Desert raiders ready to storm Super Saturday
DUBAI Six of the Emirates Super Saturday's nine races at Meydan on March 1 offer automatic entry to corresponding races on the big day on April 5, including the featured Group 2 Al Maktoum Classic (2,000m).
A full field of 16 line up, including Group 1 winner Kabirkhan, who aims to bounce back from seventh in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge (1,800m) last time.
"We thought we had him in good shape for his last race, off a 10-month layoff," said trainer Doug Watson. "I think that he just got in the kickback and then he lost his action.
"I like the draw (9), a little wide, to keep out of the kickback. I think he will run a nice race."
Bhupat Seemar runs Imperial Emperor, who finished in front of Kabirkhan when second to Walk Of Stars in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge.
"He's done nothing wrong," said the Dubai champion trainer. "He's won two races and he was second in the Group 1. There's no Walk Of Stars this time, but Kabirkhan is a good horse."
Seemar also runs Artorius, the mount of Pat Cosgrave, fourth in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes (1,600m) last time.
"He's doing great and he ran a very good race last time," he said. "He looks like he's crying out for more distance, so 1¼-mile should suit him well. He gets blinkers for the first time and, if they go hard and fast, he could be the one closing."
The third Seemar runner is recent course winner Guns And Glory, who will be ridden by Richard Mullen for owner Fitri Hay.
"He is being thrown a bit in the deep end here, having broken the track record last time out," said Alex Cole, racing manager to the Hay family. "I feel he's earned a shot at this level and on Saturday night we'll find out if he's good enough or not."
The Group 2 Singspiel Stakes (1,800m) offers guaranteed entry to the Group 1 Dubai Turf (1,800m) for the winner and nine line up.
The favourite is likely to be four-time Group 1 winner Nations Pride. The Teofilo six-year-old arrives off a ninth in the Grade 1 Pegasus Turf (1,800m) in Florida in January.
"Nations Pride put up a strong performance over this course and trip in the Dubai Turf two years ago and enjoyed a productive campaign in the United States last season," said trainer Charlie Appleby, who has won this race twice.
"The Pegasus World Cup Turf proved a bit of a non-event for him, although he came out of the race well. He is a multiple-Group 1 winner and looks a leading contender if he runs to his best."
Appleby also runs First Conquest, two from two at Meydan. Mickael Barzalona will ride the four-year-old, who is also by Teofilo.
"First Conquest has done nothing wrong so far this winter and came out of the Dubai Millennium Stakes in good order," he added. "He deserves to take another step up the ladder, he will have no problem with the return to 1,800m."
Cairo, trained in the UK by Alice Haynes, has enjoyed a profitable Carnival, finishing second in both the Group 2 Al Rashidiya (1,800m) and the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes (2,000m).
"We're thrilled with what he's done out there," said Haynes. "First Conquest beat him last time, but coming back in distance, you never know what will happen.
"(Jockey) Silvestre (de Sousa) gets on with him great and a bit of extra headgear helps him concentrate. We've ridden him differently and he's really thrived out there – he's full of confidence."
Tuz will make UAE racing history if adding the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal (1,200m) to his haul on Saturday, becoming the first horse to sweep the UAE's Group dirt sprints in one season.
Seemar's charge, who will break from stall five in the field of 12, has been flawless in his last four starts including the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1,200m) last March – his target once again.
"He's full of himself, so he might as well come out and get rid of that energy," said Seemar about the Oxbow eight-year-old.
"I don't think anyone has won the Garhoud Sprint, Dubawi Stakes, Al Shindagha Sprint and the Mahab Al Shimaal in one season before." DUBAI RACING CLUB
