Three group stakes and a matchup of UAE Derby winners are the highlights on the second card of the 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival on Friday at Meydan Racecourse.

The highest-level racing on Friday’s seven-race card comes on turf with the Group 2, $180,000 Al Rashidiya over about 1 1/8 miles and the Group 2, $180,000 Al Fahidi Fort over about seven furlongs. The Group 3, $150,000 Dubawi Stakes is a 1,200-meter dirt sprint, a stepping-stone toward the Group 1 Golden Shaheen on the Dubai World Cup card in March.

The Australian filly Empowerment, who starts in a six-furlong handicap at Port Macquarie Racecourse on Friday, had tough assignments in December and earlier this month in her first two starts following a four-month layoff.

Empowerment finished sixth in two lucrative sale progeny races at Wyong and Gold Coast racecourses, going off as a longshot in each start.  At Gold Coast on Jan. 8, Empowerment was not beaten far – 2 3/4 lengths - in a race for 3- and 4-year-old fillies.

The Australian gelding Tuvalu had a fine start to his career in 2021, winning three of his first five starts.

The race record looks more impressive now than it did last year.

Unraced since August, Tuvalu resumes racing in a seven-furlong handicap at Warrnambool Racecourse west of Melbourne on Thursday. Tuvalu won his debut at Warrnambool in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs last January.

A nose separated victorious Sunny Star from runner-up Telecom Fighters the last time they met in a 1,650-meter Class 2 handicap at Happy Valley. They meet again in Happy Valley’s featured sixth race Wednesday and this time a major shift in the weights could change the dynamic.  

Green Belt was a $105,000 purchase at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale by trainer Mick Price of Australia.

Under Price’s direction, Green Belt mas made an early impression in Australia.

A Kentucky-bred by Declaration of War, Green Belt was given ample time to acclimate, winning his debut in a maiden race at a mile at Cranbourne Racecourse on Jan. 2. Green Belt led throughout as the 4-5 favorite and won by 3 3/4 lengths.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, January 19, 2022)

Three starts into his career, the Australian colt Rejoiced has performed better in sprints than at a mile.

Rejoiced won his first two starts in November and early December in sprints, but was last of seven in a one-mile handicap at Gosford Park on Dec. 29, setting the pace before fading to lose by 2 1/4 lengths.

A return to a sprint in a handicap at 6 3/4 furlongs at Wyong Racecourse on Tuesday looks to be a better placing for the relatively unexposed colt.

Miss Powerbelle has compiled a three-race winning streak during the last 50 weeks in Australia that has an excellent chance to continue when she starts for a new stable in a five-furlong handicap at Muswellbrook Racecourse on Monday.

Miss Powerbelle does not race too often. The current streak began with a win in a handicap at 4 1/2 furlongs last January and continued in a handicap at 4 3/4 furlongs in March. Miss Powerbelle’s only subsequent start was a half-length win in a five-furlong handicap at Tamworth Racecourse on Oct. 11 at odds of 1-2.

Paul Lally:

R1 3-7-6-11

R2 8-11-1-7

R3 8-4-1-6

R4 10-8-2-7

R5 11-4-1-3

R6 11-4-6-10

R7 2-8-6-7

R8 3-9-1-4

R9 4-3-1-2

R10 4-2-7-9

Best Bet R5 N11 Joyful Genius

Longshot R6 N11 Ring Bells

Play R5 QQP 1-4-11

Tom Wood: 

R1: 2-7-6-3

R2: 7-1-8-4

R3: 2-8-4-1

R4: 2-5-10-7

R5: 2-4-11-9

R6: 10-4-6-9

R7: 6-2-7-3

R8: 9-3-4-10

R9: 4-2-3-7

R10:4-2-7-9

A pair of 4-year-olds foaled more than 11,000 miles apart top the featured ninth race Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. 

California Spangle, a son of Starspangledbanner, was born in Ireland, though he never raced there, while Fantastic Way, another horse who only has started in Hong Kong, came into the world at a farm in New Zealand. Both geldings already have won prolifically and figure to attract significant wagering attention in this Class 2 handicap over 1,200 meters for horses rated 100-80.