The first two races and the last two races don't seem to offer any great wagering opportunities. We don't advocate taking too many short prices on World Cup Day, so look for value and possible ways to turn a short price into a longer one through exactas and tris. Remember, it's not the horses you don't bet that hurt you.
(8:50) MEY 3rd Race – International racing is always better when HH Aga Khan is winning. He will be represented by #3 VAZIRABAD. The grey gelding prepped nicely over the course on February 23 and should be set for a corker in the Dubai Gold Cup (G2). His main competition could come from Godolphin’s #11 BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE, the talented mare who just beat him in his prep and the venerable #1 SHEIKHZAYEDROAD who has still got it at eight-years-old.
(9:25) MEY 4th Race – Godolphin entrant #13 THUNDER SNOW won the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) impressively and was subsequently nominated to the American Triple Crown. He’s the morning line favorite and deservedly so. The four-year-olds, #8 VETTORI KIN and #11 HE RUNS AWAY are both highly rated and should go off at huge prices in the UAE Derby (G2).
(10:00) MEY 5th Race – The two best entrants, by a long way, in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) are #11 LIMATO and #6 ERTIJAAL. The former has a bit of a class edge while the latter has the benefit of a recent race. It has been our experience that recency tops nearly everything in turf sprints. The two Godolphin runners, #5 JUNGLE CAT and #12 BACCARAT have both been running well at the Carnival and would not be shocking winners.
(10:35) MEY 6th Race – #14 MIND YOUR BISCUITS has been pointing to this race for quite a while. The American was given a race in the Gulfstream Park sprint (G3) to tune him up for this event and he has trained exceptionally well in the desert. Love his outside draw, and his 7-2 morning line is a gift we probably won’t get.
(11:30) MEY 7th Race – Jebel Hatta (G1) victor #4 DECORATED KNIGHT looks tough right back in the Dubai Turf (G1). The son of Galileo has won three straight, but will still have to improve a little to garner the top prize. The boys in blue have a major contender here with #1 RIBCHESTER. This is a tad longer than he usually runs, but his trainer says, “he’s in good nick,” and seems tremendously optimistic of a top performance. #3 HESHEM has impressed on-lookers in his morning chores and his trainer as well. He has the benefit of a recent race and who doesn’t like 20-1 shots?