DUBAI Thursday 5th February

Declarations


Race 2 Turf 1500m handicap 95-110 $120k 14 carded
104 Lion's Blood(SAf) - Egan/Brown
99 Yard-Arm(SAf) - Burke/Bouresly
98 Glow Star(SAf) - Moore/Brown

Race 3 Dirt 1400m handicap 90-105 $110k 16 carded
97 Quicksand(SAf) - Shea/de Kock
96 Charlies Island(SAf) - Moore/Brown
90 Blank Cheque(SAf) - Brown (reserve runner)
90 Grand Emporium(SAf) - Bouresly (reserve runner)

Race 4 Turf 2000m handicap 95-110 $120k 14 carded
107 Bound By Honour(SAf) - Moore/Brown
100 Varsity(GB) - Latham/Swan
96 Bucked Off(SAf) - Egan/Brown

Race 5 Turf 1600m Gr3 F&M $200k 11 carded
105 Front House(Ire) - Shea/de Kock
99 Happy Spirit(SAf) - Moore/Brown
100 Inca Noble(Arg) - Murtagh/de Kock
100 My Central(Ity) - Latham/Brown

Race 6 Dirt 1800m Gr3 $200k 9 carded
117 Asiatic Boy(Arg) - Murtagh/de Kock

Race 7 Turf 1300m handicap 100+ $175k 12 carded
113 Narc(SAf) - Jara/Brown
112 Imbongi(SAf) - Shea/de Kock
105 Drift Ice(SAf) - Durcan/de Kock
105 Leandros(Fr) - Latham/Lyons

Race 8 Turf 2000m handicap 95-110 $120k 14 carded
108 Desert Links(SAf) - Latham/Brown

Thanks again Sabre!

You're welcome.

I like to keep track of what's going on with our horses and trainers over there.

Asiatic Boy to clash with My Indy on Thursday

THE Dubai Carnival really steps up a gear this week with a double-header on Thursday and Friday - and the first of the two cards at Nad Al Sheba will host a major trial for the World Cup as Asiatic Boyis set to clash with My Indy in the second round of the Maktoum Challenge.

Few horses are as synonymous with Dubai as the Mike De Kock-trained Asiatic Boy, whose five victories at the Carnival featured the UAE Derby two seasons ago before he chased home Curlin in last year's World Cup.

An 8-1 chance with Blue Square to go one better in 2009, Asiatic Boy is set to make his seasonal debut in Thursday's Group 3 event, where rivals will include Godolphin's My Indy, 12-1 for the World Cup after a spectacular victory in Round 1 of the Maktoum Challenge three weeks ago.

A total of 15 horses have been entered for the $200,000 dirt race over 1m1f, among them the Hughie Morrison-trained Supaseus.

On the same card, the De kock-trained Front House, carrying the Coolmore colours of Sue Magnier, is set to contest the Group 3 Cape Verdi Stakes, a fillies and mares contest over 1m on the turf.

Likely rivals include the Aga Khan's Alnadana, bidding to repeat Sanaya's win in 2007 for trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre.

The UAE Classic season starts on Friday with the 1,000 Guineas. The Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Sos Brillante is set to renew rivalry with India Tiberina and Esta Bailando, whom she defeated on opening night.

Bin Suroor also has Devotee entered in a race he won last year with subsequent UAE Oaks winner, UAE Derby third and USA Grade 1 winner Cocoa Beach.

Luca Cumani's Swop, prominent in betting for the Lincoln, is entered in the 1m1f turf handicap, while George Margarson's Young Mick will contest the 1m6f turf handicap which, for safety reasons with the rail out, will actually be run over 2,750 metres (1m5¾f).

Dubai World Cup
Blue Square: 3 Albertus Maximus (from 4), 9-2 Colonel John, 5 Daiwa Scarlet, 6 Kane Hekili, 8 Asiatic Boy, 10 Well Armed, 12 Honour Devil, My Indy

Opening post updated to show provisional fields.

Asiatic Boy 'forward' for World Cup prep

Preview: Dubai, Thursday 5.45pm GMT (live on ATR/RUK)

Nad Al Sheba: Al Maktoum Challenge R2 Sponsored by Derrinstown Stud (Group 3) 1m1f, dirt, 3yo+

Ryan Moore, rider of Supaseus
"He is a nice horse and a Royal Ascot winner who was then a close third at York. The dirt is obviously a question mark and it is a tough race, but he seems in good form."

Ahmad Ajtebi, stable jockey to Mubarak Bin Shafya, trainer of Military Power and Happy Boy (Ajtebi rides)
"They both seem well and both are proven on the track. Happy Boy should appreciate this longer trip and will have needed his comeback run. Military Power's best run this season was on dirt but it does look a tough race and he has a bit to find."

Stephane Chevalier, assistant to Jerry Barton, trainer of Don Renato
"He has improved for his run in the first round and has twice been running on well over a mile, so the extra furlong is not a worry. It looks a good renewal but we have to be hopeful of a bold show."

Mike De Kock, trainer of Asiatic Boy
"He is ready for his return to action and has been working well at home. He is certainly further forward than he was this time last year having returned to Dubai earlier, but will improve for the run; his campaign is aimed around the World Cup and that is at the end of March."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of My Indy
"He has pleased us all winter and showed the improvement we hoped when winning the first round. He did that well and has continued to work well, but this does look a better race - though the extra furlong will suit him."

Robbie Burke, rider of Fleurie
"He is lightly raced and open to a lot of improvement but this is a big ask in this company."

Pascal Bary, trainer of Gloria De Campeao
"He will have improved for his run in the first round and the extra furlong will suit him, but this appears a better race."

Richard Mullen, jockey of Glen Nevis
"He did well to win on his last start and conditions will suit, but this is a big step up in class."

Moore happy with Intrepid Jack draw
Preview: Dubai, Thursday 6.15pm GMT (live on ATR/RUK)

Nad Al Sheba: Marju Trophy (handicap) 6f110y, turf


Mike De Kock, trainer of Imbongi and Drift Ice
"Drift Ice is a regular around here and alwayscapable of a good run. This is Imbongi's first start and the trip is his minimum, but he is a nice horse with some good form."

Daragh O'Donohoe, rider of Balthazaar's Gift
"We will always need luck given his style of running but he gave me a good feel on his first start for Rod [Simpson]."

Ryan Moore, rider of Intrepid Jack
"His UK form is good and he is nicely drawn. Hopefully he will run well."

Erwan Charpy, trainer of Munaddam
"He won well last time and we know conditions suit him. He should be thereabouts."

Rashed Bouresly, trainer of Star Crowned
"He is in great form and I am sure he is as good on grass as he is on dirt. He will run well."

Ahmad Ajtebi, rider of Conquest
"He has yet to show his best form but he has the ability to go close."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Hatta Fort
"The draw is not ideal and he was denied a clear run last time. We will need some luck."

Richard Mullen, rider of Prince Tamino
"These are his optimum conditions and we should run a big race in an open contest."

Ger Lyons, trainer of Leandros
"We were delighted with his first run and hopefully he can go close again.

No trip concerns for Big Robert team


Preview: Dubai, Thursday 6.45pm GMT (live on ATR/RUK)

Nad Al Sheba: Alhaaarth (handicap) 1m2f, turf


Ger Lyons, trainer of Fiery Lad
"Johnny [Murtagh] knows him well and he won in November so should be straight enough to run well."

Ahmad Ajtebi, rider of Eastern Anthem
"It is his first start for us and he will improve for the run but he is a nice horse with a great pedigree and some good form."

Jimmy O'Neill, assistant to John Oxx, trainer of Red Eye Express
"We missed a week with him, which is far from ideal, and he is very inexperienced for a race like this. It will be only his second start on turf and we will learn a lot."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Captain Webb
"He was caught only close home last time and should go close again."

Ryan Moore,rider of Love Galore
"This will be his third run but we are not well drawn so we will need a lot of luck."

Karl Burke, trainer of Big Robert
"I actually thought he was going to win for a moment last time and was delighted with that effort. The drop in trip should not be a problem."

Race 2 Turf 1500m handicap 95-110 $120k 14 carded
18/1 Lion's Blood(SAf) - Egan/Brown
66/1 Yard-Arm(SAf) - Burke/Bouresly
11/2F Glow Star(SAf) - Moore/Brown

Race 3 Dirt 1400m handicap 90-105 $110k 16 carded
9/2F Quicksand(SAf) - Shea/de Kock
14/1 Charlies Island(SAf) - Moore/Brown
18/1 Blank Cheque(SAf) - Brown (reserve runner)
40/1 Grand Emporium(SAf) - Bouresly (reserve runner)

Race 4 Turf 2000m handicap 95-110 $120k 14 carded
11/8F Bound By Honour(SAf) - Moore/Brown
25/1 Varsity(GB) - Latham/Swan
20/1 Bucked Off(SAf) - Egan/Brown

Race 5 Turf 1600m Gr3 F&M $200k 11 carded
11/8F Front House(Ire) - Shea/de Kock
7/1 Happy Spirit(SAf) - Moore/Brown
16/1 Inca Noble(Arg) - Murtagh/de Kock
20/1 My Central(Ity) - Latham/Brown

Race 6 Dirt 1800m Gr3 $200k 9 carded
7/4F Asiatic Boy(Arg) - Murtagh/de Kock

Race 7 Turf 1300m handicap 100+ $175k 12 carded
18/1 Narc(SAf) - Jara/Brown
4/1 Imbongi(SAf) - Shea/de Kock
18/1 Drift Ice(SAf) - Durcan/de Kock
8/1 Leandros(Fr) - Latham/Lyons

Race 8 Turf 2000m handicap 95-110 $120k 14 carded
20/1 Desert Links(SAf) - Latham/Brown

According to the betting, South African connections have strong chances in 6 of the 7 thoroughbred races with 4 favourites (Quicksand, Bound By Honour, Front House, Asiatic Boy), 1 joint favourite (Glow Star) and 1 second-favourite (Imbongi)

HOLLYWOOD EXCLUSIVE TO KEVIN SHEA.

Dubai Double Header (Thur/Fri)
Exclusive Comments on Kevin Shea's Rides

David Greet chatted to Winning Form Sponsored jockey Kevin Shea about his mounts on tonight and Friday's Dubai card. This is what he had to say:

THURSDAY 5 FEB.



RACE 3 (18.15) QUICKSAND



He has come on nicely from his last run, and is down in trip tonight. I am expecting him to finish in the first three.



RACE 5 (19.15) FRONT HOUSE



She is very well but this trip is short of her best. However, a first three finish is not out of the question



RACE 6 (19.45) ASIATIC BOY



I am not riding him tonight and Johnny Murtagh is in the saddle. He (Asiatic Boy) is coming along the right way and should win. I see it as a two horse race with My Indy as the danger. (I asked Kevin why he was not riding Asiatic Boy and he said that Murtagh would most probably ride Asiatic Boy on World Cup Night. Kevin’s ride could be Honour Devil.)



RACE 7 (20.15) IMBONGI



He is badly drawn tonight and will come on strongly after this run. He probably needs this outing, but the field is not that strong. I would be happy with a first four finish.





FRIDAY 6 FEB.



RACE 1 (17.10) DIANA’S CHOICE



She is back on the turf here and is very well. I think she should win!



RACE 3 (18.30) NAPLES



I think he will need this run and I will be happy if he makes the frame.



RACE 4 (19.05) BIARRITZ



This is a strong field. He is very well and with a bit of luck, I think he can win. Herman (Brown) runs the talented Kings Gambit in this race and must be a danger.

RACE 6 (20.15) INDIA TIBERINA



She has improved on her first run and I expect her to finish in the first two. My biggest danger could be Devotee ridden by Franki Dettori.



RACE 7 (20.45) RUSSIAN SAGE



I am not riding him tonight and Johnny Murtagh gets the ride. The reason for this is that Russian Sage will most probably be aimed at the same big race/s as Archipenko, and I will be riding Archipenko. Russian Sage will need this run and is short of distance here. I look forward to seeing him running on strongly into the money.

Deem beats Front House, interesting that was the only horse to shorten 20/1 to 13/1 every other horse in race drifted!

2 FRONT HOUSE 13/10 12/10 1/1 1/1 Closed
3 PEACE ROYALE 5/1 9/2 4/1 4/1 Closed
11 HAPPY SPIRIT 7/1 6/1 - 6/1 Closed
1 EVA`S REQUEST 7.5 8/1 7/1 6/1 Closed
8 JALMIRA 12/1 13/1 12/1 12/1 Closed
6 DEEM 13/1 14/1 16/1 20/1 Closed
5 INCA NOBLE 15 14/1 12/1 12/1 Closed
4 CLIFTON DANCER 20/1 16/1 - 16/1 Closed
10 MY CENTRAL 25/1 20/1 14/1 14/1 Closed
9 AKUA`BA 28 33/1 20/1 20/1 Closed
7 OLYMPIC GLORY 150 100/1 - 100/1 Closed