Thursday, 5 January 2012

Dubai World Cup Carnival 2012 - Week 1 (Friday)


2.5 pts win Sand Stamp, 11.00

In what looks a fairly low key opener, Satish Seemar’s Sand Stamp rates a decent choice to open his account at just the second time of asking. In an event where many of his rivals have question marks over ability or aptitude, while the two interesting debutants from   Ali Al Rashid Al Raihe are always in danger of needing it too much to count, complicated by the fact that their first string on jockey bookings Need To Know is drawn in 14. Romagne wouldn’t surprise as a contender in this sort of race but still needs to up his game.

Sand Stamp ran a good race when third behind Al Sharood (a previous Listed fourth) in a 7f minor event here last month, with the second rated 78 and several others rated 90 including the 5/6 favourite Factory Time. He drops back in trip today but being drawn far better than 12 this time will help, and it’s to be hoped that he’s ridden positively.

1 pt win Street Act, 12.15

The second leg of the Meydan Masters and not a race which has large amounts of strength in depth.  The form of the Ali Rashid Al Raihe yard and the fact that he gets to run off the same mark as when third last time (having been forced wide) gives the vote to Street Act, who had previously won a weak race here early in December.

To be frank, neither of his form is great but he’s at least in form, has a decent enough draw, and appeals as being decently handicapped, which is more than can be said for quite a few of his rivals here.

Of those that I took seriously, Doon Kalal is a lot better than his last time out run but the absence of blinkers isn’t particularly encouraging. I expect Profondo Rosso to be well fancied with Mikael Barzalona on board, but the two are evenly matched which suggests that from a better draw, Street Act can uphold form. Izaaj is sure to be strongly liked too given how well he’s been running over shorter trips, and one to keep an eye on in the Paddock is Darej, who has Ryan Moore on board and looked like a fair prospect on his first two runs before flopping last year.

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