Grafitti showcases the most reliable credentials for her seasonal debut, Group 2 Balanchine on 17th February
Meydan has entered into the tenth fixture of the Dubai World Cup Carnival and is staging the mile and a furlong’s Group 2 Balanchine Sponsored by S O G Operations. The race that is open for thoroughbred fillies and mares has a lucrative purse of £77,419,
for which ten runners will battle on the field.
The South African trainer, Mike de Kock who claimed the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort yesterday, Thursday, 16th February, has entered Reem and Mahbooba for tackling today’s challenge.
Yesterday both his entries dominated the race, with Master Of Hounds finishing third behind his winner stable mate, Viscount Nelson.
De Kock trained, five-year-old Mahbooba was flown back this season to UAE specifically for the Al Rashidiya Trial that she won on the 5th of January and posted her debut victory of the season. She was the 11/8 favourite of the race.
She finished second by a nose’s margin in the Group 2 Cape Verdi on 20th January. The 2/5 favourite of the race, Mahbooba, ended the ordeal right behind the winner, First City.
Five-year-old chestnut filly, Reem is also representing trainer De Kock, she finished third behind her stable mate, Mahbooba, in the Group 2 Cape Verdi on 20th January. She has not been able to post her seasonal debut victory yet.
Saeed bin Suroor is saddling six-year-old Dysphonia, about whom he remarked:
“Dysphonia is improving with every piece of work and her form in Australia was quite good.
“She will improve for her first start of the year and is running against some very tough opposition.”
A dark horse among the lineup is the seven-year-old mare, Grafitti, trained by Niels Petersen. The race today will be her seasonal debut. She won the Coolmore Matchmaker Stakes on 11th September 2011 against the 30/100 favourite for the race,
Entangle.
Grafitti was placed in three starts prior to the win, while being the 2/1 favourite for the Morten OG Torvald Klaveness Minnelop on 21st July at Ovrevoll. She finished the race third behind Symbol Of Arch, the winner.
Among the lineup of ten, Grafitti and First City are the two who have recently posted victories through their last starts. Grafitti, however, holds stronger chances with a credible background of being placed.
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