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The first 200-point Kentucky Derby qualifying race of 2023 comes on Saturday at Meydan in Dubai, some 7,000 miles from Churchill Downs. The Grade 2, $1 million UAE Derby drew a field of 13, and the first five home earn points, distributed 100-40-30-20-10, toward qualifying for the 20-runner Kentucky Derby.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Analysis for Sunday, March 26, 2023, at Sha Tin.
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Among the 27 Japan-based horses that have descended upon Dubai to race here Saturday on the World Cup card at Meydan Racecourse, none has looked any better than the 4-year-old colt Equinox. The sleek, near-black bay with white snaking down his forehead galloped with verve on dirt before breezing like Pegasus on turf Wednesday morning.
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If the rough-and-tumble Country Grammer wins a second Dubai World Cup, the $7.2 million winner's share of a $12 million purse will raise his career earnings just shy of $22 million, more than any Thoroughbred. And if Country Grammer tastes defeat, he's going down swinging.
High weight assignments are common for Mankayan, who may start favored in the $134,900 Albury Cup at Albury Racecourse on Thursday. A winner of 6 of 24 starts, all in Britain and Australia, Mankayan will carry top weight of 130 pounds in the Albury Cup.
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Country Grammer already has one Dubai World Cup win behind him but will have just one of 14 opponents outside him when a 15-runner field is loaded for Saturday’s $12 million World Cup.
Espirito was 1 1/4 lengths from qualifying for a $334,000 restricted stakes in April when he finished third in a lucrative six-furlong trial at Gosford Park last Thursday. The $49,800 Civil City Handicap at about six furlongs at Albury Racecourse on Wednesday evening serves as a consolation.
Hong Kong Selections for Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at Happy Valley.
Biscayne Bay has been given lesser targets this year. After finishing a decent second in a seven-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm Racecourse on March 1 in her first start since June, Biscayne Bay will start favored in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday evening.
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The Group 2 races on the World Cup card – the UAE Derby, the Gold Cup, and the Godolphin Mile – were drawn and post positions assigned Monday.
