Golden Shaeen 2014

3.41 Meydan 

Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored By Gulf News (Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO plus) 

Winner 1,199,997 AED

Advice: 1 pt win Sterling City (11/4 general) 

Krypton Force: Winner of this in 2012 in deeply impressive fashion and then third to Reynaldothewizard last year; But lost form since good Royal Ascot third last year and blinkers now off for visor.

Balmont Mast: The type who needs things to drop exactly right for him but ended a terrific carnival last year with a second in this race last season; Not in the same form since but hasn’t had the pace to chase and handy draw may also help him today in first time visor.

Nawaar: Decent form at Abu Dhabi while also taking a couple of listed events from 7f to 1 mile but looked short of the speed and class required for this when well behind in C&D trial latest.

Sterling City: Just short of top class in Hong Kong but a good solid horse nevertheless who was a place ahead of C&D trial winner Rich Tapestry in the Hong Kong sprint despite getting blocked in the run; Warmed up for this in good style despite being turned over at evens latest (winner had won Group 1 last summer and standard of race was high); Should go very well if OK on Tapeta.

Reynaldothewizard: Superb 2013 rounded off with win in this last year over Balmont Mast; Not at best on return but much better when second to Rich Tapestry latest in C&D trial; Likely to go very well in bid to retain title for all that there’s no reason for him to turn around that form and that puts him behind Sterling City.

Zee Bros: Doesn’t look good enough on the basis of his graded efforts in America and best to look elsewhere.

United Colour:  Based on his well beaten efforts in two Group 3 races over C&D in different trials, unlikely to improve on his fifth in this last year.

Complicate: Multiple 6f-7f turf winner in Australia, including in Listed company who has come from the back the last twice in C&D trials; Faster they go, the better he’ll come late, but looks short on the form front against Rich Tapestry.

Russian Soul: Pace wasn’t anything nearly enough for him against United Colour in January when winner that day was extremely well placed and then followed up with win over Jamesie here in February, but another to fall short in C&D trial latest which puts a cloud over this chances although no doubting he’s capable of being involved with blinkers for cheekpieces swapping an interesting move; Early pace crucial.

Jamesie: Best of these held up for a late gallop (and there were many) in key C&D trail and has previously come second to Russian Soul the time before;  Wide draw might not be the issue some could think and if they go hard enough, capable of coming home fast enough.

My Catch: Useful 2yo last year, Group 3 winner at Deauville; Mixed and matched his trips but massively lacking in speed when seventh behind Shea Shea latest; Far more needed here despite 6f sure to suit better.

Rich Tapestry:  Benefited greatly from front running ride and ground when taking C&D trial but was a very convicting winner and beat many of those in the strongest of the C&D trials run for this; Not sure that he’s going to have things drop so well but clearly capable of getting involved in today’s finish.

Bello:  Latest C&D starts against some of these suggest that he’s good enough to take a major hand.

VERDICT: The early pace of this is going to be vital with so many latecomers in the field, especially Russian Soul and Jamsie, but STERLING CITY’S chances were highlighted by Rich Tapestry’s beating of most of this field in the major C&D trial and the Hong Kong raiders look to be the ones to focus on here.