Dubai Thursday 4 February 2010

Here are the SAf runners in the final fields for Thursday:

RACE 1: Handicap - $110k, 1600m, Open
None

RACE 2: Handicap - $120k, 1400m, Open
5( -> 102 Warsaw (Ire) - de Kock/Soumillon (57.0kg)

RACE 3: UAE 2000 Guineas - $50k, 1400m, 3y/o
1(1) -> 108 Musir (Aus) - de Kock/Soumillon (62.0kg)
2(9) -> 98 Mr Crazy Boy (Arg) - de Kock/Moore (61.0kg)
9( -> 102 Solid Choice (Aus) - de Kock/Shea (59.0kg)

RACE 4: Handicap - $120k, 1900m, Open
4( -> 106 Mr Brock (SAf) - de Kock/Shea (58.5kg)

RACE 5: Handicap - $120k, 1200m, Open
None

RACE 6: AL RASHIDIYA GR3 - $200k, TURF 1800m, Open
6(6) -> 113 Frozen Fire (Ger) - de Kock/Soumillon (56.5kg)
7(7) -> 112 Front House (Ire) - de Kock/Shea (56.0kg)

RACE 7: Handicap - $150k, Turf 2800m, Open
8(1) -> 100 Red Rock Canyon (Ire) - de Kock/Soumillon (56.0kg)

RACE 8: Handicap - $110k, 2000m, Open
4(4) -> 102 King Of Rome (Ire) - de Kock/Shea (58.5kg)
7(6) -> 95 Bennie Blue (SAf) - Al Raihe/Ffrench (55.0kg)

Looking forward to seing Musir running

Not 100% positive but im sure Frozen Fire and Zulu Chief are both running on the friday?

I haven't figured out how to access the Friday card on the Emirates site yet, but Frozen Fire definitely carded to run in the Al Rashidiya -> www.emiratesracing.com/node/3?id=2374#tab-8023

Have a look at fridays card Sabre Fridays Racecard

Thanks Hibs. Searched and found another link via the Meydan site, but that one is better. Don't know how you pulled it up!

Made a thread for Friday.

Forecast betting from Sporting Life for the SAf runners:

RACE 2: Handicap - $120k, 1400m, Open
6/1 Warsaw (Ire) 3rd fav

RACE 3: UAE 2000 Guineas - $50k, 1400m, 3y/o
5/2 Musir (Aus) - Fav
6/1 Solid Choice (Aus) 2nd fav
12/1 Mr Crazy Boy (Arg)

RACE 4: Handicap - $120k, 1900m, Open
10/1 Mr Brock (SAf)

RACE 6: AL RASHIDIYA GR3 - $200k, TURF 1800m, Open
7/2 Frozen Fire (Ger) - Fav
11/2 Front House (Ire)

RACE 7: Handicap - $150k, Turf 2800m, Open
4/1 Red Rock Canyon (Ire) - Fav

RACE 8: Handicap - $110k, 2000m, Open
3/1 King Of Rome (Ire) - Fav
25/1 Bennie Blue (SAf)

Mdk steps out more top horses at second Dubai Carnival meeting



Frozen Fire.

by Peter Ward

The second meeting at Meydan and of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival features the Group 3 Al Rashidiya, the first race to be staged at the track on turf and one the De Kock team have won three times in six years. It is over 1m1f this year, the new trip for the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night and Right Approach dead-heated in the Duty Free after winning this in 2004.

Frozen Fire, winner of the 2008 Irish Derby, makes his debut for the yard alongside Front House, winner of the Dubai City Of Gold last year on Super Thursday under Kevin Shea who maintains the partnership.

Christophe Soumillon, who rode both the yard's winners last week, rides Frozen Fire and De Kock said: "Christophe made a great start for us and hopefully we can get among the winners again. Frozen Fire is an interesting horse, a real character, with top class form in the book. We are still learning about him but hopefully he can be competitive and we may try something a bit different tactic wise. He has pleased us but should come on from the run.

"Front House will definitely progress from the outing and the trip is on the short side but she is very useful and we need to get her back on the course."

Asiatic Boy, the only horse tow in the UAE Triple Crown and Honour Devil, who won the UAE 2000 Guineas and Derby, both made winning local debuts for the team in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial and the team saddle three runners this year in the 7f Tapeta contest.

Soumillon rides Musir, last year's Champion Juvenile in South Africa, with Shea on Solid Choice who actually beat his stable companion last season. Mr Crazy Boy (Ryan Moore) completes the trio and De Kock said: "Mr Crazy Boy will probably be better over further but they are three nice horses and we hope genuine Classic contenders. Musir is penalised for his Group 1 victory but that was a solid piece of form and I feel he has the scope to improve. Solid Choice is favoured by the weights and hopefully all three can run well."

King of Rome was an excellent second to stable companion Lizard's Desire last week and should appreciate the step up to 1m2f in the concluding handicap, while Carnival regulars Mr Brock and Warsaw are in action, along with Red Rock Canyon whose owners include England cricketer Andrew Flintoff also running on a busy night.

Crowded House makes long awaited comeback

Meydan: Al Rashidiya (Group 3) 1m1f, turf, 3yo+

A YEAR ago Sea The Stars was playing second fiddle to him in the Derby betting. On Thursday, Crowded House carries no such elevated status as he returns at long last to the racecourse under Jamie Spencer in an attempt to revive dreams of what might have been.

The Racing Post Trophy winner has been absent since running sixth to Sea The Stars at Epsom after a troubled preparation, and since then a back problem hasled to missed target after missed target.

With Presvis taking up a Tapeta option on the same card, the Brian Meehan-trained Crowded House is the sole British runner in the Group 3 Al Rashidiya, the highlight of the second meeting at Meydan racecourse and the 2010 Dubai Carnival, and the first race to be run on the turf track.

Meehan said: "Things did not go smoothly last season. He was not beaten far in the Dante when in need of the run and we had to be pleased with his Derby effort considering his preparation.

"He has been off since but settled in nicely in Dubai and has been working well. He should be able to run his race, but I do feel he will come on a lot for the outing, especially having only had two runs last season."

Given his phenomenal strike-rate in the race, which he has won three times in the last six renewals, South African trainer Mike de Kock has to be respected. He saddles 2008 Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire for his first start since leaving Aidan O'Brien. Christophe Soumillon rides, while Kevin Shea partners stablemate Front House, on whom he won last year's Dubai City of Gold.

There is a strong local challenge with Oiseau De Feu (Erwan Charpy/Richard Hills) and Kalahari Gold (Doug Watson/Tadhg O'Shea) both expected to go well by their trainers.

Godolphin have not won this race since the inception of the carnival in 2004, but Alexandros should be capable of a big run under Frankie Dettori, for whom hewas a nose runner-up in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes last season.

With Saudi Arabia's Naval Officer (Jerry Barton/Olivier Peslier) looking the type to thrive this season, it appears a very competitive renewal of this race.

Looking forward to the next race..

MDK 1-2-3 ???

what are your fancies mr HIBBS