Your Super Saturday tips ahead of Dubai World Cup

Meydan raceourse hosts its annual Super Saturday meeting, the official dress rehearsal for the $35 million Dubai World Cup this weekend. The card features eight high-quality races all of which have a bearing on the races that will be run on the big day, March 28. Gulf News breaks down the Super Saturday card and offers its selections.

Al Bastakiya Sponsored By Emirates.com Listed Stakes (4pm) - $300,000 (3yo, 16 runners) 1,800 metres, dirt: A prep for the UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai World Cup night, this race has always been fiercely contested and this year’s renewal should be no different. Zabardast, Commanding and Dubai Love all have the right credentials to win this but it is Godolphin’s dirt debutant Ya Hayati who appeals most. A son of the great Dubawi, he was an impressive winner of the Meydan Trophy on his last start and should handle the dirt. A wide draw in stall 14 could help his rider William Buick to secure a favourable position from where he can launch his bid. GN Selections: 1. Ya Hayati. 2. Zabardast.

Mahab Al Shimaal Sponsored By Emirates Skywards (4.35pm) - $350,000 (3yo plus, 14 runners) 1,200 metres, dirt: This race is Bochart’s to lose. Satish Seemar’s speedball looked hugely impressive in his last two starts and he should continue in the same vein in what is a prep race for the $2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on DWC night. It would appear that he faces some genuine sprinters in Ibn Malik, Switzerland, Alkarama and Wafy, but certainly has the ability to cope with the task at hand an announce himself to be a contender for the Golden Shaheen in three weeks. GN Selection: 1. Bochart. 2. Ibn Malik.

Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By Arabian Adventures (5.10pm) - $350,000 (3yo plus, 16 runners) 6f, turf: Charlie Appleby’s Space Blues looks the class act in a race that has a maximum field of 16 runners. Previously campaigned in the UK and France, where he finished a noteworthy runner-up to Too Darn Hot in the Prix Jean Prat on his last-but-one start, the son of Dubawi makes an interesting debut in race that is the prep for the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on the DWC card. Ekhtiyaar is a proven sprinter but is yet to show what he is capable of here. This could be the day he does. GN Selections: 1. Space Blues. 2. Ekhtiyaar.

Burj Nahaar Sponsored By Emirates Holidays (5.45pm) - $350,000 (3yo plus, 12 runners) 1,600 metres, dirt: Top UAE handler Doug Watson has won this the past two years and returns in search of a hat-trick with 2018 winner Kimbear. But this is easier said than done given the fact that season milers such as Secret Ambition, Salute The Soldier and Ambassadorial also line up to bid for a ticket to the Godolphin Mile on DWC night. Al Maktoum Challenge (Round 1) and Firebreak Stakes scorer Secret Ambition poses a big threat. Heavy Metal knows the Meydan track well, and though getting on in age, can reprise his 2017 winning performance. GN Selections: 1. Kimbear. 2. Secret Ambition

Jebel Hatta Sponsored By Emirates Airline (6.20pm) - $400,000 (3yo plus, 13 runners) 1,800 metres, turf: This is a high-class renewal of a race that acts as a stepping stone to the $6 million Dubai Turf on DWC day. Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby has won it twice in the past four years with Tryster and Blair House and sends out Royal Ascot hero Barney Roy in search of another win. Barney Roy looked in particularly good shape in his season bow when beating 2019 winner Dream Castle in the Al Rashidiya over course and distance last month. Dream Castle, who represents six-time Jebel Hatta winning handler Saeed Bin Surour reopposes, but will need to produce something special if he hopes to gain revenge on Saturday. Dream Castle had one more start when he was narrowly beaten to third by Zakouski in the Zabeel Mile on February 20 and looks a genuine threat. Also worth watching are Spotify and Magic Lily. GN Selections: 1. Barney Roy. 2. Dream Castle.

Al Maktoum Challenge R3 Sponsored By Emirates Airline (7.55pm) - $600,000 (3yo plus, 8 runners) 2,000 metres, dirt: Traditionally the final prep race for the Dubai World Cup, this year’s renewal is short of class and will be contested by eight runners, many of whom hold no entry to the big race. However, Musabah Al Muheri’s Military Law looks a serious middle-distance campaigner and is the chosen one to win and book his ticket to the DWC. He was last seen chasing Godolphin’s Benbatl home last month and given the fact that the latter has since run a big race in the $20 million Saudi Cup, will have all the support. Matter made an impressive debut in the Firebreak Stakes for Salem Bin Ghadayer and together with seven-year-old Saltarin Dubai should run well. The dark horse has to be ex-Godolphin trained Mark Of Approval who was a hugely impressive winner at Jebel Ali on his last start. A Dh25,000 purchase at the Godolphin Horse Sale two seasons ago he can reward his new owners with a big booty should he put his best foot forward and spring a surprise. GN Selection: 1. Military Law. 2. Mark Of Approval.

Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored By Emirates SkyCargo (8.30pm) - $350,000 (3yo plus, 11 runners) 2,400m, turf: British raider Defoe has the most appeal in a race that acts as a build-up to the Dubai Gold Cup (G2) on DWC night. Roger Varian’s seasoned stayer won the Coronation Cup at Epsom and the Hardicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last season and comes into Friday’s race as the horse to beat. However, Godolphin’s Desert Encounter has the ability to test his credentials should he have come on his last run in the Dubai Millennium Stakes last month where Ghaiyyath destroyed the field. GN Selections: 1. Defoe. 2 Desert Encounter