The Dubai Sheema Classic favourites

Group 1; 8.20pm; $6 million; 2,410m; presented by Longines

 

Dariyan 

 

A leading international owner-breeder, the Aga Khan hasn’t had many runners in Dubai over the years, but he captured the Sheema Classic last year when his principal trainer in France, Alain de Royer-Dupré, saddled the filly Dolniya to win this $6-million event. This time the team has Dariyan primed for the big race and the four-year-old son of Shamardal had a satisfactory preparation when finishing second to Postponed on Super Saturday.

 

Dariyan was easily beaten that day, but may be open to improvement and has a decent chance in the Sheema. He showed steady progress as a three-year-old, when he closed out his campaign with a respectable third to Highland Reel in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin. Dariyan stayed on well despite some trouble in running that day and finished 3 lengths behind the winner. He’s effective from 2,000-2,400 metres and seems to act on any ground. Normally held up at the back of the field, he has speed to take up a more prominent position. 

 

Postponed

 

Previously trained by Luca Cumani, this five-year-old was a very smart performer over the Sheema distance in England last year. He peaked by winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July. Postponed finished third behind Snow Sky and Eagle Top at the Royal Ascot meeting five weeks earlier, but turned the tables on both these rivals when it mattered the most — albeit only just versus Eagle Top, who he beat by a nose after a thrilling finish. 

 

It was Postponed’s fourth career win and he gained a fifth by landing the Prix Foy at Longchamp in September. He beat Spiritjim by three parts of a length, with Baino Hope third and Dolniya fourth.  

 

All in all, Postponed’s form is solid, though perhaps not quite yet what we would call world-class. He is ideally suited to 2,400 metres and goes well on any ground. His prep run for Sheema came in the City Of Gold on Super Saturday, when he was a visually impressive 3-length winner over French challenger Dariyan.  

 

Duramente

 

This colt was the top three-year-old in Japan last season when he won the two most important classics, the Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas) at Nakayama in April and the Tokyo Yushun (Derby) in May. Unfortunately, a crack at the best older horses in big autumn races never happened, as Duramente sustained injuries to both his forelegs and found himself on the sidelines. A long rest was needed, leading up to a return to training in January. 

 

Fully recovered, the son of King Kamehameha came back to racing action at Nakayama on February 28 when he beat Ambitious by a neck to win the 1,800-metres Nakayama Kinen. Real Steel finished third.

 

Duramente’s 2000 Guineas success last year came at the chief expense of Real Steel, who is also owned by Sunday Racing Co Ltd. Duramente won the 2,000-metres contest readily by 1½ lengths. Eventual St Leger winner Kitasan Black took third. Duramente stepped up to 2,400 metres in the Derby, staged six weeks later. Quite dominant once more, the Mirco Demuro-ridden favourite obliged by almost 2 lengths from Satono Rasen, with Satono Crown back in third (both were Group 2 winners in 2015). Duramente’s dam, Admire Groove, was a top-class filly who won back-to-back editions of the Queen Elizabeth Commemorative Cup at Kyoto. His rider is an excellent horseman who made international headlines when he rode a superb race to win the Dubai World Cup on Victoire Pisa five years ago. 

 

Can Demuro strike again at Meydan? Of course he can. He has a fine partner in Duramente, a classy performer open to further improvement this year.