7f Meydan Classic Trial: IP Man is one to beat

Dubai: It is another busy weekend of racing here in the UAE with Meydan's UAE 1000 Guineas card on Friday followed by meetings at Sharjah on Saturday and Abu Dhabi on Sunday, featuring the Aed1million HH The President's Cup for Purebred Arabians.

Meydan's official feature is the UAE 1000 Guineas, over 1m on Tapeta, but only seven have been declared and it will be something of a surprise if Godolphin trainer Mahmoud Al Zarouni does not supply the winner; he saddles both Gamilati, who won the 7f trial in style, as well as UAE newcomer Pimpernel who looks the most likely to give her stable companion something to worry about.

Great form

Frankie Dettori rides Gamilati and Al Zarouni said: "We were absolutely delighted with Gamilati's winning reappearance and she has come out of that race in great form. Frankie will ride her again with Mickael Barzalona on Pimpernel who is a nice filly herself but Gamilati has race fitness on her side."

Alsindi, representing local Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe, chased home Gamilati in the trial on her local debut and looks the main danger to the Godolphin duo.

The Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint, over 6f on Tapeta, is the main support race and has attracted the maximum field of 14 with the Dandy Nicholls-trained Addictive Dream seeking his third Carnival victory of 2012. His two previous victories were on turf but he has form on a similar surface in the UK.

This is undoubtedly his toughest task to date and Singapore-based trainer Steven Burridge, who has won with four of his five UAE runners to date (all this year) saddles course and distance winner Captain Obvious who has to give weight all round but that did not stop him last time and his jockey, Oscar Chavez, currently boasts a 100% UAE record (2/2).

Alo Pura looked a bit unlucky behind him last time, while Krypton Factor was impressive when winning for Bahrain over course and distance last week.

Burridge also saddles IP Man in the 7f Meydan Classic Trial on turf, generously sponsored by XPRESS. He too is a course and distance winner having defeated his elders in a handicap under Chavez and he looks the one they have to beat. Like the UAE 1000 Guineas, this race is restricted to 3yos and Burridge's charge would look to face few serious rivals. Sand Stamp, trained locally by Satish Seemar, may give him most to think about if continuing his upward curve.

On Sunday, Seraphin Du Paon will seek to defend his crown in the 2200m HH The President's Cup and he looks to have a lot in his favour having made an impressive return when winning the prep race. He won this last year, when trained by Philippe Barbe before winning the Kahayla Classic on Dubai World Cup night and his new trainer, Ernst Oertel, has a similar plan this year.

He said: "It is easy to plan with these good horses and this has always been the first big target, via the prep, with World Cup night on the agenda at the end of the season.

"He won the prep well and we are very hopeful he can follow up."