Dubai: The Dubai Golden Shaheen is a great race and one where the draw could play a massive role.
One of the challengers this year who really benefited from a perfect draw is Rich Tapestry. Having won on Super Saturday last year and then been runner-up in this race, he has been prepared with this in mind for the last 12 months and trainer Michael Chang could not have been happier when handed gate four. He looks the one to beat, with the assistance of Olivier Doleuze on board.
You cannot ignore the recent form of American challenger Salutos Amigos, who arrives here in really good heart. His win in the Tom Fool looks to be good form and he will be ready to put up a great performance in the style US racing horses are used to and have thrived on for many years. He is bidding to become the tenth winner of this race trained Stateside.
Another bidding to be the US’ tenth winner is Secret Circle. This horse has enormous talent and on his day should be the best in this field — and with a clear run he should win. However, he often runs in to one who gets better luck. His Dubai World Cup-winning trainer Bob Baffert has also trained the second in this race twice before and he will be hoping to go one better this year.
Assistant trainer Dana Barnes has been riding Secret Circle out this week. “He is just a monster of a horse and a proper sprinter. He has been full of himself since he arrived and seems at the top of his game,” she said.
Big Macher is another Grade 1 winner for America and he looks well berthed in six. Trainer Richard Baltas said: “We have schooled him at the gates as he has always been bad at the stalls, which probably cost him any chance in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He is in good shape and, hopefully, will break on terms on Saturday.”
Krypton Factor won this race two years ago and is a great local favourite. He has shown signs of being his old self this season with a hugely promising second first time out. He has been the subject of positive work reports and, with a positive draw, he should be a contender.
Owner-trainer Fawzi Nass said: “He is probably not as good as he was. That said, he has a decent draw and ran very well first time this season and a slow start did not help him last time on Super Saturday.”
United Colour is an interesting locally trained horse and he takes his time to get going. Do not write him off early in the race as he will be flying at the finish. If still handy on the turn, Dhruba Selvaratnam’s charge could have a huge say under Oisin Murphy.
Shaishee has been a much-improved horse this season and, having won on Super Saturday, cannot be ruled out.
Lucky Nine, trainer Caspar Fownes and jockey Brett Prebble are a formidable team who have really enjoyed some great days. The horse is eight years old but still retains plenty of ability and speed and it would be no surprise to see him earn another victory at the highest level.
It would also be hard to ignore Montiridge on his two showings in Saudi Arabia, where he has decimated his fields. This is a very different prospect, but he still should be respected from the number one draw.
