Meydan: Kentucky Oaks prospect Polar River in UAE 1000 Guineas

From start to finish there are interesting horses in the seven races on the Thursday night World Cup Carnival card at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Race 1, the UAE 1000 Guineas, brings out Polar River, the promising filly who has started her career with two dirt wins and could be considered for the Kentucky Oaks. Race 7 is a turf handicap over about nine furlongs of no awesome quality, but among its entrants is Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul, who makes his Dubai debut.

In between are other races of note. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Marking is one of 10 entrants in race 4, the Group 3, $200,000 Al Shindagha Sprint, a prep for the Golden Shaheen on the Dubai World Cup card. Race 6 is the Group 3, $250,000 UAE 2000 Guineas, which last year Mubtaahij used as a launching pad to an impressive win in the UAE Derby and starts in two Triple Crown races.

American-bred Polar River, by Congrats and out of the Empire Maker mare Bayou Tortuga, has raced twice for trainer Doug Watson, winning her debut in December at Meydan by more than 13 lengths, then easily handling a step up in class to win the Guineas Trial by nearly five lengths over Promising Run, a talented Godolphin filly by Hard Spun who won a Group 2 last year in England. Polar River races a furlong farther Thursday in the 1,600-meter 1000 Guineas, but the way she finished last time suggests the longer trip poses no issue, and the best of her four foes is the same filly she just walloped, Promising Run.

McLaughlin sent five horses to Dubai last month, and ran four of them last week, notching wins with Frosted and Confrontation and a third behind Confrontation with Watershed. Marking might prove similarly formidable in the Al Shindagha over about six furlongs on dirt. Suffice it to say there are no horses in the race like Runhappy, the only horse to beat Marking last out in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita. Marking’s main rival appears to be the Hong Kong horse Rich Tapestry, who makes his first start on dirt since finishing third in Secret Circle’s 2015 Golden Shaheen win.

The UAE 2000 Guineas includes the one-two finishers from the race’s local trial, Steady Pace and Roleau, who were separated by a nose last month. Both are owned by Godolphin with Steady Pace’s jockey James Doyle wearing the blue cap that, on the surface, signals the main contender among multiple entrants. Both horses could be susceptible to a sharp newcomer, but the options are somewhat thin, though Qurbaan, 2 for 2 on the French turf last year, is by American sire and potential dirt influence Speightstown.

The card begins at 10 a.m. Eastern, with live video and wagering available through DRF Bets.