SAF Prominent on International Ratings for 2009

Thanks.

Third for Shes on fire. Beaten by Aquitane 1st and Spring Garland 2nd. Thought she had it half way up the straight - the winner finished well.

Russian Sage was only a 108 going into the race and being a GR1 winner carried level weights with PEG for the Jebel Hatta.So at the weights he really ran a cracker.Also dead heating PEG at a 120 MR will help his cause to get into the Duty Free where i believe a 114 will be the bottom MR to make the final field....not too sure what the handicappers will give him after his 2nd but its sure going to be a few points....as for PEG he was 85% ready and the next 3 weeks will bring him on a lot for the big night...he lost 13kgs before this race and so at 503 he's close to his perfect weight.All i can say is that the Duty Free will be the race of the night on the 28th....as long as a SA horse wins i will be happy!My opinion is i think Russian Sage should maybe even have a look at the 2400m Sheema Classic as i believe he's better over 2000m and more rather than 1800m?

Puffin, he The Russian has been elevated to 118 by Melvin Day, the Emirates Racing Association handicapper.

We thought about the Sheema and I asked both Mike and Justin, but both pooh-poohed the notion for one reason or another.

I agree that 10 is his distance, with 9 being a bit short, but 12 apparently on the Nad al Sheba course, at least, being too far.

Hard to go against Mike's judgment, as he is the expert in Dubai!

All in all, I think the Sheema usually lacks depth when compared with the Duty Free. Also, going 12 furlongs, it seems like there is less luck involved than over 9, where horses always seem to be screaming for room.

Then our mate JS 'speaketh with a forked tongue'......he said to me yday that he thought the Sheema to be the right race for him.....but then he doesnt train him anymore and the dubai expert needs to make the call?Wherever he runs he is going to fighting out the finish....