the start. He has been good in the stalls at home since and we have put the visor on.
“He is fit, well and we think has a big chance.”
Bin Surour is seeking a fifth Guineas trophy following Desert Party (2009), Essence Of Dubai (2002), Street Cry (2001) and Bachir (2000).
Bin Surour’s Godolphin colleague Charlie Appleby saddles Zephuros, who came fourth in the trial, while David Simcock relies on sixth placed Padlock as he bids to become only the second British handler after Jeremy Noseda to win the 2000 Guineas. Noseda triumphed in 2005 with Stagelight.
The two other showpiece races on the card are the 1200m Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) and the 1600m Firebreak Stakes (G3), both dirt contests worth $200,000 each.
Former UAE champion trainer Satish Seemar, who won the Sprint in 2003 with Feet So Fast, looks to have strong claims with stablestar Reynaldothewizard a past winner of the Group 1 $2m Dubai Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night.
“Obviously he is a real favourite for the whole team,” said Mullen. “He always worked well on dirt at home, but you never know how they will adapt to it in a race.
“He relished it and hopefully can build on that. Obviously this is a stronger race, but he remains in great form and we expect a big run.”
The ten-runner field also includes 2012 Golden Shaheen victor, Krypton Factor, who makes his dirt debut for trainer/ owner Fawzi Nass.
“He has been off since October so should improve for the run,” said multiple Dutch champion Adrie De Vries. “However, the yard have been in good form and their horses are running well.
“Obviously the surface is an unknown, but he seems to work well on dirt at home. I am looking forward to the race and think he should run a big race.”
Beat Baby, trained by Niels Petersen, is also a course and distance winner and must have a big chance.
The third highlight on the card is the Firebreak Stakes (G3) where locally-trained Tamarkuz catches the eye,
The De Kock-trained Darwin won his maiden on dirt at Belmont Park when previously trained by Todd Pletcher and has to be respected.
