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Everything to play for in seven-race Meydan spectacular

25/03/2015

Seven Hong Kong challengers with live winning chances are going to make the richest racing occasion in the world even more fascinating when seven races from the Dubai World Cup meeting - the last five of which carry Group 1 status - are simulcast from Meydan at the weekend.
 
Apart from the fact that it is the richest race in the world the final event on the card, the G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m)  at 1 am Sunday morning, has renewed appeal this year with the new dirt surface attracting two stars from the USA in Lea and notably California Chrome. The latter is a freaky horse with an undistinguished pedigree who won both the G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Preakness Stakes in 2014 and is now basking in glory as US Horse Of The Year.
 
Interestingly Dubai's' Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum - who is largely responsible for the new surface - has raised the debate by observing that it may actually suit the locals more than the US raiders on the grounds that the surface is not that similar to American dirt conditions. The Sheikh consequently suggested  that he believes last year's winner African Story and fellow Godolphin candidate Prince Bishop along with Japan's Hokko Tarumae are frontrunners for this huge prize over 2000m.
 
All will be revealed in a few days but veteran Southern Californian trainer Art Sherman sounds very relaxed about the underfoot conditions for California Chrome who will be ridden as usual by Victor Espinoza. After watching a workout earlier this week, Sherman said, "Our horse seems to be handling the track great. He went good and we're almost ready. We'll jog him on Thursday, gallop him on Friday and jog on raceday morning."
 
Another big US hope is Main Sequence in the earlier G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) but, apart from red hot rivals from Japan, France and Britain, he must encounter Hong Kong's Horse Of The Year Designs On Rome, a real streetfighter who can expect another spectacular ride from Joao Moreira. It looks an intriguing confrontation.
 
Also intriguing is Hong Kong's challenge for the 1200m G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, especially after the the quinella achieved last year with Sterling City and Rich Tapestry. And for the 2015 renewal - now on a dirt surface - Rich Tapestry is joined by the popular Lucky Nine along with Super Jockey.
 
They all look to have chances though there is a big local buzz for US speedball Secret Circle, winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in 2013 and just beaten in the same G1 extravaganza last November.
 
It is surely in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) - won by Hong Kong's Joy And Fun in 2010 and Amber Sky last year - that hopes look brightest of all, represented by the awesomely fast team of Amber Sky, Bundle Of Fun and Peniaphobia.

If there is an international class sprinter who could stand in their way on Meydan's fast 1000m turf track it may be Via Africa, a mare who had a formidable reputation in South Africa founded upon  her blazing speed from the stalls.

Trainer Mike de Kock won this illustrious sprint in 2009 and 2013 and, with this speedball now reportedly well acclimatized at Meydan, she might not be easy to run down if she can blitz from the gates.

 

 

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