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Super Saturday promises competitive racing action

04/03/2015

An exciting seven-race simulcast programme will beam in from Dubai's spectacular Meydan racecourse on 'Super Saturday' when viewers will be treated to a cosmopolitan congregation of horses, trainers and jockeys.
 
John Moore and Designs On Rome's legion of fans will be particularly absorbed by the Dubai City Of Gold over the 2410m distance of the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, the charismatic horse's target on Dubai World Cup Night, 28 March.
 
No doubt Hong Kong's Horse Of The Year will meet some of Saturday's protagonist's three weeks later and Godolphin's trio of runners look particularly interesting.

Songcraft was only just beaten in this G2 a year ago whilst True Story is still threatening to live up to a huge reputation. Perhaps the most interesting, though, is Sky Hunter who blitzed to a nine-length victory when last seen, in a G3 at Newbury in October 2014.

"Having him gelded resulted in major improvement, and he's in great shape for this first Meydan venture," says trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

The G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (2000m) is the Meydan lead-up for the Dubai World Cup itself, now run on their new dirt surface. African Story was a brilliant winner of the world's most valuable race last March, but the bin Suroor-trained gelding was a bitter disappointment at his only attempt on these different track conditions last month.

One of the most fascinating questions for Saturday is whether African Story can regain his mojo. However many observers are likely to prefer the chances of stablemate Prince Bishop who also appeared to hate the new track early in the same race before suddenly getting the hang of the surface and producing a devastating late surge that only just failed.
 
Vercingetorix will be another name on everyone's lips in Saturday's other G1 event - the Jebel Hatta over 1800m on the turf - and a race that he won last year in blistering style.
 
One of only two defeats in his career came when third to Designs On Rome in last April's Audemar Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin and stable jockey Christophe Soumillon describes him as "the best horse in the yard."

That yard is Mike de Kock's so we need take notice with the facts and figures revealing that the South African maestro has been by far the most successful international trainer in the history of the Dubai Carnival.

 

 

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