UAE Derby 2013

2.25 Meydan

UAE Derby Sponsored By Al Naboodah (Group 2) (Tapeta) (3yo)

Winner: £736,196

Advice: 2 pts each/way Lines Of Battle (8/1 general)

Law Enforcement: Bookended his fine improvement as juvenile with Italian Group 1 after wins in maiden and nursery company (off 78 and 83); May well improve again but this a much otugher test and others make more appeal.

Ellevial: Fourth in the C&D al Bastakiya last time behind Secret Number, Zahee and Snowboarder, but may have been flattered by slow pace there and clear run wouldn’t have seen him win; Others preferred.

Now Spun: Created good impression when taking Leicester maiden (soft) at Leicester last season and deeply impressive at Meydan last time when beating Deauville Prince; Don’t imagine Tapeta will be a problem and commands plenty of respect here even if second sting of Godolphin.

Lines Of Battle: Very impressive on debut in way his dismissed subsequent group winner Leitir Mor at Curragh and never put into the race when sixth in very strong Coventry; Disappointing turned over at Curragh (although that horse did go onto win Group 2) but one start on AW a very impressive win and did well considering draw at Breeders’ Cup; Should go well.

Dice Flavour: Come from humble background to win El Camino Real Derby over 1m1ff on Tapeta; This trip should be OK but steep step up in class form that event.

Emotif: Struggled in Dubai since winning sole start in SA last year, and behind 4 of these in Al Bataskiya latest; Passed over.  

Secret Number: First major signs of promise when overcoming a slow start on debut at Kempton but real star potential when beating many of these in the Al Bastakiya over C&D, defying slow start and wide trip to come home and still win cosily; The one to beat on that form and should take some stopping.

Zahee: Withing two lengths of Secret Number last time but well beaten and very falttered to get so close so look elsewhere.

Shurqu: Fillies been sub-par so far this year but did win the UAE Oaks by 4 lengths despite going widest all the way round, which must be noted; Could come on for cheekpieces once again and dangerous to dismiss out of hand.

Keiai Leone: Triple winner over 7f in Japan (dirt) but well held there latest and surface and trip botyh question marks.

Snowboarder: Unsuited by slow pace when only third in the Al Batisky and catching heels down the back straight didn’t help matters

He’s Had Enough: Second in Breeders Cup Juvenile but the more that time passes, the more he is flattered by that through having delayed his challenge late.

VERDICT: There’s any amount of promise to come from Secret Number and he’s greatly respected, but LINES OF BATTLE looks to have his optimum conditions for a trainer that had had excellent success with his limited runners here, including last year’s winner and the second by a nose the year before that.