DUBAI -> SUPER THURSDAY 5th March

MIKE De Kock's two-headed Dubai World Cup team enjoyed mixed fortunes at the draw for their respective races on this week's Super Thursday card at Nad Al Sheba.

Last year's World Cup runner-up Asiatic Boy, second only to Albertus Maximus in ante-post lists, will have to start from stall 15 in a 16-runner field for Round 3 of the Maktoum Challenge.

On the other hand, UAE Derby winner Honour Devil has the inside berth in the Burj Nahaar, the 1m dirt race used by Asiatic Boy last year for his World Cup prep. Johnny Murtagh rides both.

Only the Ralph Beckett-trained Muhannak is outside Asiatic Boy in the gate for the Maktoum Challenge.

"The draw is far from ideal and could have been a lot kinder but he is well and it is all systems go towards the World Cup," said De Kock.

Kirklees, a runaway winner on his most recent start, makes his dirt debut for Godolphin in a race SaeedBin Suroor has won with subsequent World Cup winners Street Cry, Electrocutionist and the mighty Dubai Millennium.

Honour Devil, like Asiatic Boy, was beaten on his seasonal return but has drawn one in the Burj Nahaar.

"In a 16-runner field I am pleased he has a nice low draw as the high draw can be a killer in these races," said De Kock.

"He will come on again for the run but is in good form."

Diabolical,Quijano, Jay Peg and Vodka are among a host of big names in action as Nad Al Sheba stages a full-scale dress rehearsal for the World Cup meeting.

Return to turf 'should be in Classic Blade's favour'


Preview: Thursday, 4.10 (ATR/ RUK)
Nad Al Sheba: 7½f turf conditions


Mike De Kock, trainer of Rocks Off

"This is arguably his easiest UAE task to date in that he is back on turf and in his own age group. That said, it is still a tough race and the blinkers would need to wake him up a bit."

Jerry Barton, trainer of Esta Bailando and Naval Officer

"She (Esta Bailando) has been disappointing and we are trying her on turf but it will be her fourth run which is not ideal. If she shows better form for the grass we will think about the Cape Verdi next year.

"Naval Officer has some very good form in France and we hope he is a horse for the UAE Derby. He had an abscess and missed some work so we are running in this, on turf over shorter, rather than the Al Bastakiya as his prep for the big night, hopefully."

Herman Brown, trainer of Balcarce Nov and Fire Sale

"We were delighted with Balcarce Nov's first run as hewas late in and we thought he would need it badly. He should go well but Fire Sale needs to improve on her two efforts so far."

Doug Watson, trainer of Classic Blade

"The return to turf should be inhis favour but his stamina would have to be the query given his good record in the UK over shorter."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of both City Style and Liberation

"City Style won well last time and has come on for that outing. His previous run at the Breeders' Cup was good and he is a nice horse.

"Liberation is a new horse having his first start for us and has been going well at home but will improve for the run.

Barbecue Eddie after World Cup night invite


Preview: Thursday, 4.45 (ATR/ RUK)
Nad Al Sheba: 6f turf Group 3


Mike De Kock, trainer of Diana's Choice and Hunting Tower

"Both have won already at the Carnival and Diana's Choice did run well on her first start on dirt. she remains in god form, while Hunting Tower needs to prove himself on the surface but should be staying on if he handles it."

Wayne Smith, jockey on New Freedom

"He was third in this race last year so we know conditions suit and hopefully his two runs have put him spot on - but it is no easy task in this company."

Doug Watson, trainer of Barbecue Eddie

"He will put up a better show than last time and can hopefully run a big race and earn a World Cup night invite in a race he was fourth in last year."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Diabolical and Gayego

"Diabolical won this last year and ran a great race at the Breeders' Cup but that took a lout of him, with all the travelling throughout the year on top of the race. He is working nicely but will improve for the run.

"Gayego is a very big, fast horse who is definitely going to be better for this run but has a lot of speed and is an exciting new recruit."

Herman Brown, trainer of Redding Colliery

"He is only three but gets weight accordingly and has shown a lot of pace in his races. We did not want to give him a hard race over the UAE Derby trip with that race still his target."

Hills thinks Snaafy 'needs to improve'

Preview: Thursday, 5.15 (ATR/ RUK)
Nad Al Sheba: 1m turf Group 3


Mike De Kock, trainer of Honour Devil, Stubbs Art and Lucky Find

"Honour Devil is drawn low which is a relief and he has certainly improved a lot from that first run but will do again - he missed a fair bit of work early in his preparation.

"Stubbs Art is a classy sort with speed so can hopefully stay competitive in the blinkers, assuming he acts on the surface and Lucky Find ran a great race last time over a sprint trip and this mile is obviously more to his liking."

Herman Brown, trainer of Jet and Racecar Rhapsody

"His form looks good on paper but this would be his minimum trip and he has been off since October so it is a bit of a factfinding mission.

"Racecar Rhapsody has good form in the States including with Big Brown - but his most recent start was in the Russian Derby and he has been off a long while. "

Doug Watson, trainer of Summer Doldrums, Fares and Green Coast

"Summer Doldrums ran very well last time and should not mind reverting to dirt as he has form on it in America. It is a tough heat but he is well.

"Fareswould need to return to his very best but we thought Green Coast was a live chance - until we saw the draw; it will be very hard from out there."

Erwan Charpy, trainer of Pascal

"He is having his first start for us and has been off a while. It could be that he is a horse for next year."

Richard Hills, jockey on Snaafy

"He is improving and would need to do so again - but that is a possibility. He will be a nice prospect next year whatever he achieves here."

Jerry Barton, trainer of Don Renato

"He is becoming disappointing but if to reproduce the form of his Godolphin Mile third last year hewould be in the shake-up."

Ahmed Ajtebi, jockey of Jalil

"He needed last week's run badly and will probably need this one as well.

Strong British presence in turf highlight


Preview: Thursday, 5.45 (ATR/ RUK)
Nad Al Sheba: 1m4f turf Group 2


Herman Brown, trainer of Kings Gambit, Mourilyan and Happy Spirit

"Kings Gambit should, hopefully, be spot on after two runs and Mourilyan has run two great races. He has come out of last week fine so we are running him back.

"The filly (Happy Spirit) will run well as she needs this trip."

Ger Lyons, trainer of Fiery Lad

"This is a tough ask undoubtedly but has been running well and remains in good form."

Luca Cumani, trainer of Purple Moon

"He has been here since Hong Kong in December and settled in straight away. He has been working well and is in good form but this run should ensure he is spot on in three weeks."

Mike De Kock, trainer of Macarthur, King of Rome and Front House

"I would have liked another week or so with the ex-Ballydoyle pair (Macarthur and King of Rome) but they are in good form and fit enough to go well.

"The filly (Front House) will relish this trip but the draw could not have been less kind in 16 and she could run her race trying to get across."

Jennie Brown, assistant to David Elsworth, trainer of Classic Punch

"He is as well as we could hop but it is a tough race - as it was last year when Gower Song won for us though!"

George Margarson, trainer of Young Mick

"Anything he can achieve here would be a real bonus; he has won his race and done us proud - again. He seems as well as ever though so we can but hope."

Ahmed Ajtebi, stablejockey to Mubarak Bin Shafya, trainer of Hattan and Yahrab

"It was a tough choice but Hattan really pleased us on his only start for us to date. I know him from Clive Brittain's, as well as Yahrab who ran very well last week behind the impressive Presvis."

Richard Mullen, jockey on Pompeyan

"This is a massive step up in class but he is young and progressive. Whatever he does, he should be a really nice carnival horse next year."

Watson saddles four in pursuit of Group 2 glory


Preview: Thursday, 6.15 (ATR/ RUK)
Nad Al Sheba: 1m2f dirt Group 2


Mike de Kock, trainer of Art of War and Asiatic Boy

"Art of War is at least drawn low and he would need a career best to win but at least we know conditions suit him. Asiatic Boy could hardly be drawn worse and that gives Johnny (Murtagh) a real headache but he is a world class jockey.

"At least we know he has a World Cup invite and there is something left to work on but he should go close, given luck from that draw."

Doug Watson, trainer of Lucky Ray, Arqaam, Merchant Marine and Dynamic Saint

"Lucky Ray has enjoyed a great season and these are his optimum conditions and the same with Dynamic Saint. Arqaam should be staying on and Merchant Marine is a really exciting new addition to the team. Hopefully he is a horse for the big night - be it the Godolphin Mile or World Cup."

Ahmed Ajtebi, jockey on Happy Boy

"We knew he had improved a lot from his first run and he showed that last time. He has continued to work well since and thies extra furlong should suit him so it is an exciting chance in a big race."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Kirklees

"He is in great form and won very well last time. We have always wanted to try him on dirt and we think he will act on it. He handles our tapeta surface perfectly but the Nad Al Sheba dirt is an unknown.

"Assuming he does go on it, he will run a big race."

Richard Mullen, jockey on Tiz Now Tiz Then

"We were delighted with his debut for us and he has thrived since then. Obviously he is stepping up in class and trip but he should be competitive and we are looking forward to running him again."

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Muhannak

"I think they call 16 the coffin box here? We have the worst of the draw; hehas been off since Hong Kong and needs to prove himself on genuine dirt but he has been working well and we are pleased with him. Pat (Smullen) knows Nad Al Sheba well and we have an invite for the World Cup so have not needed to rush him.

Ajtebi 'hopeful if not confident' on Third Set


Preview: Thursday, 6.45 (ATR/ RUK)
Nad Al Sheba: 1m1f turf Group 2

Erwan Charpy, trainer of Blue Ksar and Mashaahed

"We really like this horse (Blue Ksar) and would love a big run here to get that World Cup night invite. He is in good form and, with luck, can run a big race.

"Mashaahed has been running well and should do so again but this will be his hardest task to date."

Ahmad Ajtebi, jockey on Third Set

"Both his carnival performances for us have been top drawer but this is a definite step up in class and we have to be hopeful rather than confident."

Herman Brown, trainer of Jay Peg and Strategic News

"As we saw last year Jay Peg needs his runs to get to a peak and this will be his second as we build towards World Cup night. Strategic News continues to please us and can run a big race at a price."

Mike De Kock, trainer of Imbongi, Russian Sage and Biarritz

"If Imbongi stays, and we hope he will, he can run a big race, while Russian Sage's run behindKachgai looks a good effort after that horse ran well last week.

"Biarritz will run his usual solid race."

Doug Watson, trainer of World Ruler and Pallodio

"It is a tough race butWorld Ruler has come out of last week's run fine and will have benefited from that run. Pallodio will also step up from his first start and should go well."

Willie Supple, jockey on Balius

"He has some great form in the book and has been working nicely. It is a tough ask first up but he seems fit and well."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Tam Lin

"I was a bit disappointed with his seasonal debut and he is better than that. He has been in good for since and can hopefully run a lot better this time."

Ted Durcan, jockey on Valedictum

"That was a good solid win he posted last time and he is a tough performer and very useful one. This is a step up in grade though and he would need to improve again."

Dhruba Selvaratnam, trainer of Seihali

"He won this race in 2007 and this is his optimum trip these days. It is a verygood race this year but he has been in good form throughout the carnival and should give a good account although a lower draw would have been helpful.

Intriguing races tonight. Looking forward to it.

BEST BET for me taht will have all my tom is :

Mourilyan(Ire) - Moore/Brown

hi

Will Happy Spirit & Front House continue their battles tonight?
Would have been a good bet if Marwing sat on Strategic News.

Ryan Moore has done all the work on Strategic News and is confident of a good run, Redding Colliery is my other fancy...

Good luck Dylan with Strategic News, will be shouting him home for you.