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
Entries and past peformances for the March 5 card at Meydan Racecourse.
Race 1: Cezanne (GB) Maiden sponsored by Zabeel Feed Mill
About 1 3/16 Mi. on the Tapeta main track
$13,600 for Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
This race will be run around two turns with a short run into the first turn. FIERINESS (Pivotal) woke up with two good seconds on the turf at Abu Dhabi and gets a weight break with Harry Bentley back aboard. HIGH COMEDY (Exceed and Excel) comes off a good third going this distance on the dirt at Jebel Ali in good time while beating a few of these. He shows a good third here on the Tapeta going seven furlongs and could be a pace factor. ENERGIA CENTRAL (Fahim) has run well on the Tapeta here against this maiden level so you can throw out his poor effort on the turf at Abu Dhabi last out. Gets Wayne Smith.
Selections:
#3 FIERINESS
#5 HIGH COMEDY
#9 ENERGIA CENTRAL
Race 2: Dove Straits (USA) Handicap sponsored by Zabeel Feed Mill (division 1)
About 7 Fur. On the Tapeta main track
$16,300 for Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
This race will be run down the backstretch and around one turn. KILT ROCK (Giant’s Causeway) was a good third here two starts back going six furlongs when ridden by Kieren Fallon who gets back aboard today. He has to overcome post 14 but races towards the rear anyway. STRECKER (Sky Mesa) Broke his maiden here two starts back going six furlongs in good time then raced evenly here last out against this class level. FINGERPRINT (Maria’s Mon) was a good third here going this distance against this class level then had no shot on the dirt at Sharjah when he drew post eleven in a very fast race.
Selections:
#7 KILT ROCK
#14 STRECKER
#10 FINGERPRINT
Race 3: Tamayaz (Can) Handicap sponsored by Zabeel Feed Mill (Division 2)
About 7 Fur. on the Tapeta main track.
$16,300 for Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
This race will be run down the backstretch and around one turn. DAN CHILLINGWORTH (Indian Ridge) just missed here last out going seven furlongs from post eleven which is where he draws again. Picks up two pounds and Doug Watson rides Tadhg O’Shea back. NO STRINGS (Diesis) was a terrific second going six furlongs in very fast time last out at Sharjah and he has a good record on all-weather tracks. SERHAAL (Green Desert) speedball tired late carrying 137 pounds last out and drops five today. Good win two starts back.
Selections:
#1 DAN CHILLINGWORTH
#5 NO STRINGS
#3 SERHAAL
Race 4: Kammtarra (USA) Handicap sponsored by Zabeel Feed Mill
About 1 3/8 Mi. On the Tapeta main track
$19,050 for Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
This race will be run on the main track around two turns with a long run to the first turn. AL MARMOOM (Medaglia D’Oro) was a good second at Jebel Ali on the dirt last out going nine furlongs and just meets the ratings ceiling here. FIVE CENTS (Exceed and Excel) rallied nicely to win going away last out at Jebel Ali but picks up serious weight off that win and draws post 14. RADEGUND ABBEY (Nayef) was victimized by post 12 his last two starts here and should be fit from those efforts.
Selections:
#2 AL MARMOOM
#7 FIVE CENTS
#6 RADEGUND ABBEY
Race 5: Spindrift (IRE) Handicap sponsored by Zabeel Feed Mill
About 6 Fur. On the Tapeta main track
$21,780 for Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
This race will be run around one turn on the main track. GOLDEN SHAHEEN (Invincible Spirit) beat GREEN BERET who came back to win a $150,000 Handicap at the Carnival here two starts back and then was a good third going five furlongs. MOFARIJ (Bering) was no match for the red-hot HAPPY DUBAI two starts back going five furlongs on the turf in the Carnival last out and gets William Buick. DR SMART (Dr Fong) was a good second from post eleven here last out going a mile and now drops five pounds and draws much better.
Selections:
#6 GOLDEN SHAHEEN
#5 MOHARIJ
#8 DR SMART
Race 6: Dubai Millennium (GB) Handicap sponsored by Zabeel Feed Mill
About 1 1/8 Mi. on the Tapeta main track
$29,950 for Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
This race will be run out of a chute on the backstretch and around one turn. SOLID CHOICE (Redoute’s Choice) was a good third behind MUFARRH who is now rated 112 off that win. He’s drawn tough posts recently but has plenty of back class. DAHTEER (Bachir) has been running well on the dirt at Jebel Ali and gets William Buick who had been riding him before getting hurt. MUJAAZEF (Dubawi) was a good fifth behind SKYSURFERS and MUSIR last out here in a listed stake going a mile in fast time.
Selections:
#2 SOLID CHOICE
#11 DAHTEER
#10 MUJAAZEF
Race 7: Nabhaan (IRE) Handicap sponsored by Zabeel Feed Mill
About 1 1/4 Mi. on the Tapeta main track
$21,780 Northern Hemisphere 4 & Up and Southern Hemisphere 3 & Up
This race will be run around two turns on the main track. SABOTEUR (Shamardal) was a good fourth behind MUFARRH who came back to win a Carnival handicap next time out two starts back. COLONY (Statue of Liberty) was no match for ROCK N ROLL RANSOM two starts back here in the Carnival then raced evenly on the turf at Abu Dhabi last out. LION SANDS (Montjeu) didn’t show much in two Carnival starts and meets a more realistic class level here.
Selections:
#3 SABOTEUR
#7 COLONY
#8 LION SANDS