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Dubai World Cup - Form Comments

23/03/2017

G1 - 2000m - Dirt

1

Apollo Kentucky

Christophe Lemaire gets the mount on this high class dirt horse from Japan who seemed to relish muddy conditions when posting a career-best by beating hot favourite Awardee and 12 others in a G1 over 2000m at Ohi in December.

2

Long River

Not consistent but he ended a losing run when suddenly producing what looked a career-best in a G1 over course and distance earlier this month, leading easily from the gates and seeing off some of today's rivals. He surely won't have things so easy here.

3

Gold Dream

Comes here fresh off a G1 victory at Tokyo in February, a race that is generally regarded as Japan's principal trial for the Dubai World Cup. The winning margin was just a neck but he looked to have more to give, and Joao Moreira takes over today.

4

Lani

Won the UAE Derby (1900m) on this day last year, his stamina kicking in effectively. He went on to run some fine races in US Triple Crown races, but his dismal effort on his Meydan return this month raises plenty of issues.

5

Gun Runner

Only small but looks to be in the form of his life, whipping his rivals in a G3 at Oaklawn Park after gaining his first G1 success, at Churchill Downs. The big question for him - apart from Arrogate - is whether he is as good over this distance as he is over shorter.

6

Move Up

An improved colt last season that included a G3 win over 2400m at Ascot in October. He made quite an encouraging dirt debut when fourth behind Long River in a G1 here this month, though continually trying to shift to his left in the straight.

7

Awardee

A Japanese challenger whose profile includes six consecutive victories - one at JPN G1 level. Suffered a couple of narrow defeats as favourite more recently and was second to Apollo Kentucky at Ohi in December. An easy ride but doesn't want to be in front too soon.

8

Furia Cruzada

A triple G1 winner in South America and also has some good form in the UK. Two solid efforts at Meydan this year, winning a G2 and then third (though covering more ground than the pair ahead of him) in a G1 on Super Saturday - 2 1/2L behind Long River, a rival here.

9

Arrogate

This huge colt is a real champion and will start a boiling-hot favourite after a succession of blistering performances, most recently - and despite an interrupted preparation - when storming to a 4 3/4L victory in that G1 at Gulfstream Park which is now the world's richest race. 

10

Keen Ice

Never travelling smoothly in this race last year, finishing eighth. However he has been consistently featuring against top US competition since, including his most recent fourth in the G1 Pegasus World Cup, but, for the second time, beaten over 10L by Arrogate.

11

Neolithic

A lightly-raced four-year-old who is on the upgrade, moving up from a runaway win in an allowance race two starts back to a third placing in the hugely valuable Pegasus World Cup, 8 1/4L behind Arrogate after helping force a strong pace in that 1800m Gulfstream Park G1.

12

Hoppertunity

Made a powerful move out wide and kept battling to the wire when third in this race last year, especially good as he reportedly lost a shoe. He had prepped for that when winning a G2 at Santa Anita and, last month, he won that same race in some style.

13

Special Fighter

He likes to lead, tactics that payed off in a G1 here last year, prior to his very respectable fourth in this much stronger race when unable to boss the field. Ran a snappy return after his long absence when second to Long River in a G1 recently.

14

Mubtaahij

A runaway winner of the shorter UAE Derby this day two years ago, running another cracking race when second to California Chrome in this race last year. His trainer insists that he will be sharper for his solid second here last month.

 

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