UAE Derby 2012

3.25 Meydan     

UAE Derby Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (Group 2) (AWT) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner $4,185,560

Advice: 1 pt win, 1pt each/way Daddy Long Legs (7/1 general),  3 pts Daddy Long Legs to beat Mickdaaam (6/5 Sportingbet)

Lucky Chappy: Italian import who won maiden at Cannapanelle and Listed race at the San Siro before making lots of late ground when coming third in the Bourbon Stakes; Fourth then behind Wrote in Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf and second twice since, but beaten by a subsequent winner last time and not hard to see him going on once again.

Burano: Fair juvenile but had disappointed until winning Meydan Classic (Listed) last time out on the turf; Presumably unfit on first run here but run inbetween suggests that he may well not be upto it and much more needed.

Martimer: Won three out of four Polytrack starts last year, twice doing so very impressively after coming fourth to Finale in the summer Stakes last year; Needs to find some improvement if he’s to be figuring at the finish here and others preferred.

Balada Sale: Superb in Argentina, winning the 1,000 with ease before trouncing her rivals by 11 lengths in the Gran Premio Seleccion (Argentine Oaks); Interesting on Tapeta debut and fascinating that she’s only runner of the Carnival for World Cup Winning trainer Pascal Bary.

Genten: Wasn’t given much of a chance by the draw (15 out of 16) when second to favourite in the Hyacinth Stakes; Looks a fair way below the best of Japanest crop and others readily preffered.

Mickdaaam: Best effort yet when winning Al Bastakiya in good style, clearly relishing the step up in trip having been badly found for speed on first two UAE runs this season; Couldn’t be in better hands for this race but UAE form looked substandard for a good while this season and this a much tougher test than the one he faced last time out.

Daddy Long Legs: Won maiden in style of very promising future stayer when coming from late to first over 7 furlongs at Gowran and while he was outpaced in Champagne Stakes, found his niche when running two stablemates into the ground (crucially including Wrote) in the Royal Lodge Stakes; Disappointment in Breeders Cup Juvenile but missed the break that day and looks sure to go well for stable that had sixth and second in this race last year.

Yang Tse Kiang: Second in Prix De Conde (winner not run since, third won listed race on first run of this season when actually beating fourth); Comfortable winner on Plotrack at Chantilly and interesting for all that this is much, much tougher.

Kinglet: Got the better of Mickdaam in the UAE 2,000 Guineas but that over a trip that suited him and disappointed big time when stepped up in trip latest; Choice of Dettori out of Godolphin three but much more needed.

Falls Of Lora: Didn’t quite deliver upon the promise of her impressive Doncaster maiden win but back to best form since when showing good turn of foot to cut down handily ridden leader in the UAE Oaks last time out; That form needs serious improving on and others preffered.

Entifhaadha: Most taking debut boosted by the unlucky third winning a Listed race with something to spare and followed that up with Acomb Stakes win; Not reached same form since, with defeat to Burano on his seasonal debut not what one would have been looking for based on his earlier win; Needs much more here.

Red Duke: No improvement required on fairly strong debut when winning maiden at Redcar but impressive in Superlative Stakes and unlucky not to win again at Glorious Goodwood, when blocked for any sort of run; Likely that slow gallop/penalty undid his challenge when second behind Trumpet Major in the Champagne Sakes and not disgraced during the Dewhurst; Holds Daddy Long Legs on Doncaster form but more needed than that.

Wrote: Rapidly progressive throughought last season, coming third behind Daddy Long Legs in the Royal Lodge before winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile turf with something to spare; That form makes him a worthy favourite and taking the same route as

Helmet: Arguably the best horse in the race here based on his Australian exploits last year when he won 6 times, including the Caulfield Guineas; Beaten on all three starts since for various reasons (although Cox Plate failure is forgivable) but highest rated of these and should go well.

ADVICE: The UAE form doesn’t look as strong as usual this year and Aidan O’Brien, denied by just a head last year, has an excellent chance of getting his first UAE win with Wrote and DADDY LONG LEGS, who left  a marked impression when winning not only his maiden but also the Royal Lodge Stakes last year, and with valid excuses for his other two defeats last season, he shapes like a horse with notable potential for further improvement when tackling a proper trip this season. He can get the better of his stablemate (behind him in the Royal Lodge Stakes), and also Mickdaam, who comes from the race’s most successful stable, along with Baldada Sale and Helmet.