Dick Powell has handicapped every race since the Dubai International Racing Carnival’s inception in 2004. He sets the morning line for the Carnival races and his selections and analysis can be found at www.amwestentertainment.com.
Race 2: Dubal Casthouse Trophy Handicap (10:05 a.m. EST)
About 1 3/8 Mile on the Tapeta main track
$120,000 for Northern Hemisphere 4+ and Southern Hemisphere 3+
For Horses rated 100-110
This race will be run around two turns on the main track with a long run into the first turn. SPRING OF FAME (Grand Slam) was a good second behind PRINCE BISHOP in his seasonal debut and has a good record on all weather tracks. He’ll have to overcome the wide post but he has a long run to do it. HOLBERG (Halling) was a good third in a group II stakes on the turf prepping for the Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-I) where he ran terribly. He’s been off since then and can handle the all weather track. TROIS ROIS (Hernando) was no match for the red-hot MUSIR here on the turf last out but should be fit in his third start of the season.
Selections:
#3 SPRING OF FAME
#1 HOLBERG
#7 TROIS ROIS
Race 3: UAE 2000 Guineas (UAE-III) sponsored by Dubal (10:45 a.m. EST)
About 1 Mile on the Tapeta main track
$250,000 for Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere 3YO
This race will be run around one turn on the main track with a long run down the backstretch. Use the www.emiratesracing.com website to get the individual ratings of all the horses in these races. Run under weight-for-ages conditions, the higher rated horses have a big advantage in here. KINGLET (Kingmambo) was a good second in his seasonal debut behind DARK MATTER who had the benefit of a race already. Son of KINGMAMBO draws well with Barzalona. DARK MATTER (Stratum) has won two in a row since shipping in from Singapore but I don’t think he can do it three in a row. Going a mile will be a new adventure for him. RASSAM (Dansili) was a good third in his seasonal debut and is eligible for big improvement here
Selections:
#5 KINGLET
#1 DARK MATTER
#9 RASSAM
Race 4: Dubal Potlines Trophy Handicap (11:20 a.m. EST)
About 1 ½ Miles on the turf
$175,000 for Northern Hemisphere 3+ and Southern Hemisphere 3+
For horses rated 100+
This race will be run around two turns on the turf course. JOSHUA TREE (Montjeu) won the Canadian International (Can-IT) at Woodbine in 2010 and was third last year in Germany to eventual Arc winner DANEDREAM. He just missed in the International again last year and begins his Sheema Classic (UAE-I) preparations here. IRISH FLAME (Dynasty) was a group I stakes winner in South Africa that has yet to regain that form here but this is a group that he should be competitive against. SONGCRAFT (Singspiel) should be ready for another move up in class off three straight wins including a sharp win going ten furlongs here last out in fast time.
Selections:
#1 JOSHUA TREE
#2 IRISH FLAME
#5 SONGCRAFT
Race 5: Firebreak Stakes (UAE-III) sponsored by Dubal (11:55 a.m. EST)
About 1 Mile on the Tapeta main track
$200,000 for Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
This race will be run around one turn on the main track with a long run down the backstretch. BOLD SILVANO (Silvano) won the Durban Cup (SA-I) in South Africa and came here last year to prep for the World Cup. He won the second leg of the Maktoum Challenge (UAE-III) then missed the rest of the year. He’s shown he can run well fresh and declines the Maktoum Challenge for this. DERBASS (Seeking The Gold) is a mile specialist on either surface and has had two even runs this season. AFRICAN STORY (Pivotal) was a sharp winner here last out going seven furlongs in fast time.
Selections:
#7 BOLD SILVANO
#6 DERBAAS
#3 AFRICAN STORY
Race 6: Al Maktoum Challenge (UAE-II) sponsored by Dubal (12:30 p.m. EST)
About 1 3/16 Miles on the Tapeta main track
$250,000 for Northern Hemisphere 4+ and Southern Hemisphere 3+
This race will be run around two turns on the Tapeta main track with a long run into the first turn. Use the www.emiratesracing.com website to get the individual ratings of all the horses in these races. Run under weight-for-ages conditions, the higher rated horses have a big advantage in here. MASTER OF HOUNDS (Kingmambo) ran well here last year in the UAE Derby (UAE-II) and made his seasonal debut with a good second behind MUSIR. He should appreciate the added distance and benefit from the race over the track. De Kock switches to Christophe Soumillon. MENDIP (Harlan’s Holiday) is a horse for the course that had some traffic problems in round one. This is about as far as he wants to go and he gets Kieren Fallon. PRINCE BISHOP (Dubawi) won easily here in his seasonal debut against modest handicap company but should benefit from the run.
Selections:
#5 MASTER OF HOUNDS
#4 MENDIP
#1 PRINCE BISHOP
Race 7: Dubal Trophy Handicap (1:05 p.m. EST)
About 1 1/8 Miles on the Turf
$175,000 Northern Hemisphere 4+ and Southern Hemisphere 3+
For horses rated 100+
This race will be run on the turf around one turn with a long run down the backstretch into the turn. MUTAHADEE (Encosta de Lago) was a sharp winner here last out going this distance and his rating was bumped up six points. He won so easily that there’s no reason to think he can’t do it again. SECRECY (King’s Best) ran into the red-hot MUSIR on the Tapeta last out and now switches back to his preferred surface for bin Suroor/Dettori. IGUAZU FALLS (Pivotal) beat KRYPTON FACTOR who came back to just miss in a group III sprint here last week. He drops down two pounds and draws outside for a clear run down the backstretch.
Selections:
#1 MUTAHADEE
#3 SECRECY
#6 IGUAZU FALLS
