Super Saturday card missing some star power
Well, the gang most definitely is not all here.
Super Saturday, preview day for the March 25 Dubai World Cup Day, includes eight Thoroughbred races, and chances are, if you don’t closely follow winter racing in Dubai, you’re unfamiliar with most of the horses.
Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Rebel’s Romance was among the original entrants in the Dubai City of Gold but was withdrawn from the race this week with a reportedly minor leg issue. He remains on track for a start in the Sheema Classic on the World Cup undercard March 25.
Algiers, easily the leading dirt horse to race during this year’s World Cup Carnival, is taking a pass on Super Saturday’s feature, the Grade 1, $450,000 Maktoum Challenge Round 3, the featured sixth race. Having scored blowout victories in the first two rounds of the Maktoum Challenge, Algiers is staying fresh for a start in the $12 million World Cup.
In his absence, the Saturday feature, carded for 2,000 meters, lacks anything like standouts. The natural inclination, and possibly the right one, is to favor Bendoog, the most appealing among four entrants trained by Bhupat Seemar.
A 4-year-old by Gun Runner, Bendoog showed flashes as a 3-year-old last winter and spring, finishing a creditable fourth in the UAE Derby, and he has been improving throughout this winter.
A one-paced third Jan. 13 in the 2,000-meter Thunder Snow Challenge, Bendoog raised his local rating to a peak 111 through a distant second-place finish behind Algiers in the 1 3/16-mile Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2. Bendoog has tactical speed and from post 4 should be on the lead or just behind it under James Doyle.
Kafoo, a 5-year-old Curlin gelding trained by Seemar, was a well-beaten fourth in this race a year ago but could go a little better Saturday after coming to life last out in the Jebel Ali Mile following two duds starting off his current campaign.
Eight-year-old Salute The Soldier won this race in 2021 but after a comeback score in the Thunder Snow Challenge, took a step back finishing sixth in Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge. Bendoog was better that day and clearly has greater upside.
The Group 1, $350,000 Jebel Hatta, a prep for the Dubai Turf, looks like the best race on the card and drew a very legitimate group headed by Master of The Seas, Real World, and Valiant Prince – all Godolphin horses – and the Hong Kong horse Russian Emperor.
Russian Emperor probably wants more ground than the 1,800 meters of the Jebel Hatta but does exit a fine win going 2,400 meters facing Group 1 company in Qatar, his first race outside Hong Kong since 2020, when he began his career in Ireland and England.
The winner likely comes from the Godolphin trio.
Real World makes his first start since finishing second to the great Baaeed in the Queen Anne Stakes on June 14 at Royal Ascot. The one-mile Queen Anne was on the short side for Real World, who blitzed the Zabeel Mile last winter in his lone start over the Meydan turf before trying dirt, with no success, in the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup. Interestingly, Daniel Tudhope rides Real World for ace layoff trainer Charlie Appleby, while top Godolphin rider William Buick lands on Master of The Seas. Master of The Seas hasn’t risen as high on ratings as Real World but holds a recency edge having captured the Zabeel Mile on Jan. 20. A miler through his career, 5-year-old Master of The Seas won the Group 3 Earl of Sefton over nine furlongs last fall, beating a modest group.
Valiant Prince, likely to be underestimated, has won two turf stakes already this World Cup Carnival and is 4 for 4 over the Meydan grass.
The Group 1, $250,000 City of Gold, carded for 2,400 meters on turf, theoretically is a prep for the Sheema Classic, but it’s nearly impossible to see any of the race’s 14 runners making an impact in that important World Cup card race. Godolphin holds a strong hand and Kemari, trained by Appleby with Doyle riding, appears to be their leading chance. Kemari didn’t quite stay about 1 3/4 miles in his lone start this winter and will appreciate cutting back in distance.
The other turf prep for a World Cup race, the 1,200-meter Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, also drew a field lacking standouts. Eight-year-old Miqyaas from out of nowhere has won back to back turf sprints at the Carnival, scoring a major upset last out in the 1,000-meter Blue Point Sprint. Three-year-old Al Dasim gets a 10-pound weight break from his older foes and has scored two sharp Meydan turf-sprint wins this winter.
A field of 10 sprinters was entered in the Group 3, $250,000 Mahab al Shimaal, a prep for the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Tuz and Isolate, neither close to Group 1 class, could be favored. The Burj Nahaar, a 1,600-meter Godolphin Mile prep, is even more of a crapshoot, while Lahresh or Mr Raj is likely to win the Al Bastakiya, a lead-in to the UAE Derby.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.