Dubai: The inaugural running of the Dubai Gold Cup at the meeting is likely to be fought out by the Mahmoud Al Zarouni pair Fox Hunt and Opinion Poll.
Before going into Al Zarouni's care, Fox Hunt showed himself to be a stayer of considerable ability. A winner of the German St Leger [2800m] he was competitive in the time-honoured Ebor and Goodwood Cup [3200m] on his way to an interrupted 7th in the Emirates Melbourne Cup in November.
Indications are that he has lifted since moving to the Middle East by registering back-to-back victories over 2600m at Meydan.
However, Opinion Poll will not be easy for Fox Hunt overcome.
Opinion Poll has also put together an impressive record on the European scene. His efforts have featured wins in the Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Stakes at York as well as a 2nd to star stayer Fame And A Glory in the Ascot Gold Cup [4000m].
At his one outing this year he finished 2nd to Fox Hunt — beaten 2.5 lengths — on March 1 but he will certainly be fitter tonight.
Veteran Kasbah Bliss whose trainer Francois Doumen prepared Jim And Tonikc has shown himself to be a versatile performer on the flat and over jumps. The third place-getter in the Hong Kong Cup back in 2009 the ten-year-old has continued to defy the passage of time since. He stamped his claim for the Gold Cup by winning the Group 1 Prix Cadran [4,000 metres] at Lonchamp during the Arc weekend.
A winner of the 3,200 metres Queens Vase at Royal Ascot the much travelled Mikhail Glinka must be taken into account. After losing his way in 2011, the son of Galileo has gone from strength to strength in this preparation, making all the running when a comfortable winner over 2,400m on Super Saturday.
Adding depth to the field is Joshua Tree, whose successes include the Canadian International at Woodbine and Mike De Kock's Zanzamar, who was a group performer in South Africa before winning two of his six starts at Meydan.
Unusual Suspect needs to lift on his two starts at Meydan, but is favoured by the extra distance.
