The Coolmore battalions may shun the riches on offer during the Dubai International Racing Carnival, however, Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin yard does not lack for opposition.
The latest meeting includes the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas, the first Classic to be run at Meydan, and another prize that appears to be a duel between Godolphin and South African trainer Mike de Kock.
The De Kock team got off to flying start, with a double on the first card of the Carnival, but Godolphin came to life with five winners last week and the two stables look likely to dominate once more.
De Kock runs Raihana, who looked the part when winning the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial last month. She won with plenty in hand and her victory from a wide draw simply underlined the overall fairness of the newly-laid Tapeta surface. In fact the wide draw may well have been a blessing as Raihana appears to be best ridden as a hold-up horse, so she is likely to need the cards to fall in her favour if she is to follow up here from stall three.
Saeed bin Suroor runs Argentinian import Ishitaki, a dual Grade One winner, and Siyaadah, who was last seen finishing sixth to Lillie Langtry in the Timeform Fillies' 800 at Newmarket in the autumn. South American-bred runners have a decent record at the Carnival and Ishitaki has proven her ability to act on a synthetic surface when winning the Grade One Gran Premio Jorge De Atucha on her last start in Argentina.
The Group Three Al Shindagha Sprint is the big chance for the British contingent. The Golden Shaheen, the Group One sprint on World Cup night, used to be regularly dominated by American-trained horses but the Tapeta surface seems sure to give the European runners a more even run for their money – and there are a few trying out the track tonight.
Godolphin’s Gayego is likely to be the favourite, having won a Grade One on the synthetic surface at Santa Anita, but he does have to concede a penalty for that win and Bin Suroor has already warned that the horse is likely to need the run.
That makes Strike The Deal look an interesting proposition. He is best when coming off the back of a fast pace as he showed with a couple of wins in the autumn when ridden by Kieren Fallon. The pair never really got into contention in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, when the middling early pace did not play to his strengths.
Strike The Deal has won twice on the Polytrack at Lingfield, so the surface should not be a problem, and the Jeremy Noseda yard has already shown some good form out here with a winner and two seconds from just four runners so far.
One of the intrigues of the Carnival is those horses who re-appear having dropped off the radar in Europe. McCartney beat a good field, including Strike The Deal, when he won the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster three years ago. He has not won in four runs since and has dropped 10lbs, which makes him interesting for his first try in handicap grade for the Gulf News Broadcasting Handicap.
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